COVID-19 bed scam alleged by Tejasvi Surya: Karnataka High Court directs probe to be regularly monitored by senior IPS officer

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday urged that the investigation into the hospital bed scam alleged by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya be regularly monitored by an experienced senior IPS officer, considering the sensitive nature of the case. .The order passed by the Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar states,"Looking into the sensitive nature of allegations, it is necessary that investigation is regularly monitored by experienced senior IPS officer.".The Court further pointed out that it was imperative for the State government to consider whether officers specialising in cybercrime can be part of investigation team as well. This decision should be taken by the State immediately, directed the Court. .As the hearing progressed, the Court was informed by the State that a senior IPS officer will monitor the alleged bed scam case. The Court proceeded to order that the report on the investigation be filed by the Joint Commissioner of the Police (Crimes) and that the details of investigation be mentioned in the report. .This apart, the Court also dealt with issues of availability of beds and Remdesivir in the State. The Court took note that the State has said that 45,754 beds; 5,305 ICU beds; and 4,109 ICU beds with ventilators are available. However, the requirement suggested by Centre is to have 66,333 general beds."Thus, generally, it can be said that there is a huge shortage at the State level," the Court observed.Noting that the situation is 'grim' in the State, the Court proceeded to pass the following directions:Chief Commissioner of BBMP to take over the facility of beds and staff offered by the Air Force within 24 hours and make sure the facility is made operational immediately.State to offer an explanation in writing as to why beds that were offered by Railways were not taken over till today. State to show district-wise break up of beds and requirement of beds.It is high time that the State starts to deal with the potential third wave. State to prepare an action plan and vision statement detailing preparedness for tackling the possible third wave with regard to estimated beds, oxygen etc by next Tuesday. Considering the shortage of beds, it is necessary for State and local bodies to take help of government, semi-government organizations that are in a position to offer beds to COVID-19 patients. Centre submits that from May 10, State will get 40,000 vials of Remdesivir per day. Now that quota has been substantially increased, State must seriously audit the use of said drug as well as oxygen in the State. If some hospitals are unnecessarily using it, State will have to step in. .The matter will be next heard tomorrow..During a previous hearing, the Court had orally directed Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to conduct an investigation into the COVID-19 bed scam alleged by Surya.The Bangalore South MP had alleged that officials of BBMP and hospitals had some "underground business" through which the latter 'blocked' beds under fake names to make money, at a time when COVID-19 cases were rising in the State..This deprived thousands of COVID-19 patients of proper medical care and hospital beds in Karnataka's capital city, it was alleged. At least 4,065 beds were 'blocked' under fake names by the hospitals to make a killing, it was reportedly alleged by the BJP MP.However, things took an ugly turn when a video of Surya reading out a list of Muslim BBMP workers went viral..COVID-19 bed scam alleged by Tejasvi Surya: Karnataka High Court directs BBMP to conduct investigation, file report