Bhubaneswar: Puri Police on Friday found fake Kovid-19. busted a fraud syndicate involved in the sale of RT-PCR Negative reports to devotees to ensure their hassle free entry into the famous Jagannath: Temple.
Either an RT-PCR negative report or a double dose vaccination certificate obtained 96 hours before the temple visit is mandatory for the devotees to perform puja inside the 12th century temple.
“We have arrested 12 people, including four devotees, in connection with the crime. While the four devotees belonged to different states, eight accused are from Puri. We appeal to the devotees to carry the actual vaccination or the Covid-19 negative report,” said Puri SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Police said the gang members targeted the tourists, who were denied entry to the temple for not carrying any of the mandatory documents. The accused lured the devotees into their trap and charged Rs 500 for each fake RT-PCR negative report.
“We sealed a computer shop where the accused were making fake reports. He collected the original Aadhar cards of the devotees and immediately printed the fake RT-PCR reports. We recently got some fake news and started investigation,” Singh said.
The names of some Covid-19 testing laboratories and hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Puri were misused and fake reports were printed, police said. The police had sent a copy of the seized report to the respective testing centres. During investigation, the report was found to be fake.
“We registered a total of three cases- two at Singhdwar police station and one at Khumbharapada police station. We can arrest some more people. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, we have not disclosed the identity of the accused. We will try to ascertain the exact number of fake reports sold by them,” Singh said.
The police have increased their vigil at the kiosks outside the temple. The police have been asked to properly verify the required documents of the devotees before allowing them to enter the temple.
Closed since April 24, when the second wave of Covid-19 hit the house, the temple opened its doors to the servants and their immediate families on August 12 and 13. Thereafter, only residents of the Puri urban area were allowed inside the temple. From August 16 to August 20. The temple reopened for all on 23 August.
Since August 23, a total of 1,29,174 devotees have visited the deities inside the temple.
Either an RT-PCR negative report or a double dose vaccination certificate obtained 96 hours before the temple visit is mandatory for the devotees to perform puja inside the 12th century temple.
“We have arrested 12 people, including four devotees, in connection with the crime. While the four devotees belonged to different states, eight accused are from Puri. We appeal to the devotees to carry the actual vaccination or the Covid-19 negative report,” said Puri SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Police said the gang members targeted the tourists, who were denied entry to the temple for not carrying any of the mandatory documents. The accused lured the devotees into their trap and charged Rs 500 for each fake RT-PCR negative report.
“We sealed a computer shop where the accused were making fake reports. He collected the original Aadhar cards of the devotees and immediately printed the fake RT-PCR reports. We recently got some fake news and started investigation,” Singh said.
The names of some Covid-19 testing laboratories and hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Puri were misused and fake reports were printed, police said. The police had sent a copy of the seized report to the respective testing centres. During investigation, the report was found to be fake.
“We registered a total of three cases- two at Singhdwar police station and one at Khumbharapada police station. We can arrest some more people. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, we have not disclosed the identity of the accused. We will try to ascertain the exact number of fake reports sold by them,” Singh said.
The police have increased their vigil at the kiosks outside the temple. The police have been asked to properly verify the required documents of the devotees before allowing them to enter the temple.
Closed since April 24, when the second wave of Covid-19 hit the house, the temple opened its doors to the servants and their immediate families on August 12 and 13. Thereafter, only residents of the Puri urban area were allowed inside the temple. From August 16 to August 20. The temple reopened for all on 23 August.
Since August 23, a total of 1,29,174 devotees have visited the deities inside the temple.
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