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Shocking: Journalist prints out COVID negative report for Rs 200 for inter-state movement, arrested

In a shameful incident of a responsible person exhibiting irresponsibility, a journalist with a regional paper in Karnataka was nabbed for printing fake Covid negative reports for the public for just Rs 200. In another case, a PDO officer's husband was involved in arranging Covid negative report over a call.
 

Shocking Journalist prints out COVID negative report for Rs 200 for inter-state movement, arrested-ycb
Author
Bengaluru, First Published May 26, 2021, 6:21 PM IST

In a shocking case of printing fake Covid negative certificates to facilitate public movement has come to light from the Kerala-Karnataka border.

As per the Kutta Police in Kodagu district of Karnataka, a journalist named Ajeej and his associates used to arrange Covid negative reports for people under home quarantine and other places. Those who were suspected Covid patients but still wanted to avoid hospitalization and home quarantine were helped to cross to Kerala from Karnataka.

As both the states are battling Covid cases, the respective borders have been sealed for the general public and vehicles only with permissions and Covid negative report like emergency vehicles - ambulance and goods vehicles have been allowed to ply. It is not easy for anyone to escape the checkpost, but with the help of these fake certificates it appears many have crossed borders.

"The accused persons were operating for the last two months and we were watching their movements. Two days ago, we raided his office premises and seized properties including a computer system, camera. Ajeej MA (41) used to facilitate fake certificates and hence he has been named as accused number 1.

We also have added sections that are covered under NDMA Act and the Epidemic Act. The accused persons have been sent to judicial custody. KA Afzal, KA Asif and SH Jamsheer have been made co-accused in this connection as they allegedly helped others by arranging certificates for others.

Modus operandi:

Accused journalist Ajeej has a photo studio and he downloaded Kerala-based hospitals details. He changes Specimen Referral Form number, the names of person and issues the certificates as RT-PCR negative. Each certificate was sold at Rs 200. While Ajeej used to facilitate a certificate, his associates got the public who wanted fake certificates.

PDO officer's husband Ravishankar gets you certificate via phone

In another incident that came to light today, husband of Panchayat Development Officer in Siddapura area of Kodagu, Ravishankar was arrested for issuing Covid negative certificates.

Ravishankar runs V Tech computer parts business.

As per the cops, he visited the district's portal and took a screenshot of the SRF sheet and then chose similar names of clients. Later he used his phone to edit and prepare the fake Covid negative certificate.

The police are strictly keeping an eye on suspicious movement in the area as the public from both the states are keen on crossing over and may use the shortcut and illegal route and also putting others' lives in danger by carrying Covid infection with them.

NOTE: Asianet News humbly requests everyone to wear masks, sanitize, maintain social distancing and get vaccinated as soon as eligible. Together we can and will break the chain #ANCares #IndiaFightsCorona 
 

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