Over 2,000 in Mumbai duped in fake vaccine drives, says govt

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday directed both the state and the BMC to file affidavits to state the new policy guidelines to ensure that there is no repeat of the fake vaccination camps that occurred in Mumbai's western suburbs recently, in which over 2,000 people were duped.

State public prosecutor Deepak Thakare informed the HC that over 2,053 people received fake Covid shots, and 8 persons were arrested so far.

Thakare showed a rough chart. It said in Malad (W), 30 people got fake jabs on May 25, 122 in the next two days in Thane, and 514 in Borivli (W). At Lower Parel on May 29-30, 207 persons, and then 390 at Hiranandani Heritage in Kandivli on May 30 fell prey. On June 1, at Andheri (W), 150 were 'vaccinated', around 200 in Khar on June 3, around 225 in Borivli (W) and then again in Andheri (W) on June 6, 220 more were given shots.

Senior civic counsel Anil Sakhare said when people realised that certificates were from three different hospitals in one camp, BMC started questioning the hospitals. The bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni instructed BMC to find what was the effect of this "fake vaccine" on people. "Do they have antibodies? Were they given saline or water?" the bench asked and said, "They should be taken care of now."

The HC asked, "Did none of the society members suspect anything? Here vaccine was administered to 390 and they paid money in the evening?." It added, "Despite all your efforts, this has happened. So, what are you doing about it?"

The government has sought a week's time. "Last week, we had passed an order and said that this needed urgent attention. Every minute is important," the bench said.