HYDERABAD: Two separate rackets of providing fake negative RT-PCR reports and backdated fully vaccinated certificate without the jab was busted by Task Force cops on Friday.
Police said that a diagnostic centre owner, a primary health care centre staff, travel agents and others had joined hands to issue these certificates in a fraudulent manner. The officials seized 75 fake RT-PCR Covid-negative certificates and 50 fake vaccination certificates.
Deputy commissioner of police (Task Force) Gummi Chakravarthy said P Lakshman, who owns a diagnostic centre and his accomplice Prabhath Kumar Sangi, were arrested from Malakpet for faking the negative RT-PCR reports. While Mohammed Tariq Habeeb, owner of a diagnostic centre; Gulam Mustafa, who is into travel business; Abdul Basheer, a travel agent; Irfan Ansar, and Kumari, a PHC staff, were arrested by Humayun Nagar police for their role in issuing fake vaccination and RT-PCR negative certificates.
Officials said that the accused issued RT-PCR negative certificates without taking swabs and charged between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000.
"The accused sent dummy samples to a lab with whom he has tie up. The lab issued negative report because test was done without a swab," Chakravarthy said.
In the Humayun Nagar case, Habeeb hatched a plan with Kumari working at the urban primary health centre (PHC) in the area to provide vaccination certificate, especially for those travelling abroad.
These accused managed to generate backdated vaccine certificates and provided it to customers sent to them by the travel agents. For each vaccination certificate, they charged from Rs 800-1,000. Apart from this, the accused were also providing fake RT-PCR negative reports.
The racket came to light after one agency which received the vaccination certificate cross-checked with the PHC. Following a complaint from PHC superintendent, the police unravelled the racket.
