PPE Scam: 2 Senior IAS Officers Appear Before Lokayukta

Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officers Hamant Sharma and Yamini Sarangi appeared before the Lokayukta Monday to plead their cases in connection with an alleged scam in the purchase of PPE kits in Odisha.

Hemant Sharma, the former head of the state level purchase committee and Sarangi who was the Managing Director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) submitted their written replies before the Lokayukta, informed sources.

However Both Sharma and Sarangi refused to reveal anything about their submissions. “We can’t tell anything outside on what was discussed before Lokayukta.  We have high regards for the authority. We are hopeful that Lokayukta will provide proper justice,” said Sharma.

Following allegations of corruption made by the Pradesh Congress Committee over the purchase of PPE kits, the state government had removed Sharma from the supervision of the procurement of masks and PPE kits required in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Social organisation, ‘Odisha Bikash Parisada (OBP)’ alleged that many IAS officers were involved in the scam. They demanded a fair probe into the matter.

“During this critical pandemic few senior administrators of the state have been involved in extortion. When the call of ‘vocal for local’ is loud and so many local companies are available, there is no justification to buy 30 lakh masks from Shri Bishnu Disposable Private Limited. We demand a thorough investigation into the matter. Let the truth be revealed,” stated OBP President Sushant Padhy.

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