Two senior IAS officers, Industries Secretary Hemant Sharma and Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) Managing Director Yamini Sarangi appeared before the Lokayukta for hearing in connection with the alleged corruption in the purchase of PPE kits and masks by the the State Government, on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Lokayukta expressed its displeasure over Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy not submitting a detailed report over the matter and, instead, presenting some facts through a letter.On November 5, the Lokayukta had served a notice to the Chief Secretary to furnish a reply over the allegations by November 23. The Lokayukta scheduled next hearing on the matter for December 7, sources said.
It was for the third time that Sharma and Sarangi appeared before the Lokayukta in connection with alleged irregularities in the procurement of PPE kits.
The two officers had initially failed to respond to the notice by the Lokayukta on August 11 to submit their replies. Later, the anti-corruption ombudsman had warned that it would proceed with the investigation if they did not appear during the next hearing on September 14.Subsequently, both had appeared before the Lokayukta on September 14. Again, they appeared for the second time on November 4.
Notably, the Government had removed Sharma from the supervision of procurement of masks and PPE kits required in the treatment of Covid-19 patients following allegations of corruption made by the State Congress.
Apart from the Congress, social organisation Odisha Bikash Parisada (OBP) had also alleged that many IAS officers were involved in the scam and demanded a fair probe into the matter.