Mumbai: BMC to put victims of vaccination scams on antibody tests

The Hiranandani Heritage society at Kandivli where a fake vaccination camp had been held. Pic/Satej Shinde

Weeks after the Kandivali housing society scam came to light, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has decided to hold a health check-up drive for all those people who got alleged fake shots and also check their antibodies count.

Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, said, "We plan to screen all the people who received the vaccination in the fake vaccination drive to check if they have any side effects. The health check-up has started and we will also conduct the antibody test for these people too."

The vaccination certificates of the victims will now be sent for scrutiny. "We will be sending all Covid-19 certificates received by these beneficiaries to the Centre to check the authenticity, following which we will administer them the vaccine," Kakani said.

Meanwhile, the scammed residents of Hiranandani Heritage Society had got antibody tests on their own. "Most of us have gone and done the antibody testing. Except for 7-8 people, all have tested negative for antibodies," said Gaurav Shah, a resident of the Kandivli West society.

On June 16, mid-day had reported how 390 residents from the society were the first to realise they had been conned when their vaccination certificate had names of the hospitals that never came to their premises for the drive. Their fear became reality when the hospitals mentioned in the certificates denied any involvement in the camp.

The scam opened up Pandora's box of several such fake drives conducted at colleges, offices and other residential complexes. Police investigations have revealed that more than 2,600 people so far have become the victims of these fake vaccination drives.

While 13 people have been arrested as yet, the police have registered 11 FIRs. One of the prime accused is Rajesh Pandey, who was employed with Andheri's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

Shivam Hospital sealed

Following the arrest of Dr Shivraj Pataria and his wife Nita, the owners of Charkop-based Shivam Hospital, in the vaccination scam, the BMC sealed the premises on Friday. "The police had recommended that the hospital be sealed and so we have done that. We will also be revoking their licence, the process for which has already started," said Kakani.

13
No. of people arrested in the scam so far