New Delhi, Oct. 4: The Kerala government has ordered a Vigilance inquiry into allegations linked to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure as the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered the probe following a complaint by Congress leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal. The inquiry will examine allegations of irregularities in a road development project and claims that the earlier investigation was not pursued properly.
The case is linked to the death by suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006. He was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium, which worked on the upgradation of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).
Reports said Lee’s suicide note allegedly mentioned Kumar, who was serving as the state PWD Secretary at the time. The mention of his name and the allegations surrounding the project prompted a preliminary Vigilance inquiry, which was later stalled, according to reports.
Kerala Re-examines 2006 Vigilance Investigation
Venugopal alleged in his complaint that the earlier inquiry into the project and the engineer’s death was not conducted to its proper conclusion. He sought a fresh examination of the records and the circumstances surrounding the earlier investigation.
Chennithala has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to examine the case files and investigate allegations that external pressure affected the earlier inquiry. The department has been asked to take appropriate action based on the findings.
The case concerns alleged irregularities connected to the MC Road development work, including claims about project payments and the handling of contractors’ concerns. These remain allegations to be examined by the investigating agency.
The renewed inquiry comes amid a wider political dispute over the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have criticised Kumar over the SIR process, although those issues are separate from the allegations relating to his earlier tenure in Kerala.
The ordering of a fresh inquiry does not establish that Kumar committed wrongdoing. The allegations will need to be assessed through the investigation, and any further action will depend on the evidence and findings.
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