BHUBANESWAR: The Lokayukta on Friday gave a clear chit to the Odisha authorities within the buy of masks and PPEs for Covid-19 administration within the State final 12 months.A 3-member bench of the Lokayukta didn’t discover any irregularities within the procurement of masks and PPEs on the idea of the preliminary investigation carried out by State Vigilance and disposed of the case, mentioned petitioner and Congress spokesperson Sudarsan Das.
“We appealed earlier than the bench to offer us an opportunity to look into the report of the Vigilance and plead our aspect within the case. However, we had been denied the chance which is sort of unlucky,” Das mentioned and added that he’ll transfer the Excessive Courtroom to problem the decision. One other petitioner Sushant Padhi additionally expressed his dissatisfaction over the decision by terming it ‘undemocratic.’
The Lokayukta had directed the Vigilance in December, 2020 to research the alleged rip-off within the procurement of PPE kits and masks by the Odisha authorities and submit a report inside two months.
The Vigilance had submitted its report on March 16. Primarily based on the report, the three member bench disposed of the case at present. Das had moved the Lokayukta on June 17, 2020 alleging giant scale corruption within the buy of masks, PPEs, RTPCR machine, testing kits and nebulisers.
Probe into paddy sale fraud
Bhubaneswar: The Lokayukta has ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities by a Massive Space Multipurpose Society (LAMPS) throughout procurement of paddy in Kaptipada block in Mayurbhanj district. Primarily based on a grievance filed by president of Jay Jawan Jay Kishan Farmers’ Membership of Nausahi, the panel has directed the Director of Inquiry to conduct a preliminary investigation into the matter and submit a report inside 60 days. The petitioner alleged that the Managing Director of Salachuan LAMPS had illegally deducted 10 kg of paddy per quintal throughout procurement for his wrongful achieve. Kaptipada LAMPS and Jamudiha LAMPS had additionally adopted the identical observe, he alleged.
