Covid scam: Cabinet meeting to likely to okay SIT probe against Yediyurappa, Sriramulu, Sudhakar

BENGALURU: The Siddaramaiah cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Thursday, is expected to approve an investigation into the role of former CM B S Yediyurappa and his cabinet colleagues B Sriramulu and Dr K Sudhakar in the alleged Covid scam.

The Justice Michael D’Cunha committee has already submitted an interim report and the government has even announced that a special investigation team (SIT) will be set up. The cabinet meeting on Thursday is expected to throw light on who will head the SIT.

The allegations include corruption in import of 3 lakh PPE kits from two Chinese companies in April 2020, at higher prices, thereby causing Rs 14 crore loss, not calling for tenders and violating procedures, paying Rs 6.93 crore to 14 private labs not recognised by ICMR, in violation of rules and misuse of Rs 7.3 crore funds meant for creating awareness about Covid-19.

As per the interim report, of the Rs 1,747.47 crore set aside for Covid-19 management, records are available for expenditure of Rs 1,406 crore while Rs 340 crore was misused. The report also mentions misuse of ECRP funds and notes that while there are records for expenditure of Rs 330 crore of the Rs 447 crore, Rs 106 crore was mismanaged. The report says that during the pandemic, wasteful expenditure of Rs 4,446 crore was made by the previous BJP government.