Fake international vaccination certificate racket busted

The police today claimed to have busted a fake international vaccination certificate racket following the arrest of a three-member gang as well as seizure of a large number of fake stamps, certificates and material required to prepare forged documents.
The police action was based on a complaint lodged on July 22 by Ch Lavanya, Medical Officer of the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), according to a release issued by the police.
The racket was noticed by her after she came across a fake certificate which was issued to one Katpalli Rajesh in October 2013 with her forged signature, fake stamps and fake document, which were passed off as genuine documents, the release said.

She suspected the involvement of a former outsourcing employee in the act. Based on her complaint, a case was registered under Section 420, Section 468, Section 471 of the Indian Penal Code and investigation was taken up, the release said.
While investigation was in progress, a special team of the Narayanguda police station nabbed one D Srinivas, a businessman on July 29.
During interrogation, he confessed to have committed the offence.

Accordingly, a raid was conducted on his residence, resulting in the recovery of huge material like forged stamps, printed yellow booklets, stamp pads and green ink pens, which were allegedly used to prepare fake international vaccination certificates, the release said.

Stamp makers S Prakash and P Anand, who allegedly forged stamps and printed yellow booklets illegally were apprehended.
Investigations revealed that the accused D Srinivas, who worked as a computer operator at the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) for two years, observed lacunae in the system and decided to supply fake international vaccination certificates to students and people going abroad, in order to gain easy money.
"He issued fake certificates to customers charging Rs 2,000 for each certificate. He confessed to have issued about 400 fake certificates and efforts are being made to identify those who have obtained and used fake certificates, against whom action will be initiated as per law," the release said.