Justice Cunha Recommends Probe into Yediyurappa PPE Graft Case

Bengaluru: After the Justice John Michael Cunha committee recommended prosecution of former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and then health minister B. Sreeramulu under the Prevention of Corruption Act for their direct involvement in the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits at exorbitant prices by flouting rules during Covid-19 pandemic, Yediyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that he did nothing wrong and all purchases were made as per rules.

Yediyurappa, speaking to mediapersons, exuded confidence that the Congress government in Karnataka will not succeed in their malafide attempts.

Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that an inquiry would be instituted against Yediyurappa and Sreeramulu based on the report. The BJP leaders have been accused of committing financial irregularities of `14 crore.

PPE kits were available in the country but purchases were made from abroad, particularly from China and Hong Kong, the minister pointed out, and stated that these leaders used the Covid-19 pandemic situation to their advantage to loot money when people were panic stricken. “It is shows these leaders lacked humanity,” Gundu Rao said.

After Congress came to power in Karnataka an investigation was appointed under Justice Cunha to probe alleged irregularities during Covid-19 pandemic. Gundu Rao told reporters that the Cunha committee had submitted his first report, and the second report was expected in about six months since there were a large number of documents that remains to be examined.

The minister said the government would explore all legal routes otherwise the accused persons would knock the doors of the court and obtain a stay.

Gundu Rao asked Yediyurappa and Sreeramulu to refrain from campaigning in the bypolls to the Assembly seats of Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna since they have serious allegations against them.