Activist claims BSY, ministers embezzled Rs 821 crore Covid-19 funds

In a serious allegation against the former CM and some incumbent ministers, the activist has said that co-coordinating IAS offi cers, BBMP offi cials were part of 'scam'

Umar Sharieef | NT

Bengaluru: With the 40% commission corruption charge against the BJP in Karnataka yet to subside, a fresh allegation against former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and some incumbent ministers has been levelled.

They were involved in the embezzlement of Rs 821 crore of funds allocated for the management of Covid-19 in the state is the allegation, raising concern among the people and activists. The role of these politicians in the “scam” has invited complaints against them with the Lokayukta police by TJ Abraham, activist, and president of Anti-Graft and Environmental Forum. He alleged that BS Yediyurappa – who was in charge of Bengaluru city to manage Covid-19 “spearheaded” the loot.

News Trail accessed the complaint copy in which the activist accused Minister ST Somashekar, Minister for Co-operation Somanna, Minister for Housing S Suresh Kumar, the education minister, and a few other ministers, as well as IAS officers and BBMP officials who said they falsely showed “They falsely showed the hiring of four-seater sedan maxi cabs, three-wheeler autorickshaws, three-wheeler luggage carriers, and twowheelers as also ambulances during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

An activist said it was shocking that IAS officers, who should have stopped the “scam”, were indeed part of the “misappropriation”. “I will move court if the Lokayukta Police fails to take action,” he said. “BS Yediyurappa was involved in the negotiations, along with officials of the BBMP and other private contractors, to fraudulently use Covid–19 funds for their personal gains,” he claimed in the complaint.

Referring to the deployment of private ambulances during the Covid crises, allegedly only on paper for corrupt purposes and to cheat the BBMP and the state exchequer, the activist said the BJP government grew from strength to strength at the cost of people’s lives amid the pandemic catastrophe.

“The accused persons have taken advantage of the crisis to enrich themselves while putting lives of people at risk,” he added. The total amount of bills for “bogus” maxi cabs, in the name of ambulances, stood at Rs 21,93,25,958.03, according to him.

Lack of facilities

The activist further said none of the falsely shown ambulances had the GPS tracking system in them, nor did they have the radio frequency identification (RFID). Besides, those vehicles didn’t have medical oxygen with 300 bar pressure as is mandatory in life-saving vehicles.

“The specific detection of illegalities to the tune of Rs 26,34,73,119.86 out of Rs 821.22 crore spent by the BBMP, leads to a prima-facie conclusion that there is a probable embezzlement of the entire amount of Rs 821.22 crore spent by the BBMP for the management of Covid:” the complaint reads.