Kandivli Covid-19 vaccination scam: Accused stole NESCO centre CoWIN ID, password, say police

The police said that many students from the KCEP institute might be involved in the scam

Further investigation into the vaccination scam at the Kandivli-based Hiranandani Heritage society has revealed that main accused Mahendra Singh and Dr Manish Tripathi involved many of their students studying at the KCEP institute in Charkop, Kandivli West. The police also found that the accused stole the CoWIN ID and password of NESCO Covid centre and used the portal to issue vaccination certificates to the society residents.

The Hiranandani Heritage society

This incident has also necessitated some security changes in the CoWIN portal, which will be looked into by the central government now. Sources in the Health Ministry told mid-day that they would hold a meeting with state officials and decide on the necessary changes so that nobody can misuse it.

Late on Saturday night the Kandivli police brought back accused Karim Ali from Madhya Pradesh, who had fled after a complaint was filed related to the scam at the Kandivli society. Police sources said many other students were involved in stealing CoWIN IDs and passwords of Covid centres and giving it to the main accused for issuing certificates.

On Saturday, the Kandivli police visited the NESCO Covid centre and inspected the entire process of the vaccination drive from the step of registration to the issuance of certificates. They found that every centre is given a unique ID and password to access the portal and issue certificates.

Speaking to mid-day, a police officer said, "We have found that someone from the NESCO Covid centre stole the CoWIN portal ID and password and gave it to Mahendra Singh and Dr Manish Tripathi, who misused it. During interrogation Singh said that they had stolen the ID and password with help from people working at the NESCO centre."

"Most of the people involved in the scam are students of the KCEP institute and they know how to administer injections and medicines. They were giving vaccines and doing data entry work at many centres, including Dahisar Jumbo Covid centre and NESCO Covid centre. We are trying to find out who helped the accused get the ID and password at the NESCO centre," another officer said. Speaking to mid-day, Dean of NESCO centre, Neelam Andrade said, "The CoWIN portal was hacked by someone and we don't know who did it. Hackers can do it from anywhere in the world. The Kandivli police are conducting the inquiry and they have the best resources to find the accused. We are also trying to find out who stole our portal ID and password."

Requesting anonymity, a Health Ministry source said, "This is a serious issue and we will hold meetings with state government officials to make some necessary security changes in the CoWIN portal so that nobody can misuse it. We are also doing a parallel inquiry in the matter."