Bengaluru, 1 Jan

Karnataka’s judicial inquiry into alleged irregularities during the Covid-19 pandemic reached a milestone on Wednesday with Justice John Michael D’Cunha submitting his final report to the State government.

Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh received the report in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The commission, constituted in August 2023 and headed by the retired High Court judge, probed the procurement of medicines, medical equipment and alleged oxygen supply mismanagement during the previous BJP government.

The inquiry examined procurement worth Rs 106 crore, including Rs 63.8 crore in Bengaluru Urban district, and covered Covid-19 management in Bengaluru Urban and Belagavi districts. The government order instituting the commission cited serious concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee in its July–August 2023 report, which flagged alleged lapses in procurement and oxygen supply that reportedly led to deaths.

In his submission letter, Justice D’Cunha noted that the report had not been made public, but said the government may consider releasing it “at the earliest” given the need for transparency and reforms in public procurement.

The Congress-led government has accused the previous BJP regime of large-scale irregularities in Covid-19 management. The BJP has dismissed the inquiry as politically motivated. Former health minister K Sudhakar earlier alleged that the government had bypassed the Lokayukta, calling the probe a “political vindictive approach” aimed at securing a report to suit its needs.

Rejecting the charge, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the government was not pursuing vendetta politics but accountability. “We want justice. Thirty-six people died due to a lack of oxygen. Should we not investigate?” across the State.