Find Out the Effects of Immunisation on the 2053 Vaccine Scam Victims: Bombay High Court To Govt, BMC

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni said that the BMC might first have to check the victims for antibodies and then work out the modalities to inoculate them, as, in many cases, the victims were already given vaccine certificates.

"Our anxiety is, what happens to these people? They should be checked for antigens. Find out what is the effect of this fake vaccine on people."

In response to the BMC counsel's submissions that SOPs for vaccination camps in societies are already in place, the bench pointed out that people were defrauded despite these SOPs. Therefore, more urgent measures were required.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate and activist - Siddharth Chandrashekhar – on the difficulties faced by citizens in getting the covid-19 vaccine.

During the last hearing, the court expressed shock at the type of fraud committed on people, victims of fake vaccination camps across the western suburbs of Mumbai.

On Thursday, Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare informed the court that they had filed a status report. Four separate FIRs have been registered regarding the fake camps held at different places. The document, however, is confidential as investigations are underway.

Following a query, he informed the court that there are 2053 victims of the vaccine fraud.

The bench made enquiries about the accused Dr Manish Tripathi and Ashish Mishra, the owner of Aditya Architecture College. Thakare said that a Sessions Court has already rejected Tripathi's anticipatory bail application, and Mishra's statement had been recorded.

He informed the court that statements of atleast 400 witnesses were recorded so far.

"Usually, first money is paid and then services are rendered. Here services were rendered and then money was paid. No society member suspected anything?" the Chief Justice asked.

Advocate Anita Castellino for the petitioner said that the doctors should be asked to check these the victims for antigens.

The bench further noted that modalities would have been worked out to get the victims vaccinated after it was informed that a person could not be issued more than one vaccine certificate.

"Time is of essence here. Every minute is important," the bench observed before listing the matter for hearing on Tuesday after government pleader Geeta Shastri informed the court that the State needed more time to file their affidavit.

Vaccine Fraud

According to a report in India Today, the first FIR was registered by the Kandivali police on June 17 for an unauthorised vaccination drive at Hiranandani Housing society for 390 people on May 30. Six people have been arrested in the case so far.

The second FIR was filed on June 19 at Versova police station by Matchbox pictures after the same group organised a drive for 151 employees.

The third FIR in this case was registered at Khar police station by an executive producer of Tips Industries Ltd against the same accused for organising an unauthorised vaccination drive for 206 of its employees on June 3 and June 4 in Khar (W).

The same group was also accused in the fourth FIR regarding the vaccination of 213 people at Aditya College.