Last month, some who had received the vaccinations became suspicious when their immunization certificates did not appear on the government's internet portal, reports CNN. When none of the persons who joined the vaccination sessions noticed any of the normal post-vaccination adverse reactions, their suspicions deepened, and police opened an investigation.

"They were using saline water and injecting it," said senior official of the Mumbai police department Vishal Thakur. "Every fake vaccination camp that they held, they were doing this."

According to Thakur, about 2,500 people were given bogus vaccines outside of Mumbai. In May and June, the alleged con artists are suspected of arranging at least 12 private mass vaccination events.

Authorities said that the organizers, including medical experts, charged between $10 and $17 for each dose. The fraudsters made a total profit of $28,000, CNN reported.

Fourteen persons on charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and other offenses were detained by police. Doctor Shivraj Pataria and his wife Neeta Pataria, the owners of the Shivam Hospital in Mumbai, were also detained for their alleged involvement in the vaccine scam.