Bengal BJP alleges Rs 5,000-cr Covid scam by Mamata govt

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging that the Health Ministry in West Bengal, headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, perpetrated a scam in the purchase of PPE kits and other medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In his three-page complaint, Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the total corruption amounted to Rs 5,000 since a PPE kit which cost Rs 300 was purchased for Rs 1200. He also named some bureaucrats who were allegedly involved in the scam.

Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Adhikari shared a detailed post informing that he had written to the director, ED, principal director general of the Income Tax Department and secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, seeking an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits.

“A huge financial scam was executed in WB during the Covid Pandemic period, with regard to the purchase of PPE kits and other medical equipment by the WB Health Department. Huge funds were provided by the Central Govt at that time to bolster the efforts to fight against the virus collectively,” Adhikari posted from his official X handle.

He wrote that considering the urgency of the situation, no stringent measures were placed which could have delayed the procurement process. “The Central Government allowed the State Governments to act swiftly in good faith and this was misused by the ruling Trinamool Congress Government in the State,” he said. He alleged: “The corrupt WB Govt saw this as a clear opportunity to siphon funds and hundreds of crores were stolen.