Karnataka SIT to probe people named by Justice D’Cunha’s report on Covid scam under BJP rule

In October, a cabinet subcommittee was formed under Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to look into the interim report spanning 11 volumes. The subcommittee shared details of the report’s recommendations during a cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil told a news conference.

The commission examined around 50,000 documents before submitting the report, he said.

The SIT will register FIRs against and investigate those held responsible by the commission.

Patil said the irregularities resulted from “inhumane acts of ministers and officials” and that they would be brought to book. “On the basis of the report, the SIT will investigate. It will also start taking action. There are criminal offences committed here,” he said.

The commission has recommended action against Yediyurappa and former minister B Sriramulu by examining a case where PPE kits were imported at inflated prices despite the availability of kits locally at lower prices. The commission also examined irregularities in the departments of medical education and labour during the pandemic.

CBI cases

The cabinet also directed the chief secretary to submit details of six cases of illegal mining that the Central Bureau of Investigation refused to take up despite the Government handing them over in 2013.

The agency registered FIRs and filed chargesheets only in three cases. “In six cases, the CBI has declined to take up investigation, saying that the DOPT (the central Department of Personnel and Training) has not given permission yet or citing some other reason,” Patil said.

In 2018, the CBI said that it could not investigate the cases but did not provide any alternative for the Government to pursue action in the cases, according to the minister.

“The cabinet has decided to investigate these and take action. The chief secretary was directed by the CM to present all details of these cases before the cabinet,” he said.