India, Feb. 15 -- The Karnataka government has escalated its investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement during the Covid-19 pandemic by transferring the case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). This decision, announced on Friday, came two months after a first information report (FIR) was registered concerning the irregularities.

"A team led by CID superintendent of police Raghavendra Hegde, along with three deputy superintendents, will lead the probe into the suspected corruption that took place under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration," according to an official communication.

The issue has taken on political overtones, with the Congress-led government using it to counter allegations related...