Karnataka’s COVID-19 response has been tainted by a ₹167 crore scam under the previous BJP government. Misuse of public funds, inflated procurement costs, and expired medical supplies were highlighted in a newly registered FIR.
A Trail of Misappropriated Funds
The FIR filed by Dr. Vishnu Prasad M, Chief Accountant at the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), details shocking irregularities during one of the state’s most critical periods. PPE kits and N95 masks, sanctioned under ₹41.35 crore for medical institutions, were either not delivered or procured at inflated rates.
Key violations include:
- Tender Manipulations: Contracts were awarded to firms not involved in the bidding process, breaching the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.
- Illegal Purchases: PPE kits worth ₹1.80 crore were procured without approvals or supply orders.
- Funds Diversion: Payments totalling ₹39.54 crore bypassed official suppliers.
Administrative and Procedural Breaches
The FIR implicates senior officials, including Dr. P.G. Girish and others, for criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. It also names companies like Laj Exports and Prudent Manage Solutions for their role in fraudulent transactions.
The complaint underscores misuse of funds during the pandemic emergency, with ₹35.31 crore allocated between December 2020 and March 2021 also siphoned off through direct purchases, flouting procurement norms.
The Role of the Michael D’Cunha Commission
An interim report by Justice Michael D’Cunha highlighted widespread irregularities, including overpriced purchases from Chinese firms and ₹918.34 crore worth of questionable procurement contracts. The report recommended prosecuting senior BJP leaders, including the then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Health Minister B. Sriramulu.
Formation of an SIT
In response to the revelations, the Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the financial mismanagement. The SIT, led by a senior officer of Inspector General rank, is expected to uncover more details and potentially implicate political figures as the investigation progresses.
What Lies Ahead?
While this FIR exposes significant corruption, further investigations are likely to unearth deeper involvement and larger sums misappropriated. The political implications of these findings are bound to be far-reaching as accountability for pandemic-era decisions becomes a focal point.
This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
