A case of data fraud has surfaced in which the names of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Chopra appear in a list of people supposedly vaccinated for Covid at Bihar’s Arwal district.
Two Computer Operators have been suspended after lists of people vaccinated at Karpi community health centre that were uploaded on the vaccination portal were recently inspected. The list showed entries in the name of public figures, including Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar.
The local administration has ordered an inquiry after videos showing these lists went viral.
District Magistrate J Priyadarshini said the inquiry would look into how and on whose directive the data fraud took place. “This is a very serious matter. We are trying so hard to ramp up testing and vaccination and then such irregularities are happening. Not just in Karpi, we will look at all healthcare centres. An FIR will be lodged, we will take action and set a standard.”
She said the matter came to light during a recent inspection. “Two operators have been removed, but I am of the opinion that others must also be probed,” she added.
On being questioned, Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey told the media, “I have spoken to the district magistrate and the chief medical officer and asked them to also look at data of other hospitals in the hospitals to ensure there are no errors. If there are, those responsible will be punished as per law. We take this very seriously, if more such cases come to light, action will be taken.”
There was another instance of data fraud in Patna in which people who had reached vaccination centres to receive their second jab were told that they have already got both doses. Responding to this query, the minister said, “These are technical matters. We cannot leave scope for errors in this system. If you make an error, you will face action,” he said.
