Thousands of people in Maharashtra received fake COVID-19 vaccines containing saline solution.

Over 2,000 people were inoculated with saline water instead of COVID-19 vaccines across 12 fake vaccination sites in Mumbai.

Over 2,000 people were inoculated with saline water instead of COVID-19 vaccines across 12 fake vaccination sites in Mumbai.The claim that thousands of people were administered fake COVID-19 vaccines in Maharashtra containing saline solution is true. According to a report by The Hill, Mumbai Police Department senior official Vishal Thakur told CNN that "12 fake vaccination sites had been held in the city, saying that the fake doctors were using saline water to inject their victims". Around 2,500 people received fake vaccine shots, with the organizers making $28,000 in charged fees, the report dated May 7 said.

In June 2020, Mumbai police filed seven FIRs, arrested 14 people on suspicion, and sealed a private hospital. They were charged with attempts at culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, among others.

The fake centers were put in place in May and early June 2021. People reported the matter after some became suspicious of the vaccination certificates they received. Some complained that their COVID-19 jabs were not registered in the Indian government's Cowin portal, which tracks vaccinations. Also, the organizer's hospital names did not match the names on the vaccination certificates.

According to an India Today report, state health minister Rajesh Tope said that the accused procured empty Covishield vaccine bottles of the "97 batch which was sent to Gujarat" and filled them with saline water. He added that all the victims would undergo an antibody test and be administered two doses of the Covishield vaccine.

On June 22, the Bombay High Court directed the Maharashtra government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to form a policy to avoid fraud or fake vaccination incidents drives.