Mumbai: Lab technician with 6 fake COVID-19 negative reports arrested

Accused Krishna Saroj (sitting) along with Crime Branch officers

The Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar Crime Branch Unit-1 busted a fake COVID-19 report- issuing racket and arrested a 26-year-old accused from Kandivli on Thursday. The accused, identified as Krishna Saroj, was allegedly working at SRL Laboratory and issuing fake COVID-19 negative reports without conducting tests and following the standard procedure.

Acting on a tip-off, the Crime Branch team arrested the accused red-handed while he was handing over six fake reports and receiving '6,000 for them from a dummy customer sent by the cops. Sources said that all these six people were currently hospitalised and in a critical condition.

A Crime Branch officer said, "Six fake COVID negative reports have been recovered from the accused. Another person by the name Vikas Pal, a resident of Kandivli, is suspected to be part of the racket. His name was revealed during the accused's interrogation."

The officer further said, "Copies of more than 250 fake COVID-19 negative reports issued to customers have been found in the accused's cell phone. We have booked and arrested the accused under sections 465, 468 and 471 of the IPC. He has been handed over to the Kashimira police for further investigation."

Requesting anonimity, a senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said, "We have instructed all the labs and doctors to follow the procedure and
stick to SOPs. Anything apart from this will be considered violation and will attract action."