The Vidhana Soudha police have registered the first FIR in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of medical kits during the Covid-19 pandemic. The 10-page FIR based on a complaint, filed on Friday, December 13, highlights a Rs 167 crore loss to the state exchequer, but stops short of naming any politicians.
The complaint was filed by M Vishnu Prasad, Chief Financial Officer, Directorate of Medical Education (DME). It accuses former DME Director PG Girish, officials Ragu GP and N Muniraju, a doctor, and two private firms— Laj Exports in Yeshwanthpur and Prudent Management Solutions in Andheri.
It also mentions “other government officers and people’s representatives,” who allegedly colluded to violate the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 1999.
While the FIR does not directly name any politicians, the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission, which investigated the pandemic-era procurement, recommended prosecuting several officials as well as former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Health Minister B Sriramulu.
The first part of the Commission’s report, submitted to the state government in August, uncovered irregularities in the procurement of N95 masks and PPE kits. Following this, the state Cabinet in November formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an Inspector General of Police to probe the allegations.
The FIR alleges that public procurement rules were bypassed during the pandemic, enabling a nexus of officials and representatives to award inflated contracts to private firms. Vishnu Prasad’s complaint accuses the accused of causing massive financial losses to the state while managing the pandemic response.
The police have registered a case under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 1999, and its Rules, 2000. Additionally, sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been invoked, including criminal breach of trust (Section 406), criminal breach of trust by public servants (Section 409), dishonest misappropriation of property (Section 403), and criminal conspiracy (Section 120B).