32-year-old Prahallad Bisi from Odisha’s Bargarh district was arrested on Friday after he was found to be manufacturing a fake COVID vaccine using a ‘top-secret formula’. There were several vials that said ‘Covid-19 vaccine’ that were confiscated from his house and he was taken into police custody. This had come to the notice of the authorities after he had reportedly mailed them asking for a ‘license’ to sell his vaccine.
He had refused to reveal the composition of his purported vaccine, calling it a “top secret” during the interrogation by the drug inspectors. The accused had reportedly studied only till 7th standard and had not been selling the ‘vaccine’ yet.
“We got to know about his claim when he sent an email asking for a license to sell the product he calls the vaccine. During the raid, we found several glass vials with stickers of Covid-19 vaccine, some powders and chemical materials,” said Bargarh drug inspector Sasmita Dehury. “We have booked him under section 18(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. We are investigating if the man was previously involved in administering any drugs in the locality,” Dehury added.
There were also vials labelled ‘anti-infertility’ medicines found in his residence that he claimed had been fetching him a good amount of money so far.