Bhubaneswar: Puri Police on Friday caught a group of 10 people for allegedly preparing and selling a false negative Covid RT-PCR report to several worshipers to ensure their hassle-free entries to the famous Jagannath temple.
“We have solved syndicates involved in selling fake RT-PCR reports.
The modus operandi they are being investigated,” said Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Police sources said the defendant billed between Rs 500 and Rs 700 for each report of fake RT-PCR.
Both the RT-PCR negative report obtained 96 hours before the temple visit or double-dose vaccination certificate was mandatory for worshipers to offer prayers in the 12th century temple.
The temple was reopened because the worshipers on August 23 after remaining closed for more than four months remembering the second wave of Covid.