THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The report of the Controller and Auditor (CAG) stating that there was a huge irregularity in the procurement of PPE kits by the Health Department during the Covid-19 pandemic has come out. According to the report, the government incurred an additional liability of Rs 10.23 crore and the PPE kit was purchased by paying 300 percent more than the open market price. It is reported that the PPE kit was purchased by the government for Rs 550 on March 28, 2020, and two days later it was purchased from another company for Rs 1550.

CAG points out that the price of PPE kits increased by Rs 1000 in two days. The report mainly states that the Maharashtra-based company San Pharma was paid the full amount in advance for the PPE kit, bypassing the company that promised to provide the PPE kit at a low cost. This transaction took place when CPM central committee member KK Shailaja was the health minister.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan has criticized the Pinarayi government regarding the CAG report. "The first Pinarayi government did this heist during the time of the COVID pandemic. Apart from saving the lives of the people, the government saw the COVID pandemic as a golden opportunity to fill its own pockets. On the one hand, it hid the number of deaths. On the other hand, it did a corruption of crores. Then it built a false image through the propaganda of PR agencies. The CAG report came out today. It is destroying the PR image" - Satheesan responded.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Veena Nair has lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta on the issue. Veena Nair has accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's government of massive corruption during the Covid era. "The Congress is assuming that there may have been a corruption of at least 500 crores. The government has misled the people that Kerala was the best in the world when it came to the fight against Covid. This looting government is not qualified to continue in power even for a moment," Veena Nair told the media.