The Karnataka government has announced the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) and a cabinet subcommittee to further investigate irregularities in the purchase of equipment and medicines during the COVID-19 scam. These purchases were made when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in power. This decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This decision was made after the Justice Michael D'Cunha Commission of Inquiry gave a partial report on August 31. The report is made up of 11 parts and looked at how ₹7,223.64 crore was spent during the pandemic. The Commission suggested that ₹500 crore should be recovered, but it didn’t say exactly how much money might have been misused, according to Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil.

Details of the report and further action

The Justice Michael D'Cunha Commission has reviewed approximately 55,000 files from various departments related to the purchase of COVID-19 equipment and medicines. The report is still incomplete, as inputs from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) zones and 31 districts are yet to be received. Even this, the partial report has already indicated the need for recovery proceedings.

COVID-19 scam
Image Source: FDA

After seeing the findings in the report, the Cabinet has decided to quickly start getting back the money and block any companies or businesses involved in the wrongdoing. Minister H. K. Patil said that because the report hints that there might be criminal actions involved, the SIT will look into those matters. The Cabinet subcommittee, with the help of other officers, will also look deeper into other issues of dishonesty.

Additional cabinet decisions

Besides setting up the SIT, the Karnataka Cabinet also decided to cancel 43 criminal cases that were filed in different police stations in the state. They also extended the time for the SIT that is investigating illegal mining in Karnataka by one more year to finish the remaining cases.

The Cabinet has also approved the construction of Reshme Bhavana at Okalipuram, Bengaluru, at an estimated cost of ₹527.50 crore. The Karnataka State Minerals Corporation Limited (KSMCL) will pay for the entire project. Additionally, they have approved the construction of a modern cocoon market in Shidlaghatta, Chikkaballapura district, which will cost around ₹200 crore.

In another development, the Cabinet agreed to create the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation under the Companies Act, 2013, aiming to boost skill development in the state.

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