PPE Scam: Odisha Lokayukta Seeks Reply From Chief Secretary

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the alleged multi-crore PPE, mask and nebulizer purchase scam, the Odisha Lokayukta has served notice to the Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy to furnish a reply by November 23.

Notably, two senior IAS officers — Industries Secretary Hemant Sharma and Managing Director of the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) Yamini Sarangi — had appeared before the two-member bench of the Lokayukta chairman Justice Ajit Singh and Justice BK Nayak for the second time on Wednesday.

The duo, in their reply, told the Lokayukta that the procurement of the PPE kits has been made with the approval of the emergency purchase committee and the empowered ministerial committee.

However, not satisfied with their reply on the reason for the ouster of the chairman of the emergency purchase committee, the bench asked the Chief Secretary to furnish a reply by November 23.

Notably, the two IAS officers had appeared before the Lokayukta on September 14.

The Lokayukta in a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Pradipta Mohapatra on October 5 had directed him to submit all documents pertaining to the procurement of PPE kits and other COVID-19 items and sought a reply on the circumstances in which the chairman of the emergency purchase committee Hemant Sharma was hastily relieved from his post.

While Mohapatra had submitted a written reply to the Lokayukta, the latter has asked the Tripathy to furnish a reply on the matter.

Also Read: PPE Scam: Senior Odisha IAS Officers Appear Before Lokayukta Again

Also Read: Senior Odisha IAS Officer Removed From COVID-19 Equipment Purchase Job