Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Criticizes Justice D’Cunha Over Covid Panel Report

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has accused Justice Michael D’Cunha, who is investigating the procurement of PPE kits by the former BJP government in Karnataka during the 2020 Covid pandemic, of acting like an “agent.” Joshi’s remarks came in response to the John Michael D’Cunha Commission’s report, which recommended prosecuting former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Health Minister B. Sriramulu over the purchase of 3 lakh PPE kits from Chinese firms.

While speaking at a public meeting on Sunday in Shiggaon, Karnataka, Joshi stated, “Justice Michael D’Cunha, you are a judge, not an agent,” questioning the timing of the interim report’s release during election season. He further claimed that the report was an attempt to divert public attention during elections, labeling it as a baseless “drama” meant to influence voters.

Joshi also targeted Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of misappropriating funds in the Valmiki scandal and mocking his claims about the amount of money involved. Joshi challenged Siddaramaiah to address the allegations against him, pointing out that the High Court had already found him guilty of the MUDA scam.

The Union Minister also criticized the current government’s handling of various issues, including the rising costs of milk and alcohol, and alleged irregularities in the handling of Waqf properties. Joshi vowed that the BJP would investigate any land transfers made under the Waqf system to ensure no land was wrongly seized.

In response, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemned Joshi’s comments, calling them defamatory and accusing him of violating the law. Rao emphasized that Justice D’Cunha is known for his integrity and called for the Commission to file a complaint against Joshi for his “arrogant” remarks.