As BMC orders probe, anonymous letter says internal battle between office bearers led to poor due diligence in Hiranandani vaccination scandal
The trio that had come for the vaccination drive at Hiranandani Heritage, Kandivli West. The members were given what they believed Covishield shots
A day after mid-day reported on Kandivli’s Hiranandani society’s suspicious vaccination drive, a society member delivered an anonymous letter titled ‘Actual Story’, to this reporter. The letter detailed a cover-up and alleged a similar vaccination drive at another location, organised by the team that visited Hiranandani society. It claimed the involvement of two important society office bearers in the drive.
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The letter claimed that a month ago, the residents requested a vaccination camp and one of the office-bearers, Ashish Mishra, claimed he can arrange one with the help of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, to which society members agreed. They were told the charges will be Rs 1,200 plus Rs 60 towards GST.
The letter written anonymously by a society resident claimed that all arrangements were done verbally
The letter claimed that the camp was organised without taking permission from BMC. The biggest mistake, it alleged, was that committee members did not give approval in writing and everything was based on verbal terms and conditions. No receipt was given post-vaccination and on the day of the vaccination, residents got to know that it was conducted by Shivam hospital in Charkop. The letter said that no one was allowed to take pictures or come close to people administering the vaccine. It also said that none of the residents had any post-vaccine symptoms.
Residents were told certificates will be updated on the system four to five days later and none of the society members doubted it as it was arranged by a committee member.
However, no update came on CoWIN app and the vaccination team took details in an excel sheet. The scam started unravelling when a week or so after vaccination, people started demanding certificates.Residents got certificates with heads of different hospitals (Nanavati Hospital, NESCO COVID Centre and Lifeline Hospital) from June 8. Residents started raining questions but did not get a clear reply.
Agent summoned
The letter claimed that committee members were pressured by residents to summon agent Mahendra Singh, who conducted the drive. Mishra was asked to call Singh on June 13.
His questioning revealed that he does not belong to Shivam Hospital and he allegedly admitted that he conducted vaccinations of almost 30,000 people. He said that he bought the vaccines from Shivam hospital at Rs 800/dose and sold them for Rs 1,200/dose. He insisted that the vaccines were genuine.
Residents got in touch with Shivam Hospital to confirm Singh’s claim. The hospital, however, said that they don’t know him. Finally, residents approached Kandivli police to file an FIR, which was registered on June 14. Representatives of Nanavati Hospital also clarified to the society that they did not generate certificates bearing the hospital’s name.
The letter claimed that Mishra conducted a vaccination drive with Singh’s help for over 450 people in Aditya College on June 3. Many of them haven’t received a certificate.
The letter further claimed that Mishra and another office-bearer are backed by a local MLA.
The letter’s delivery
This reporter received a call from an unknown number and was told that she will receive the letter through an autorickshaw driver. The autorickshaw driver said he did not know who gave him the letter. The caller again contacted the reporter through an unknown number and was scared to reveal their identity.
Cheated, says office-bearer
While one of the office-bearers was not available for comment, Mishra first told mid-day to contact the society’s chairman Umesh Shah. Later, he refuted the allegations made in the letter and said, “We were cheated. It was done by the Kokilaben Hospital staff.”
Kokilaben Hospital speaks
In an official statement, Dr. Santosh Shetty, executive director and CEO, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute, stated on Wednesday, “...Certain individuals posing as representatives of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute (KDAH) have been involved in unauthorised Covid-19 vaccination drives. After a preliminary investigation, it has been discovered that Rajesh Pandey, employee of our hospital, has illegally and without authorisation been involved in this fraudulent activity. Rajesh Pandey deceitfully misused the name of the hospital in concert with external individuals and institutions who are not connected in any way with KDAH. The vaccination drives where Rajesh Pandey was involved in his personal capacity were done without the knowledge of KDAH...Rajesh Pandey is not involved in any aspect of the Covid-19 vaccination programme at KDAH and had no access to CoWIN...We have terminated his services, have reported his misdemeanours and are fully cooperating with the authorities in their investigation.”
‘Give report in 48 hrs’
The BMC on Wednesday ordered an enquiry into the vaccination drive and appealed to housing societies to ensure all formalities are done, including their registration, and arrange a proper Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before organising a vaccination drive.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani appointed Vishwas Shankarwar, deputy municipal commissioner, zone seven to conducted an enquiry. A report is to be submitted within 48 hours.
A BMC official said, “Each private vaccination centre is given a registration number by CoWIN. Citizens and housing societies should keep it in mind and contact the ward medical health officer for a recheck before appointing any private immunisation centre.”
He added that an MoU with the organisation concerned is required. Identity cards of the vaccination staff should be verified and beneficiaries should be urged to get digital certificates immediately after vaccination. In case of suspicious activity, the ward’s medical health officer must be contacted.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 353 students received the second dose of vaccine after the government revised the gap between two doses for them. Of the total 68,565 people who received a shot, 51,119 received it at private centres.
Of 68,565 shots administered, 8,401 were given to senior citizens, 13,132 were administered to people between 45 to 59 years and 44,694 given to people between 18 to 44 years, 132 beneficiaries were lactating mothers and 403 were international students.
Inputs by Prajakta Kasale
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No. of residents ‘vaccinated’ at Hiranandani vax drive
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