Covid funds misappropriated during BJP rule in Karnataka: report claims

Bengaluru: Allegations of misuse of funds, allocated for Covid relief, during the previous BJP-led administration in Karnataka have emerged, NDTV reported.

This comes as the ruling Congress is reeling from the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (Muda) land allotment scam.

The alleged misappropriation of funds took place under the watch of then-Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

A report by Justice John Michael D'Cunha, reviewed by state cabinet on Thursday, brought out irregularities including misuse of hundreds of crores of rupees alongside missing files.

Raising the matter during the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pointed out that the report carried details of ‘substantial’ misappropriation of funds alongside stressing that many files that Justice D'Cunha had requested had not been provided.

The News agency PTI quoted Siddaramaiah as saying that the Judge made ‘serious observations’ about misappropriation of hundreds of crores of rupees, adding that ‘there are many files missing that weren't placed before him despite his repeated requests.’

The cabinet has asked a team of senior officials led by Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh and Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister to study the report, which was submitted to the Chief Minister on August 30.

It is reported that report probed alleged irregularities in procuring medicines, equipment and oxygen supply during Covid under the BJP government.

The judicial inquiry was ordered in 2023 after the Public Accounts Committee in their July-August report had raised serious allegations regarding the COVID-19 management during the BJP's tenure.

The Congress earlier promised that if the party was elected it would carry out a fair inquiry into COVID-19 management irregularities under the BJP administration.