A major fraud linked to the Covid vaccine transportation process has led to the arrest of a fugitive by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. Prafulla Kumar Nayak, who had been on the run, was apprehended on January 21, 2025 for allegedly deceiving victims out of Rs 15 crore by offering counterfeit work orders related to the Covid vaccine transportation.
According to the EOW, Nayak posed as an official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and, along with accomplices, defrauded individuals by issuing fake work orders for vaccine transportation. The accused would escort victims to the Ministry’s premises and provide them with spurious work orders, leading to a significant financial loss.
The case, registered by the EOW in 2022, includes charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. During the investigation, eight other accused, including the principal orchestrator Hermenn Sabherwal, were arrested. However, Nayak remained a fugitive until his capture.
Nayak, a 48-year-old graduate and travel agent, was also serving as the treasurer of the Aarti Education and Healthcare Society, an organization that was used to deceive the public and misappropriate funds.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to trace any additional links in this large-scale fraud.
