The Karnataka government is taking a closer look at how money was handled during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have handed the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). This news came out on Friday, two months after police started looking into some strange financial activities.
A team from the CID, led by Police Superintendent Raghavendra Hegde, will investigate the suspected corruption that happened under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The current Congress-led government is using this investigation to defend itself against other accusations it is facing.
The police had filed a First Information Report (FIR) on December 13, targeting high-ranking officials. Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and former health minister B Sriramulu might also be in for some scrutiny as the investigation goes on.
The government had already created a special group to look at a report from Justice John Michael D’Cunha, which helped guide their decision to investigate further. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that anyone found guilty of misusing Covid funds would face the law.
Shivakumar raised alarms about testing numbers. He pointed out that in the area managed by the BBMP, 84 lakh RT-PCR tests were done, racking up bills of ₹502 crore, and ₹400 crore has already been paid. He questioned how such a high number of tests could be done in households.
At Kidwai Hospital, similar issues arose. They claimed to have conducted 24 lakh tests for ₹146 crore without the right approvals. This raised serious questions about the testing process.
Previously, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was looking into this case but was hesitant due to the senior politicians involved. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara visited Udayagiri police station after chaos erupted from a controversial social media post. He met with high-ranking officers to review what happened.
Parameshwara shared that arrests were being made based on video footage, ensuring that justice is served. He promised that anyone responsible for the violence, especially those who attacked police, would face action. Forensic teams are examining videos to ensure only the right people are charged. They are also checking for any outside influences on the incident.
Parameshwara eased worries about police morale, saying, “Our officers are well-trained.” He rejected claims of police being ineffective and praised them for quickly controlling the situation. When asked about using extreme measures like demolishing properties of rioters, he insisted, “The legal system in Karnataka is strong enough to handle this without going that far.
Leave a Reply