COVID TESTING SCAM IN KUMBH: SIT ISSUES NOTICE TO THREE ACCUSED FIRMS

New Delhi: Amid the allegations over discrepancies in COVID-19 testing in Uttrakhand during the recently-concluded Kumbh, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has issued notices to three firms (Max Corporate Service New Delhi, Nalwa Laboratories Pvt Ltd of Haryana, and Dr. Lalchandani Lab) involved in alleged COVID-19 testing scam during the recently-concluded Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, sources told The Daily Guardian.

For the last two days, SIT CMO Dr. S.N Jha has been recording the statements of Kumbh Mela CMO Dr. Arjun Singh Sengar. Sources also told The Daily Guardian that the private agency accused of irregulaties in COVID-19 tests during the recently concluded Kumbh Mela continued to upload data on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) portal even after its agreement with the Mela administration concluded. In this regard, DGP Ashok Kumar said, “I have instructed the Haridwar SSP that the SIT should investigate in-depth whatever five to six serious points have come up in the RTPCR Testing Scam, No person found guilty would be spared. Further investigation by the special investigation team is underway. It is investigating all other angles as well.” On June, 17 The Haridwar Police had filed an FIR against one firm and two private laboratories for allegedly faking reports of Covid-19 tests during the Kumbh congregation held this year. Max Corporate Service (MCS) and two private laboratories – Delhi-based Lal Chandani Lab and Hissar-based Nalwa lab – have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. “The whole matter will also be probed by CO rank level officer. There seems to be a flaw also in the process of empanelling the labs. It should have been probed if they were approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) before their empanellment. But this was not done. This is a matter of investigation,” the DM C Ravi Shankar was quoted saying by India TV.

“The matter was being investigated on the district administration level and Dehradun level as well. In the district-level probe, many inconsistencies have been found in the COVID test reports during Mahakumbh. In this connection, a case has been lodged against Max corporate agency and two private labs,” he added. The Maha Kumbh Mela was held from April 1 to 30 this year and was spread over Haridwar district and Rishikesh region, which includes Rishikesh in Dehradun district, Muni ki Reti in Tehri and Swargashram in Pauri.