Fri Nov 08 19:10:56 UTC 2024: ## Karnataka Govt Accused of Wrongdoing in COVID-19 PPE Kit Procurement: Report
**Bengaluru, November 9, 2024:** A report by the John Michael D’Cunha Commission has accused the Karnataka government of irregularities in the procurement of 3 lakh PPE kits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report alleges that the government was forced to bear the freight and transportation costs for the kits, which were initially included in the initial quotes by the suppliers, DHB Global Hong Kong (China) and Big Pharmaceuticals. This, according to the report, resulted in an undue benefit of ₹14.21 crore to the suppliers.
The report criticizes the issuance of a corrigendum that altered the contract, shifting the responsibility of transportation costs from the suppliers to the government. It notes that this change “was wholly arbitrary, malafide, without authority of law and was intended to confer undue advantage to the suppliers.”
The report also recommends disciplinary action against officials involved in the procurement process. It further alleges that the approval of both the contract and the subsequent corrigendum by the then Chief Minister and the then Health Minister “amounts to criminal misconduct” under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
First Piper 