Mumbai fake vaccination scam: Main accused surrenders after bail is denied

Shivam Hospital in Charkop, Kandivli, has been told not to admit any new Covid-19 patients. Pic/Satej Shinde

A main accused in the fake vaccination scam, Dr Manish Tripathi, was arrested by the police on Tuesday after he surrendered himself. On the other hand, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) health department revoked Shivam Hospital's permission to treat Covid-19 patients. The hospital owners, Dr Shivraj Pataria and his wife, Nita, are one of the main accused in the scam. The hospital was told to not admit any new Covid-19 patients.

Dr Manish Tripathi allegedly organised fake vax camps

In another development, the Kandivli police also arrested main accused Dr Manish Tripathi after he surrendered himself to the police.

Police also seized Shivam Hospital's CCTV camera footage, computers and data. So far, the police have found that around 500-600 vials of Covishield vaccine were not returned by Shivam Hospital to the BMC after the vaccination drive ended at the hospital.

Assistant Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Kurhade said, "We revoked permissions given to Shivam Hospital to operate as a Covid-19 hospital after we found many violations at the hospital. We also instructed them to not admit any new Covid-19 patients and treat existing Covid-19 patients till they are recovered. Shivam Hospital violated BMC's protocols and cheated many people on the pretext of giving vaccines. We will take the strictest action against the hospital."

With regard to Dr Tripathi, police have found that he, too, organised many vaccination camps in the city with the help of Shivam Hospital.

Same vials used everywhere

A police source said, "The Patarias did not return around 500-600 empty Covishield vials to the BMC after the vaccination drive at their hospital ended in April-end. These vials were allegedly used by Dr Tripathi and Mahendra Singh at various vaccination camps. The empty vials were refilled with saline by the Patarias. The same bottles were used at all camps."

Accused Mahendra Singh, Shivraj Pataria and Nita Pataria

Police have also found that arrested students Gudiya Yadav and Karim Ali were captured on CCTV cameras at various places where the vaccination camps were organised. They were able to jab people as they are paramedical students.

Another 580 affected

On Monday, the Samta Nagar police received a complaint from the Intercontinental Diamonds LIP, a fashion accessories store at Ashok Chakravarti Road, Ashok Nagar, Kandivli East. The company accused Dr Tripathi and Singh of arranging a camp at their office and giving fake vaccines to their 580 staff and their families. The camp was conducted on April 23 and 24 at the company's premises.

Senior Inspector Anandrao Haake of Samta Nagar police station said, "We received a complaint from Intercontinental Diamond LIP and have informed the BMC regarding the matter. On Tuesday, a BMC team visited the company's office with us for the investigation. We have not registered an FIR yet and are probing further."

The building that houses the Intercontinental Diamond LIP's office at Ashok Nagar, Kandivli East

So far, 10 complaints have been received by the Mumbai police across the city and seven FIRs have been filed. Apart from the case filed by Hiranandani Heritage society with Kandivli police, six more have been filed at Versova, Borivli, Bangur Nagar and Khar police stations against the same accused people. The Kandivli police have so far arrested 11 accused and are on the lookout for two more.

On Tuesday, during a hearing on PILs on the accessibility of vaccines, the Bombay High court ordered the police to investigate the matter freely and without any political pressure. It ordered the police to conduct an in-depth enquiry and to arrest any politician, MLA or authority if they interfere in the investigation.

600
Approx. no. of Covishield vials the Patarias saved for the scam