Three teams are currently investigating the Haridwar Kumbh RT-PCR test scam. An FIR has been registered against the accused and investigating teams claim to possess gathered evidences indicating fraud. Here is what went on thus far during this case.
Teams investigating the RT-PCR test scam that surfaced during the 2021 Haridwar Kumbh Mela have started calling up all mobile numbers that were registered against the nearly 1 lakh RT-PCR tests that are imagined to be fake. By calling each number, the investigating teams try to determine if the person using the amount even attended the Kumbh Mela within the first place, besides collecting other evidences associated with this scam.
The Uttarakhand government has constituted an eight-member team that's dialling these numbers one by one and verifying them.
Sources say the team has collected several evidences concerning the scam, but more calls are being made and therefore the probe is on.
During the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, the Uttarakhand government had authorised 11 private companies to hold out RT-PCR tests of individuals attending the fair. This was wiped out order to detect Covid-19 cases and stop the virus infection from spreading within the Kumbh Mela area.
Among these 11 companies was one named Max Corporate Services, which successively hired Nalwa Labs and Dr Lalchandani Labs to conduct RT-PCR tests. Nearly 1 lakh administered by these labs are under the scanner.
As per the instructions of Haridwar District Magistrate (DM) C Ravishankar, the labs conducting RT-PCR tests were alleged to mandatorily record details of every person whose samples were being collected. However, despite this, the private labs flouted norms and resorted to illegal means to showcase an inflated number of tests conducted by them.
The DM has already constituted a three-member team to research the matter and therefore the probe is on.
Apart from this, the government has also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to research this case.
WHAT THESE LABS need to SAY IN DEFENCE
Max Corporate Services and Dr Lalchandani Labs have approached the Uttarakhand supreme court and challenged the FIR filed against them.
In its plea, Max Corporate Services argued that charges of fraud levelled against it are baseless. Its counsel Kartikey Hari Gupta said Nalwa Labs and Dr Lalchandani Labs are both testing facilities that are certified by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
"Max Corporate Services has nothing to try to to with this alleged fraud. it's just a service provider. It only provided services to the 2 companies that administered the tests," he argued, adding that even Max wants truth within the case to return out.
"Collection of all samples and their data entry was administered ahead of the capable officials of the govt ," Gupta argued, pleading the court to supply protection to his client from any adverse action from the government's side. "We are able to provide all possible help within the investigation," he told the court.
Meanwhile, Dr Lalchandani labs too has approached the supreme court seeking to quash the FIR registered against it within the Haridwar Kumbh RT-PCR fraud case.
It has argued that it had been given the task to conduct RT-PCR test at the Kumbh Mela by Max Corporate Services, which it administered the tests as per protocol. "All records of the tests are available with us. We are an ICMR certified lab," it stated.
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