Probe committee verifies 60,000 phone numbers
DEHRADUN: A probe committee led by Haridwar chief development officer (CDO) Saurabh Gaharwar, has verified about 60,000 phone numbers mentioned in the tests conducted by the two testing laboratories during the Mahakumbh with 35,000 still remaining to be verified, officials said on Tuesday.
Gaharwar has already questioned representatives of Max Corporate Services and two laboratories - Nalwa Laboratories and Dr Lal Chandani Laboratories - which were given the subcontract by Max Corporate Services to conduct Covid tests of people coming to visit the religious extravaganza.
The testing laboratories, which conducted about 1.50 lakh tests, are accused of conducting fake tests using mentioning fake contact numbers and same Aadhaar card numbers in many tests. The probing committee is examining the phone numbers in its investigation to find out the number of actual fake tests conducted. “We had to verify about one lakh phone numbers mentioned in the tests. Of that, we have verified 60,000 while about 35,000 are still left,” said Gaharwar. He said his committee was not able to continue the verification process due to his department’s review meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. “My department will be busy in that meeting only. Once it gets over, we would resume the process
We had to verify about 1L phone numbers mentioned in the tests. Of that, we have verified 60,000 while about 35,000 are still left SAURABH GAHARWAR, chief development officer
which will take at least 10 days to complete. The report would be submitted only after that,” said Gaharwar.
Meanwhile, a special investigation team (SIT) of Haridwar district police, which is conducting a separate probe in the case, is likely to make the first arrest in the next few days.
One of the officers in the SIT privy to the probe details on the condition of anonymity said, “The SIT has gathered many details after questioning the accused involved and examining the documents. With to the findings so far, it is somewhat sure that a scam had happened in the Covid-19 tests to siphon off money from the administration by the testing laboratories in a fraudulent manner.”
“The SIT will soon make its first arrest in the next few days. The accused is from one of the testing laboratories,” said the official.