Lab assistant arrested in Gurugram for selling forged Covid reports

Used to sell “Positive” reports to those reluctant to join offices !

Gurugram, Feb. 9 (Delhi Crown): A private lab assistant in Gurugram’s DLF Phase-3 has been arrested for allegedly selling fake “Covid Positive” test reports to people who wanted to submit them to their offices and take a break, and “Negative” reports to those who wanted to travel.

The accused has been identified as Sanjeev Kumar (22), a resident of South Delhi’s Mahipalpur.

Anuj Kumar Sharma, the owner of the lab – “Good Health Diagnostic Centre, a franchise of SRL Labs” is out of town, police said.

The lab assistant used to charge between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 per report, but did not collect people’s samples for testing.

Officials of the Chief Minister’s flying squad, Gurugram Drug Controller and the Health Department raided the private lab in DLF Phase 3 late on Tuesday and arrested the assistant.

He had allegedly sold forged Covid-19 test reports to over 600 people in the last five months.

Gurugram DSP Inderjeet Yadav said Sanjeev Kumar used to charge between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 per report. “He would sell positive reports to those who wanted to submit them to their offices and take a break, and negative reports to those who wanted to travel,” the DSP said and added – “He not only sold the reports to Gurugram residents, but to people in Noida, Ghaziabad and Rajasthan as well. During questioning, the manager also revealed that he sold reports to international travellers for over Rs 20,000.”

Police said they have recovered a laptop, printer, rubber stamp, mobile phone, letterheads and Rs. 12,500 from Kumar’s possession.

Gurugram chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Virender Yadav said – “The CM’s flying squad had informed us after they received a tip-off regarding forged reports and we guided them during the process. A decoy customer was sent four days ago and then we verified the reports and found they were forged. Our team had also gone along with the raiding party,” he said.

A case under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forging document) and 471 (using forged document) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 52 of the Disaster Management Act was registered at the DLF Phase-3 Police Station.

Owner of “Good Health Diagnostic Centre” Anuj Kumar Sharma said he was aware of the raid and the arrest of his employee, but insisted he was being framed by a competitor.

“A man contacted me and my staff and requested us for a fake report. We denied him but he kept pleading with us. I am not sure if my staff caved into the pressure. I think someone intentionally tried to frame me and my lab,” said Sharma.

A spokesperson of SRL Labs was quoted as saying that they were aware of the issue and had begun an internal investigation. “We have a zero-tolerance policy against any unethical practices, and we will initiate appropriate action. SRL has the largest number of accredited and approved Covid-19 testing labs in India. Our values of quality and ethical practices have enabled us to deliver extensive services to citizens during this pandemic,” he said.