Siddu, DKShi demands judicial probe on misappropriation of Covid-19 funds

Team Udayavani, Sep 23, 2020, 11:29 AM IST

Bengaluru: Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar demanded a judicial probe against the alleged misappropriation of funds by the BJP-led state government.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Shivakumar said, “From distributing food kits to compensation to families of the dead, there are scams everywhere. Why is the government not launching a judicial probe into the misappropriation of funds.”

Meanwhile, the leader pf Opposition Siddaramaiah said the government procured items including personal protection kits, masks, surgical gloves, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, hand sanitizers, and other essentials spending Rs. 4,147 crore when the same could have been procured for Rs. 2,100 crores. He cited information provided by the Health Secretary to substantiate his claim.

“Three lakh PPE kits were imported as the government paid Rs. 2,117 for each of these kits. That is almost seven times more than a Maharashtra-based company’s bid for Rs. 330 per kit. When there are companies selling it within the country at cheaper rates, why didn’t the government buy those,” he questioned.