The Justice Michael D'Cunha report on Covid-19 mismanagement sparked controversy, prompting calls for BJP leaders' prosecution. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called D'Cunha an "agent," while Siddaramaiah's cabinet swiftly formed an SIT to investigate alleged corruption and negligence
Published Nov 15, 2024 | 10:56 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 15, 2024 | 10:59 AM
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The Justice Michael D’Cunha report on Covid-19 mismanagement sparked controversy, with calls for the prosecution of BJP leaders. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi went on to label D’Cunha an “agent,” while the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet moved swiftly to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the alleged corruption and negligence detailed in the report on 14 November.
The cabinet meeting held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to set-up a SIT on the Justice D’Cunha report on the alleged irregularities in the Covid-19 management during the BS Yediyurappa regime.
Apart from the irregularities in the purchase of PPE kits, the Justice D’Cunha report claimed that the then government did not utilise the substantial amount of ₹447 crore that was allocated for relief works and health care support during Covid-19.
The report further alleged that the government sent Covid-19 samples to unqualified private labs, with an expenditure totalling to ₹6.93 crore.
According to the Justice D’Cunha’s interim report, it is alleged that the irregularities has occurred to the tune of ₹918 crore in Covid-19 management in the BS Yediyurappa’s regime.
Following the Justice Michael D’Cunha commission report recommending the prosecution of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Minister B Sriramulu, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi had accused Justice D’Cunha of acting as an ‘agent’.
Joshi made this objectionable remark on Justice D’Cunha while he was campaigning for the BJP’s Shiggaon nominee, Bharat Bommai, who is the son of former Chief Minister and Haveri MP Basavaraj Bommai, for the assembly by-polls in Shiggaon on 11 November.
In a scathing attack, Joshi said: “Justice Michael D’Cunha, you are a judge, not an agent. He has always been against them. Why did he have to release an interim report at the time of by-polls?”
“What has this government been doing for the last one and a half years? This drama has been enacted to deviate people’s attention at the time of elections. There is no substance in this report,” Joshi took a dig at Justice D’Cunha and his interim report submitted to the government.
He further accused that Justice D’Cunha released an interim report without issuing any prior notice to former Chief Minister Yediyurappa and Ramulu.
Following the interim report submission by the Justice Michael D’Cunha commission on the alleged irregularities in the Covid-19 management during the BS Yediyurappa-led-BJP government, the Siddaramaiah-led-cabinet has decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for further probe.
The decision was taken by the state cabinet during the cabinet meeting held under the headship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, 14 November.
It was taken after the cabinet sub-committee set-up under the headship of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other cabinet ministers including Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, deliberated on the interim report.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil told reporters: “The cabinet has decided to investigate the criminal elements involved in the Covid-19 mismanagement.”
“This will include registering FIRs, preparing a charge sheet, identifying the criminals, and prosecuting them appropriately to deliver justice to the people of Karnataka,” Patil announced the cabinet decision.
He further stated that the chief minister would soon decide on the appointment of SIT officials. “If necessary, an FIR would be filed, and investigations will be initiated. An SIT would be formed as part of the ongoing investigation.”
“During the Covid-19 crisis, the then government acted in a highly inhumane manner when it should have been focusing on safeguarding the people. Instead, corruption, negligence, deception of the public, withholding information, and mishandling of documents occurred,” highlighted Patil.
Additionally, the functioning of the Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee was restricted, and there was a major effort to keep corruption under wraps.
He further noted: “A hostile environment was created to prevent the effective functioning of legislative committees. Personal protective Equipment (PPE) kits, which were available for ₹330, were imported from foreign countries at inflated prices of ₹2,117 for millions of kits.”
“Furthermore, medicines were procured past their expiry dates, bought at three times the normal price, and deals were made with blacklisted companies.”
“In some instances, payments were made under the guise of donations. The SIT will probe based on the interim report submitted by the commission,” Patil added that the chief minister will soon name officers for the SIT.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao told reporters in Bengaluru: “The actions need to be taken (on Justice Michael D’Cunha report). Because former chief minister, former health minister and others in the government took wrong decisions during Covid-19.”
“The irregularities have occurred and unnecessary expenses have been made. As the commission report is out, we have to take action. The cabinet-subcommittee is looking into other matters,” Rao added that actions will be taken as per the laws.
“There are no ill intentions involved behind this decision. We had made clear allegations when we were in opposition. We had set-up a commission under the headship of retired justice. They have submitted a report. We need to take it to the logical end and actions are being taken,” added Rao.
In a striking revelation, the Justice Michael D’Cunha report has highlighted severe lapses in the utilisation of funds during the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming that a substantial amount of ₹447 crore remained unspent.
According to the report, which was accessed by South First, despite the urgency and scale of the crisis, crucial funds allocated for relief and healthcare support were left unused, raising serious questions about the handling of resources meant to save lives.
The report details that a total grant of ₹1,742.42 crore was received for Covid-19 response. Out of which ₹277 crore was disbursed to districts, ₹1,121.86 crore was allocated to state-level implementing departments, and ₹24 crore went to the Managing Director of the National Health Mission’s office.
“However, only ₹1,406.56 crore was utilised, leaving a considerable ₹340.85 crore unspent during a time of urgent need, allegedly due to the lack of required “kickbacks” which hindered the adequate allocation of resources,” mentioned the Justice D’Cunha report.
Further scrutiny of the Emergency Covid Response Plan-1, which received ₹437.64 crore, reveals that ₹331.15 crore was spent, with another ₹106.48 crore left unused.
The report argues that this financial mismanagement contributed to inadequate healthcare support, which likely exacerbated the toll of the pandemic on the public.
“A total of ₹447 crore was not utilised effectively and played with lives of the people. Instead of safeguarding lives during the COVID-19 crisis, the government’s mishandling of these funds contributed to the tragic loss of thousands of lives,” highlighted the Justice D’Cunha report.
The approval of RT-PCR tests by unqualified private laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic represents a severe breach of government protocols and public trust.
Despite stringent guidelines set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to ensure accurate and reliable testing, 14 private laboratories, lacking the necessary technical qualifications, received authorisation to conduct RT-PCR tests.
“These approvals resulted in payments totalling ₹6.93 crore, a financial burden that compounded the public health risks associated with these unqualified labs,” alleged the Justice D’Cunha report.
It further noted: “The repercussions of this decision were profound. Thousands of lives were potentially jeopardised as critical Covid-19 samples were sent to labs lacking the requisite expertise in molecular testing.”
“This subcontracting of essential testing services without formal government oversight not only sidestepped established healthcare norms but also compromised patient safety.”
“In the absence of direct government orders, unvetted laboratories gained access to sensitive testing operations, undermining the reliability of Covid-19 test results,” mentioned the Justice D’Cunha report.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
