Yediyurappa, Sriramulu will be prosecuted; Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao recommended

Karnataka: Retired High Court judge Michael D Cunha is investigating the alleged Covid-19 scam that took place during the previous BJP-led government in Karnataka. A commission of inquiry was constituted under the chairmanship of D Cunha and after the report was presented, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has recommended prosecution against the then Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Health Minister B Sriramulu.

According to news agency PTI, Rao said that it is clear that there was looting and looting in the purchase of equipment and medicines during Covid-19. The minister said that the report proves the Congress’s allegation that the then government misused the situation to make money in the name of the dead.

“There were some flaws,” Rao said. No one could question him during the pandemic. Taking advantage of that situation, the then government violated the rules and looted and took decisions convenient for itself. Then as the opposition party, we (Congress) tried to highlight this issue.”

Second report will come in six-seven months

Rao says that after coming to power in the state, we constituted an inquiry commission under the chairmanship of a former judge to conduct the investigation and submit the report. He said that the commission has submitted the preliminary report and the second report will be given in six-seven days. It can be handed over in a month because a lot of documents have to be scrutinized. “The Cabinet sub-committee constituted has discussed the report and it is true that the then Chief Minister Yediyurappa and former Health Minister Sriramulu have been directly named.”

loss of 14 crores

There was a loss of about Rs 14 crore in the purchase of PPE kits. It was purchased at a higher price in violation of rules. Despite their availability in the country, they were purchased from China-Hong Kong.” Citing the serious allegations made in the report, he advised Yediyurappa and Sriramulu to stay away from campaigning for the assembly by-elections to be held on November 13. He also said that during the investigation, allegations may emerge against the person who took over as Health Minister after Sriramulu.

The government had decided to form a committee

The preliminary report was submitted by Justice Michael de Cunha on August 31. The government had last month decided to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a Cabinet sub-committee to take further action based on the report. After this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah constituted a seven-member cabinet sub-committee under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister HK Patil, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, Labor Minister Santosh Lad and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil are the members of the committee.

The meeting will be held after the by-election

Quoting the report, the Health Minister alleged that the conditions set in the PPE kit deal were in violation of rules and were in favor of the companies, in which they were paid Rs 14 crore more. He said, “The report has recommended action against Yediyurappa and Sriramulu and prosecution against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act.” The government has no intention of ‘political revenge’. Following the said recommendation, a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee was held and another meeting will be held after the by-elections are over.

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