An interim report from a commission led by retired state High Court judge Michael D’Cunha in India’s Karnataka on Sunday recommended the prosecution of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and former health minister B. Sriramulu for alleged corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, submitted to the Karnataka government on August 31, details extensive financial irregularities in procurement processes under the previous Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) administration.
The commission’s findings indicate serious illegalities at every procurement stage, particularly concerning purchasing 300,000 PPE kits from Chinese suppliers at inflated prices. According to local media reports, the report alleges that these purchases resulted in an excess payment of ₹140,000,000 due to manipulated freight charges and a lack of competitive bidding. It also highlights that local suppliers could have provided similar products at significantly lower costs, raising questions about favoritism towards foreign vendors.
In addition to recommending criminal prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the report calls for disciplinary actions against officials involved in these transactions. The Karnataka Cabinet has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to pursue legal action based on the commission’s recommendations. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the findings corroborate earlier opposition allegations regarding financial mismanagement during the pandemic. Yediyurappa has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, asserting that all actions taken during his tenure adhered to legal protocols.
The ruling Congress government in Karnataka investigated COVID-19 procurement irregularities following widespread concerns over financial mismanagement during the pandemic. The D’Cunha Commission was tasked with examining expenditures related to medical supplies and equipment procured during this critical period, uncovering significant malpractice and corruption allegations against top officials in the previous administration.
