Thane: Two ward boys nabbed in fake RT-PCR racket

THANE: The Thane crime branch (Unit 5) arrested two ward boys working on contract at a Thane Municipal Corporation-run Covid hospital for allegedly issuing fake RT-PCR reports.
The arrested men have been identified as Afsar Mangwana and Sankpal Dhanve. Based on a tip-off that staff from a civic-run Covid hospital were issuing fake RT-PCR reports, the cops sent a decoy to nab the duo red-handed.
“The accused ward boys charged Rs 1,250 each for the fake certificates issued based on Aadhar cards without taking the swab,” said Vikas Ghodke, senior inspector.
The duo sent the unprocessed swab sticks to the testing lab which came out with the negative RT-PCR reports, added Ghodke.
Subsequently, the duo was arrested while issuing the fake certificates to the decoy arranged by the crime branch officials. The certificates were also seized.