Karnataka Govt Orders Formation of SIT To Probe Into COVID-19 Pandemic Scam During BJP’s Rule

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has given the nod to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged COVID-19 pandemic scam during the BJP -led government in the state. The latest move by the Congress -led government in Karnataka under Siddaramaiah will now potentially pave the way to probe the management being done during the Covid era and eventually filing a case against the then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The SIT will be headed by an officer, not below the rank of inspector-general and will act based on the findings of the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission. The Commission has recommended the prosecution of the former Chief Minister Yediyurappa and the then health minister B Sriramulu.SIT Likely Comprise Three MembersThe SIT will have the power to further investigate, find the culprit, make an FIR, file a chargesheet, and start prosecution. The formation of the SIT received in-principle approval from the Cabinet last month and is expected to be set up in a few days. The team will likely comprise three members.The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, HK Patil, has accused the previous BJP government of "colossal corruption" and "inhuman incidents" and recalled that the Cunha Commission had studied around 50,000 files and submitted an interim report."The SIT won't just go by the information available in the report. If need be, they will further investigate, find the culprit, make an FIR, file a chargesheet and start prosecution," Patil said.When specifically asked if FIRs would be filed against Yediyurappa and Sriramulu, Patil stated, "FIRs will be filed against culprits and those who worked against people and humanity."He further said, the 7-member sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, which is studying Justice Cunha's findings, has placed its discussions before the Cabinet.Leaked excerpts from Justice Cunha's report show discrepancies in the procurement of three lakh PPE kits from two Chinese firms in 2020.Earlier, the Cabinet decided to recover Rs 500 crore from companies that were involved in supplying Covid-19 equipment and kits. Specifically, Justice Cunha has recommended recovery of Rs 187.91 crore from the health department, National Health Mission and the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation.Patil specified that the SIT will not be involved in the recovery. "Recovery will be done by a separate agency," he said.

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Karnataka Govt Orders Formation of SIT To Probe Into COVID-19 Pandemic Scam During BJP’s Rule

The Karnataka government has given the nod to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged COVID-19 pandemic scam during the BJP-led govt.

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