Panel report on Covid ‘irregularities’ may be tabled in winter session

Bengaluru: The inquiry commission, headed by retired high court judge John Michael Cunha, submitted its interim report on alleged irregularities in Covid-19 management during the previous BJP regime. The report was handed over to chief minister Siddaramaiah Saturday.

The 1,722-page interim report has looked into purchases and procurements to the tune of Rs 6,651 crore made by family and health services, National Health Mission, directorate of medical education, Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, BBMP central office and four zonal offices.

The commission still has to submit inquiry reports pertaining to four zones of BBMP and 31 districts for which it has been given a six-month extension.

After receiving the report, Siddaramaiah is said to have told the commission that the report will be tabled in the legislature during the upcoming winter session, and appropriate action will be taken against those found guilty.

This move is seen as an effort to counter opposition BJP, which has been campaigning vigorously against Siddaramaiah over the alleged Valmiki ST Corporation and Mysore Urban Development Authority scams.

During the previous BJP regime, opposition Congress had aggressively campaigned on issues related to Covid-19 management irregularities.

The commission's terms of reference included probing purchases of medicines, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits, Covid-19 management equipment, ventilators, and oxygen cylinders by the health and medical education departments. Additionally, the commission was asked to investigate deaths due to oxygen shortage.