Fake Vaccine Camps Appear To Be 'State's Failure'; Don't Spare 'Big Fish' : Bombay High Court

The court further asked the State's counsel to ask the investigators to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure those playing with the lives of citizens are not spared.

"Please tell the police officers there could be big fishes involved who have not yet been identified. Investigation must be fair, proper and meaningful so that nobody is left out. Playing with the lives of citizens should be taught a lesson whoever they may be of any colour. You understand what we mean."

Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni were 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 bench had asked the state to release a fresh SOP to ensure such fake vaccination camps are not conducted in the future.

On Tuesday, BMC's counsel Senior Advocate Anil Sakhare said the SOP is ready and would be issued tomorrow. The CJ asked the civic body how it planned to vaccinate the 2,000 who have been duped.

Sakhare submitted that they don't know what was administered to the victims as yet and they will need to be tested for antibodies after 15 days. "They can come to us or get it done privately," he said, adding that only one vaccine certificate can be issued on one Aadhaar Card and several of them were already issued these certificates.

Advocate Anita Castellino for the petitioner said that there were several students who were meant to go abroad and need to know if they have to get vaccinated again or not.

"Mr Sakhare, this appears to be a State failure. Whatever tests are required to find out what they were administered, why doesn't the BMC think of doing all the tests?" the Chief Justice asked.

Sakhare assured the court to make submission on the issue during the next hearing on Thursday.

"We also hope and trust that by next week BMC will be in a position to apprise us on the measures taken for 2,053 innocent people duped in fake vaccination camps which were held between May 25 and June 5, 2021 giving rise to crimes referred above," the court observed while dictating the order.

The bench further noted that 7 cases have been registered against 12 accused in the vaccine scam, 11 of whom are in custody.

Vaccination Fraud

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. Eleven accused have been arrested in the case so far.

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

Yet another FIR 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 accused in a fourth FIR regarding the vaccination of 213 people at Aditya College.