Couple destroys kits at sample collection unit for delay in testing

Duo allegedly wanted preference, argued with PMC staffers at the Ambegaon Budruk facility

In an incident of vandalism that has come to light at a COVID-19 testing centre in Ambegaon Budruk on Tuesday, a couple has been identified for causing disruption in service after the husband-wife duo had to allegedly wait for over two hours to give their swab samples for testing.

When the two reached Lakshmibai Hazare Vastigruh, the free-of-cost swab collection facility run by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) around 10.30 am on Tuesday, it was already teeming with people waiting for their turn to give their swab samples.

The long queue of citizens added to the lag in testing, which apparently enraged the couple. The two seemingly picked up a fight with the healthcare staff present there and demanded to be given preference in testing before others, many of whom were PMC workers and senior citizens. The accused allegedly meddled with the collected samples, several of which were seemingly virus-positive, and dropped the containers with the swab samples on the ground and destroyed the kits. They even abused the government employees, preventing them to do their duty, said cops. A case has been registered at Bharati Vidyapeeth police station in this regard against the two accused.

It is important to note here that while the woman in question has tested positive, her husband’s COVID-19 report has come negative.


According to the police, Nitin Raghunath Rajguru (45), a health inspector with PMC, has filed a complaint against the two accused. Since the woman has tested positive for COVID-19, she has been hospitalised for further treatment, while her husband has been put under home quarantine, added officials. Further legal procedure related to the couple’s arrest and other formalities will likely be conducted once concerns regarding the couple’s health are eliminated.

Police personnel informed that the chaos broke out around 12.30 pm on Tuesday. Separate swab collection rows were made for regular citizens and PMC employees, while the couple was informed that testing would take time. This allegedly did not go down well with the duo, who threw testing kits on the ground and damaged the samples collected.

Commenting on the showdown, Rajguru said, “Our staffers were collecting swab samples from two separate lines demarcated for PMC workers and the general public. Suddenly, two members from the general queue charged at the healthcare workers and demanded to be tested on priority. This led to an argument and our equipment being damaged by the accused. While some 50 swab samples were already collected, there were another 10-12 people to go. But the accused ransacked the kits and threw all the containers to the ground, wasting our day’s efforts.”

While senior citizens, pregnant women and children from the general queue were given priority, the accused woman demanded to be tested first, states the first information report (FIR).

Assistant police inspector AR Kavathekar from Bharati Vidyapeeth police station shared, “A case has been registered against a husbandwife duo under sections 186, 352 and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 504 (break the public peace by provocation), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 3 (committing mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, in this matter. The couple will be arrested after their health issues are sorted.”