After U'khand HC, sessions court, too, refuses relief to main accused in Kumbh scam

Haridwar: After the Uttarakhand high court (HC) refused to grant interim relief to Mallika Pant and Sharat Pant, promoters of Max Corporate Services, in the Covid-19 testing scam during Kumbh, the sessions court, too, has rejected their anticipatory bail application.

Seeking a stay on their arrest, the accused had knocked on the door of the sessions court, which turned down their plea earlier this week.

Declared proclaimed offenders, the duo has been evading the police, who have been unable to track them down so far.

Meanwhile, the health department has slapped notices on Kumbh mela health officer Dr Arjun Singh Sengar and health officer in-charge Dr NK Tyagi, who were suspended for their role in the testing scam, asking the two to file a reply within 15 days.

In their defence, Mallika Pant and Sharat Pant, through their advocate, had stated that Max Corporate Services was in agreement with Nalwa Laboratories and Dr Lalchandani Laboratories for providing manpower and other logistics.

Both labs were responsible for sample collection, testing, data feeding and verification of Covid testing during Kumbh, the Pants had alleged.

When queried about the delay in getting to the main accused in the scam, circle officer (city), Abhay Singh told TOI, “We are trying to trace them. The court has already declared them proclaimed offenders. We have pasted notices outside their residences in Noida and Haryana and will soon seize their properties under section 83 of the CrPc as well.”