Will BJP fall into CM Siddaramaiah’s trap? Karnataka government orders investigation into Covid-fund scam

Covid-19 fraud Karnataka: The Karnataka government has constituted a SIT to investigate the irregularities in procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic during the BJP rule. The state cabinet has also ordered the formation of a sub-committee to investigate administrative irregularities.

The Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka has accused the former BJP government of a scam worth crores of rupees in the Covid fund. Congress claims that during Covid the state had received a total fund of Rs 13 thousand crores. The Karnataka government has constituted a Special Investigative Team to probe the financial irregularities of Rs 7,223.64 crore during the Covid-19 pandemic during the previous BJP government of BS Yediyurappa.

When did this investigation start?

Let us tell you that this investigation has been started after retired High Court judge Justice John Michael D’Cunha submitted the interim judicial report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The decision to initiate a SIT investigation was taken in the cabinet meeting during the discussion on the Justice Cunha panel report.

The report has revealed irregularities in the purchase of medical devices ranging from masks, medicines, oxygen cylinders and PPE kits, in which many items have been purchased without government approval. According to the allegations, the death toll has also been manipulated. It is being said that companies involved in irregularities will be blacklisted.

Recommendation of recovery of Rs 500 crore

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said that the report has recommended recovery of Rs 500 crore. The Karnataka government had also suspended a senior official of the State Accounts and Audit Department after investigating alleged irregularities in the procurement of PPE kits and medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of suspension, the officer, who was working as a financial advisor at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, was found guilty of violating procurement norms and being negligent.

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