Two separate Covid-19 fraud cases in the United States and the United Kingdom have brought individuals of Indian origin under scrutiny over alleged fake testing claims and fraudulent personal protective equipment (PPE) transactions worth millions.
In the US, Rajesh Patel, an Illinois laboratory owner, has been charged in connection with an alleged $66 million Covid-19 testing fraud scheme, according to the US Department of Justice. Prosecutors allege that his laboratory billed the government for more than 380,000 tests that were never conducted, including fabricated negative results for individuals who allegedly did not exist.
The scheme reportedly generated approximately $44 million in government payments, with Patel allegedly retaining around $28 million. He faces five counts of wire fraud, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Indian-origin couple Jogesh Bhandari, 59, and Meenakashi (Meena) Bhandari, 58, have been sentenced for fraud and money laundering linked to PPE deals during the pandemic. Their convictions followed a five-week trial at Leicester Crown Court in July.
Jogesh received an eight-year prison sentence after failing to attend his sentencing hearing. Meena was handed a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid community work. Their associate, Craig Morris, 43, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
According to the UK’s National Crime Agency, the group falsely claimed it could supply millions of boxes of nitrile gloves amid soaring demand for protective equipment. In one transaction, Jogesh received more than $3.18 million for gloves intended for US hospitals, but the shipment never arrived. Another deal worth $1.8 billion proceeded after fraudulent documents were presented to a supplier.
Investigators traced the proceeds to luxury vehicles, Rolex watches, jewellery, holidays and extensive home renovations. The agency said the fraud inflicted substantial losses on businesses when healthcare facilities were struggling to secure essential protective supplies.
