BENGALURU: Karnataka cabinet Thursday decided to establish an SIT to probe alleged Rs 7,200-crore irregularities in procurement of medicines & medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Basavaraj Bommai helmed BJP govt in state.
The cabinet announced formation of a sub-committee to review administrative decisions taken during the period and to recommend action. These decisions follow an interim report submitted on Aug 31 by an inquiry commission led by retired HC judge John Michael D'Cunha. It highlighted irregularities amounting to Rs 7,223 crore in procurement of medical equipment and medicines. The commission recommended recovering Rs 500 crore from companies involved and blacklisting them.
"The govt will take steps to recover the money. While SIT will take measures such as filing FIRs against those involved in the scam, the govt will wait for the final report by the commission and SIT's probe before deciding further course of action," state law minister HK Patil said. He added that "criminal intent" was involved, which led to the decision to form an SIT and the sub-committee for "review and monitoring."
The Congress govt, dealing with allegations of corruption in Muda case and Valmiki ST Development Corp scam, now has a new line of attack against the opposition. The Covid medical procurement scam probe will focus on BJP MP K Sudhakar, who was health minister during the pandemic, as well as former CMs BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, who were in office from 2019 to 2023.
The cabinet announced formation of a sub-committee to review administrative decisions taken during the period and to recommend action. These decisions follow an interim report submitted on Aug 31 by an inquiry commission led by retired HC judge John Michael D'Cunha. It highlighted irregularities amounting to Rs 7,223 crore in procurement of medical equipment and medicines. The commission recommended recovering Rs 500 crore from companies involved and blacklisting them.
"The govt will take steps to recover the money. While SIT will take measures such as filing FIRs against those involved in the scam, the govt will wait for the final report by the commission and SIT's probe before deciding further course of action," state law minister HK Patil said. He added that "criminal intent" was involved, which led to the decision to form an SIT and the sub-committee for "review and monitoring."
The Congress govt, dealing with allegations of corruption in Muda case and Valmiki ST Development Corp scam, now has a new line of attack against the opposition. The Covid medical procurement scam probe will focus on BJP MP K Sudhakar, who was health minister during the pandemic, as well as former CMs BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai, who were in office from 2019 to 2023.
