As there was a controversy doing rounds in which a woman doctor being transferred for “refusing” to test NRIs – sent by the local MLA – for coronavirus on TrueNat machine at Moga Civil Hospital, a Ludhiana man has alleged that an ‘agent cum middleman’ took Rs 31,500 from him to get his nine relatives tested before their return to Hong Kong and promised negative reports even if they tested positive for the infection.
The Indian Express reported that Charanjit Singh, a resident of village Deherka of Ludhiana, in his complaint, submitted to Moga deputy commissioner, has alleged the agent had charged Rs 3,500 per test.
He further stated in his complaint that his NRI parents and other relatives had to return to Hong Kong on August 4 and it was mandatory to get them tested 72 hours prior to the flight.
“When we visited the Moga civil hospital, there was a huge rush of patients who were waiting to get tested. The doctors told us that it wasn’t possible to get my family tested that day. When we were returning, an agent named Om Prakash came to us and said that he can get our tests done for Rs 3,500 per person. We had no other option then but to pay him Rs 31,500 for nine persons as we needed the reports urgently but now we want proper probe in the matter. We got to know that many others have been duped like us. Hospital’s CCTV cameras of our meeting with Om Prakash and call records can be checked,” read the complaint.
Meanwhile, Om Prakash, who is a resident of Suraj Nagar in Moga, has alleged that he handed over an amount of Rs 1.70 lakh for testing of 48 NRIs to Moga district epidemiologist Dr Naresh Amla but the tests were never done.
He has also claimed that the doctor is yet to return the money even as 48 NRIs, most of them Hong Kong bound, have already returned after getting the tests done from other hospitals and health facilities.
Moga deputy commissioner Sandeep Hans said that he has forwarded Charanjit’s complaint to SSP for probe. “As per the complaint we have received from Charanjit Singh, Om Prakash took Rs 3,500 for each test for getting his nine family members tested and gave negative reports. Police will further probe the matter on Om Prakash’s allegations against Dr Amla,” said DC.
Moga MLA Dr Harjot Kamal had also alleged that NRIs are being ‘cheated’ at Moga Civil Hospital and Rs 3,500 per test are being ‘extorted’ from them.
