Justice Michael D’Cunha, leading an inquiry into COVID-19 deaths and procurement irregularities, has delivered the final report to the Karnataka government. The report, presented to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, emphasizes the importance of making its findings public for transparency and reform in public procurement. The Commission of Inquiry on Medical Procurement and COVID-19 deaths, chaired by retired Justice Cunha, stressed the need for releasing the report promptly due to public interest and the urgency for transparency in procurement practices.
The Commission has refrained from publicizing the report but has urged the government to consider its swift release given the significance of the subject. Following the submission of an interim report earlier, the State government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after reviewing the preliminary findings of the Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission. Additionally, a Cabinet sub-committee, led by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, was formed to review the report.
The Karnataka government has transferred the COVID-19 scam investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) due to the reluctance of senior IPS officers to lead the SIT, given the involvement of high-ranking IAS officers and politicians. The Karnataka Congress has accused the BJP of misconduct during the pandemic, as revealed in the Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission’s report. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has criticized the BJP, alleging corruption during the COVID-19 crisis.
