Cabinet sub-committee to probe Covid scam during BJP tenure in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Karnataka Government has formed a Cabinet sub-committed to probe into the alleged scam during the Covid pandemic.

The committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister DK Sivakumar will have Minister for Home G. Parameshwara, Minister for Law and Tourism H.K. Patil, Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge, Minister for Labor Santhosh Lad and Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil as members.
The Karnataka government had earlier formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in this regard.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated in the order that the retired justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission formed to look into the Covid scam has submitted its first report.
The report mentions that a huge scam had taken place and recommended that action might be initiated, he added.
The development is likely to trigger a debate as the rivalry between Shivakumar and then Minister for Health and present BJP MP K. Sudhakar, who is at the centre of the alleged scam is well known.
Earlier, Karnataka Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil said on Thursday that the decision to form the SIT has been made as there is criminal content in the report. The recovery proceedings will have to be expedited immediately.
The report has been submitted in 11 volumes and investigation has been done into the misappropriation of Rs 7,200 crore, Patil said. “The SIT will look into the criminal aspects. The SIT probe will reveal the roles and involvement. Once the complete report is submitted to the government by the commission, it will throw light on the exact scam and partners in the crime,” the minister added.
He said that the SIT will continue its probe based on the findings and recommendations of the commission.