Indian authorities arrested 14 people and encircled a private hospital as they were investigating an alleged vaccination scam. It was assumed that thousands of people received shots of saline solution and they perceived receiving COVID vaccines. 2,000 people in Mumbai and 500 people in the eastern state of Bengal have fallen prey to this scam.

At least 12 private mass-vaccination sessions were held in May and June by the alleged scammers. They did not keep regional health authorities in the loop when they launched the vaccination camps. They are accused of filling saline solution in the used empty bottles of real vaccine and administering the shots to anyone coming at the vaccination events.

The police registered a case last month as few people receiving the shots were suspicious as they didn′t see their vaccination certificates on the government′s online portal, Cowin. None of the people attending the vaccination reported any of the common post-vaccination side effects. 

The police have arrested 14 people with few doctors related to fraud, criminal conspiracy, and other charges. They sealed the Shivam Hospital in Mumbai and have arrested its owners, Dr. Shivraj Pataria, and his wife Neeta Pataria in the vaccination scam. 

The hospital was an authorized COVID-19 vaccination center but did not have the permission to hold the mass-vaccination camps. The Bombay High Court has called the vaccination scam "shocking" and had asked the authorities to ensure that innocent people are not deceived in the future.

Till now, at least 350 million of India′s 1.34 billion had received at least a 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Source: Yahoo News