Karnataka Cabinet orders SIT investigation amid Covid scam allegations under previous BJP government

The Karnataka government has decided to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged Covid scam that occurred during the previous BJP government's tenure, according to HK Patil, the state's Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs. The decision was announced on Thursday following a Cabinet meeting.

Patil informed reporters that the commission, led by retired justice John Michael D'Cunha, has submitted an interim report on the Covid scam, recommending recovery of Rs 500 crore. He added that the decision was taken after commission, in its "partial" report spanning 11 volumes, scrutinized expenditures amounting to Rs 7,223.64 crore, later, adding, "they have not pinpointed that so much (scale) is misappropriation."

" We have taken decisions on 15 subjects, major one is that Mr Cunha, whose commission was appointed to investigate into Covid irregularities, he has given his first interim report and in the report he has suggested for recovering Rs 500 crores," said the minister.

After reviewing the interim report, the government has resolved to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a cabinet subcommittee. The purpose of these entities is to oversee and monitor the actions that will be taken in response to the findings and suggestions outlined in the report, according to Patil. He said, "The govt after considering the interim report, has decided to form SIT and cabinet subcommittee to monitor the action would be taken."

"Wherever the criminal element is there, SIT will naturally look into it. Apart from that, the Cabinet sub-committee will be assisted by relevant officers to go into details of other malpractices. The details about those involved are not there in this report and it may come in the final report," Patil added.

Last month, the Karnataka cabinet had announced the decision to refer a report on the alleged irregularities in the management of Rs 7,000-crore Covid-19 funds to a committee headed by the chief secretary to analyse and suggest follow-up action to be taken on the findings of the report. Patil had said at the time that the report, submitted by retired judge John Michael Cunha, had made serious observations that "hundreds of crores" were misappropriated in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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