Kerala lab manager held for issuing ‘fake’ COVID-19 certificates to travellers


PTI, Sep 29, 2020, 4:44 PM IST

Malappuram: A manager of a private lab in Valanchery in the district was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly issuing fake COVID-19 negative certificates to those travelling to various Middle East countries.

Arma lab in Valanchery, a franchise of a Kozhikode-based reputed Laboratory, allegedly collected lakhs of rupees from people for conducting the test for coronavirus, police said.

The lab in Valanchery also allegedly issued fake COVID-19 negative certificates to around 2,000 people without actually testing their samples at the Kozhikode-based laboratory, which was given license by ICMR to conduct the test for COVID-19.

As per the agreement between the labs, the Valanchery-based Arma lab has been designated as an agency to collect samples, which will be sent to the Kozhikode-based laboratory for testing.

The Kozhikode-based lab was authorised to issue COVID-19 certificates.

Police said the Arma lab authorities, who had allegedly collected 2,500 samples in the past few months, did not send all of them to the Kozhikode-based laboratory for testing.

“Instead they had sent only about 500 samples for testing and issued fake COVID-19 negative certificates in about 2000 cases. The Arma lab authorities made ‘fake’ letterheads of the Kozhikode-based laboratory and issued the COVID-19 certificates.

The Arma lab allegedly charged up to Rs 2,750 for each test and attained between Rs 40 to 45 lakhs,” police said.

Many NRIs who landed in Saudi Arabia with COVID-19 certificates provided by the Arma lab in the name of Kozhikode-based laboratory were tested positive there.

This made the Saudi Arabian authorities to ban the Kozhikode-based laboratory.

Consequently, many passengers who obtained COVID-19 negative certificates from the Kozhikode-based lab were denied travel to Saudi Arabia.

Acting on a complaint filed by a person allegedly cheated by the lab, the police launched an investigation and arrested the manager of Arma lab.

The case was registered last week and the manager of the Arma lab was arrested on Tuesday. He has been remanded to judicial custody, said Muralikrishnan, SI of police, Valanchery police station.

The owner of Arma Lab is reported to have approached the High Court for an anticipatory bail.

The lab owner is tested positive for COVID-19 and now under quarantine, police said, adding stringent action will be taken against the Valanchery-based lab for committing fraud on COVID-19 test and cheating public with lakhs of rupees.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

Will appear before Lokayukta for questioning in MUDA case, says CM Siddaramaiah

Lies have short life, Cong’s ‘fake’ narrative smashed: Fadnavis

Temple idols found desecrated in Hyderabad, case registered

SC junks plea against quashing of LOC issued to ex-house help of Sushant Singh Rajput

JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal to visit K’taka on Nov 7 to meet farmers protesting Waqf notices

Indian boxer Mandeep Jangra wins WBF’s world title

Related Articles More

Heroin worth Rs 3.5 crore recovered in police raid in Delhi, 2 arrested

Treated Muslims like fuel for ‘lantern’: Prashant Kishor targets Lalu, asks upper castes to stay away from Nitish

Wayanad Bypoll: Politics in country, Kerala not genuinely working for people, says Priyanka Gandhi

Malegaon blast trial: Court issues bailable warrant against Pragya Thakur

Maharashtra Polls: Eknath Shinde targets Uddhav for `giving up’ Bal Thackeray’s principles for power

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Davanagere: Man murdered by relative for insurance money; 4 arrested within 24 hours

Heroin worth Rs 3.5 crore recovered in police raid in Delhi, 2 arrested

Govt clerk found dead in Tahsildar’s chamber, FIR filed against minister’s PA, 2 others

Treated Muslims like fuel for ‘lantern’: Prashant Kishor targets Lalu, asks upper castes to stay away from Nitish

MP Brijesh Chowta urges Kerala CM for strict action against attack on Edneer Swamiji’s vehicle

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.