Earlier this month, Corporator Sufiyan Vanu alleged a scam in Covid-19 testing and quarantining of travellers after woman tested positive, then negative on same day; civic body report rules out graft
The BMC said the woman was tested via a new RT-PCR method where a positive case can test negative but a negative case never tests positive. Representation pic
When two Covid-19 tests of an Andheri woman came back positive and negative on the same day, corporator from Wadala East, Sufiyan Vanu, had alleged a Covid-19 scam and sought an enquiry into the incident. A probe by a BMC officer has now determined that there was no scam and has recommended legal action against the corporator for not allowing a Covid-19 positive woman from getting treatment at a Covid-19 centre or quarantining.
Shabista Aklekar, who was going to Bahrain with her baby girl on May 8, had done an RT-PCR test but it had expired by the time of her departure. She was tested again at the airport through the RT-PCR method and the report came positive. The woman was asked to quarantine at a hotel but Vanu got her tested again and the result came negative.
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Also Read: Mumbai: Andheri woman tests positive, negative on same day; corporator calls it a Covid-19 scam
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Parag Masurkar submitted a report on the matter. The report says that for anyone found positive at the airport, BMC arranges for their quarantine at a hotel free of cost. In such a situation, no Covid-19 scam is happening. Aklekar, whose sample was tested at the airport lab, was tested with the new RT-PCR method where a positive case can test negative but a negative case never tests positive. In this case, Vanu did not allow the positive woman to quarantine or go to a Covid-19 centre, for which he should face legal action.
Vanu, in turn, questioned how can BMC probe allegations made against itself. “I have written to BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal and Mayor Kishori Pendekar, demanding an investigation by a retired judge. My complaint was investigated but I was not called for a statement. I will take this matter to the Lokayukta,” Vanu said.
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