The Bombay High Court has quashed an FIR and chargesheet against three Mumbai residents accused in a case involving allegedly fabricated negative COVID-19 RT-PCR reports used to ease entry restrictions into their housing society during the pandemic lockdown.
Justice Milind N. Jadhav passed the order on August 10, 2026, after taking note of the society’s decision to support the petitioners and withdraw its objection.
Background of the Case
The case arose from an FIR registered at Gamdevi Police Station in 2021 under Sections 188, 269, 420, 465, 468 and 471 of the IPC. The three petitioners were residents of the society.
According to the order, during the COVID-19 lockdown, fabricated negative RT-PCR reports were allegedly prepared to avoid the society’s entry protocols. Investigation indicated that a Sony VAIO laptop and Adobe Illustrator CS3 software were used to create the reports purportedly issued by Metropolis Laboratory.
The society later passed a resolution stating that its members had suffered no actual harm or illness. It also considered the young age and future prospects of two petitioners and filed a no-objection affidavit before the Court.
Court’s Observation
Justice Jadhav noted the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 lockdown and the difficulties people faced because of strict protocols.
However, the Court made it clear that the circumstances did not erase the legal character of the conduct.
“An act of crime will remain as an act of crime,” the Court observed, while still considering the circumstances in deciding the petition.
Decision
The High Court allowed the petitioners’ plea and quashed FIR No. 134 of 2021, the chargesheet dated August 28, 2021, and all consequential proceedings pending before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Girgaon.
The Court directed each of the three petitioners to pay ₹10,000 as costs to A.K. Munshi Yojana’s J.T. Sheth Mandbuddhi Vikas Kendra within one week.
It also permitted them to seek return of their seized laptop and other goods from the Magistrate.
Case Details:
Case Title: Shivaji Maruti Kamble & Ors. v. State of Maharashtra & Anr.
Case Number: Writ Petition No. 3893 of 2026
Judge: Justice Milind N. Jadhav
Decision Date: August 10, 2026
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