Odisha Lokayukta orders probe into alleged scam in purchase of PPE kits

The Odisha Lokayukta has asked the state vigilance department to probe alleged irregularities in the purchase of PPE kits, masks and other equipment during the Covid pandemic early this year and submit the preliminary report within two months. After the final hearing in the case filed by petitioners Sudarsan Das and Susanta Padhi, Lokayukta Ajit Singh ordered the probe. “A preliminary inquiry has to be conducted by the director of vigilance to see whether to combat Covid-19, essential pharmaceutical good and critical equipment, including 3-layered masks, were purchased on higher rates by Hemant Sharma and other public servants with an ulterior motive for their wrongful gain,” the Lokayukta said in his order.

In their petition, the complainants had alleged that there was corruption in the procurement of masks, testing kits, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machines, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) machines, nebuliser, etc, during the Corona pandemic by the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd and  Industry secretary Hemanta Sharma, who was entrusted by the state government to supervise the process of procurement. The complainants alleged that the same quality of masks was purchased by different states at much lower prices.The complainants also alleged that even other essential pharmaceutical goods and critical care equipment were purchased at much higher rates by the officials with an ulterior motive of wrongful gain.