Fake reports: HC asks probe panel to complete it by Sept 7

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday gave time till September 7 to conclude probe by a panel in the alleged incident of preparing fake Covid-19 report by a private lab in Amritsar in June.

The high court bench of justice Jitendra Chauhan, directed that the committee concludes its inquiry expeditiously and place on record the report before the next date of hearing. It also said that copy of the complaint, which formed the basis of the FIR, be also made available to the court. Posting the matter for September 7, the court has restrained authorities from taking any coercive steps against the lab, Tuli Diagnostic Centre and an accused, Pankaj Soni, among others, before findings of the inquiry are received. Earlier, another bench had restrained the Punjab police from arresting two doctors Dr Robin Tuli and Dr Mohinder Singh.

As per reports, the doctors in collusion with others allegedly prepared fake covid-19 positive reports at their laboratory to fleece patients. The alleged racket had surfaced, when at least four patients, reported to be covid-19 positive at the accused’s lab, turned out to be negative for the disease after a retest at the lab in Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, the reports had claimed. On June 23,

Punjab vigilance bureau registered a case against the owner of TDC, Dr Tuli, and others for attempt to murder, fraud, criminal conspiracy and corruption.

The counsel for the lab, Vivek Kumar Thakur had told court that the kits used by the lab are approved by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). The centre has conducted 1,723 tests, out of which, 110 samples were tested positive and remedial steps were suggested. Globally, an error of 10-12% is being seen with respect to such diagnostic tests being carried out, the court was told. He had also questioned how vigilance bureau came into picture and premises were raided even as the FIR was registered three days after raids.