Justice deferred on Covid corruption

The second report of the John Michael D’Cunha Commission paints a grim picture of corruption in Karnataka during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing an appalling misuse of public funds amid unprecedented human suffering. The recommendation to file 176 criminal cases and recover Rs 128 crore from implicated officers and vendors highlights the depth of misappropriation and negligence. The findings are staggering: 46% of the Rs 275 crore spent across select districts, including BBMP, Bengaluru Rural, Gadag, and Koppal, was misused. This is not just financial malpractice, it is an outright breach of public faith. In BBMP zones alone, over Rs 92 crore out of the allotted Rs 156 crore has been flagged for recovery, exposing systemic rot in critical areas like war rooms, Covid care centres, and vaccine distribution. The scale of alleged corruption is even more damning when considering claims by the expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who accused the previous government of siphoning off a staggering Rs 40,000 crore during the pandemic.

The current Congress government came to power promising accountability, to investigate corruption under the previous BJP regime. Yet, its actions raise serious doubts. When the commission submitted its first report, Law Minister H K Patil said that it had recommended a recovery of Rs 500 crore. Subsequently, the government formed a cabinet sub-committee and later proposed a dedicated investigation unit. However, no such unit has been established, and no officers have been appointed to pursue recoveries or prosecutions. The inaction suggests either gross incompetence or deliberate obstruction, both of which are inexcusable. This could also expose the government to charges of collusion with the corrupt, a practice all too common in Karnataka’s political circles, commonly called ‘adjustment politics’.

While the pandemic was chaotic and many officers served selflessly, it is crucial to differentiate between genuine lapses due to the scale of the crisis and deliberate fraud. The inquiry must be a pursuit of justice, not a politically-motivated witch-hunt. At the same time, dismissing financial irregularities as mere oversight would be an insult to the citizens who suffered. Profiteering during a humanitarian crisis is unforgivable, and those who enriched themselves while ordinary people struggled for oxygen, hospital beds, and vaccines, must face consequences. The D’Cunha Commission has completed its mandate. The ball is now in the government’s court. If the government genuinely values accountability, it must act decisively, rather than resort to delays and excuses. Anything less would be a betrayal of those who trusted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to deliver justice and the countless citizens who endured the pandemic’s worst.