Mumbai city police have filed a case against a couple and their daughter for purportedly forging their COVID-19 positive test report claiming they all were negative, in order to travel to Jaipur. Maharashtra government declared that any citizen who travels from Mumbai to Jaipur should get a Covid free report 72 hrs in prior to the journey date.
On the complaint raised by BMC H/West ward official Dr Omprakash Jaiswal, reportedly an FIR was lodged in Khar police station against Lakhmichand Thawani (53), his wife Leena Thawani (51) and their daughter Diya Thawani (15), who is a minor.
A Khar official asserted, “As per the rules, they could travel only if they tested negative for Covid. Hence, the family underwent testing through a private lab on February 26. Their report came positive on the morning of February 27”.
As the family wanted to board a 9am flight to Jaipur, they didn’t disclose the findings of the report to anyone and headed to the airport. However, BMC officials approached a civic doctor for assistance. Reportedly the doctor felt suspicious and acquired the lab report to cross check and later contacted Thavani.
Thawani told the doctor that his family has already left for airport as they all got negative Covid report. When the doctor urged him to send the report, Thawani allegedly sent him a counterfeit report that showed all three Covid-19 negative.
Senior inspector of Khar Gajanan Kabdule said he would imprison after they test negative.