FIR filed against several officials and private companies for alleged fraudulent activities during Covid-19 pandemic
Bengaluru: A formal complaint has been filed against a number of public servants and commercial businesses for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities during the COVID-19 epidemic, which resulted in a significant loss of Rs 167 crore for the state exchequer.
The main focus of the accusations is the unlawful acquisition of N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits for healthcare workers.
A previous Director of the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and the management of several private enterprises are among the important individuals accused in the complaint, which was made by Dr. M. Vishnuprasad, the Chief Accounting Officer of the DME.
Despite strong suspicions about their possible participation, the Vidhana Soudha police have launched an inquiry but have not named any high-ranking officials or political leaders.
According to the lawsuit, the Medical Education Department bought necessary medical supplies at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 without following authorized procurement processes.
The procurement of 2.59 lakh N95 masks and corresponding PPE kits for physicians and medical workers at 17 government institutions and a super-specialty hospital was approved by the state government on August 18, 2020.
There were many degrees of suspected illegalities in the procurement process, despite government instructions. It was discovered that the agreed-upon amount of PPE kits was apparently never delivered to the designated hospitals, despite the fact that the contract procedure had been granted for their delivery. Additionally, there were purported inconsistencies in the invoices and paperwork.
The FIR further notes that a Mumbai-based business is accused of being a major contributor to the fraudulent bidding process by raising prices and acting unethically. It is suspected that certain authorities are complicit in these unlawful acts. According to the inquiry, political figures from the previous administration may have been involved in the fraud’s suspected orchestration.
According to Dr. Vishnuprasad’s allegation, the state government lost a total of Rs 167 crore as a result of the unlawful procurement practices. The police have started the process of notifying the accused, and it is anticipated that the political personalities involved will shortly be questioned. To fully examine the fraud, a CID investigation or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) may be established.
In the meantime, the Karnataka government’s cabinet subcommittee met on December 7 to examine potential measures in light of Justice Michael D’Cunha’s findings on suspected Covid-19 violations.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Home Minister H.M. Parameshwara, Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao, and other committee members were present during the meeting.
The government allegedly neglected to employ the large Rs 447 crore allotted for relief and healthcare, according to Justice D’Cunha’s report, which concentrated on the alleged mismanagement during the Covid-19 era during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s administration.
The government allegedly sent Covid-19 samples to uncertified commercial laboratories, costing up to Rs 6 crore in unnecessary expenses, according to the report. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established in response to the report’s conclusions in order to take further action.
