Kerala Home Minister Orders Fresh Vigilance Probe into 2006 Case Linked to CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a fresh Vigilance enquiry into corruption allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar dating back to 2006, when Kumar was serving as the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary.

The enquiry follows a complaint filed by Malayankeezhu Venugopal, who has sought an investigation into allegations related to the awarding of public works contracts during Kumar’s tenure as PWD Secretary.

The complaint also raises issues surrounding the death of Lee See Been, a Malaysian national who was the chief project manager of PATI-BEL, an Indo-Malaysian joint venture involved in a road project under the Kerala State Transport Project. Lee died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.

His suicide note was reportedly said to have mentioned Kumar’s name and contained allegations of corruption and harassment by PWD officials.

What Does The Complaint Allege?

Venugopal’s complaint alleges that Kumar was involved in criminal misconduct in connection with the award of public works to contractors while he was serving as PWD Secretary.

It also seeks an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lee’s death and the allegations reportedly contained in his suicide note.

The matter had previously been subjected to a Vigilance enquiry. Kumar was transferred out of the PWD before the end of 2006 after the controversy emerged, but the earlier enquiry did not reach a conclusive outcome.

Venugopal has alleged that the earlier Vigilance enquiries were closed abruptly and that the allegations were not properly pursued.

Home Department Seeks 2006 Vigilance Records

The latest enquiry comes after the Kerala Home Department sought files relating to the preliminary Vigilance enquiry conducted against Kumar in 2006.

The records reportedly concern the probe initiated following Lee’s death and the allegations surrounding the Kerala State Transport Project.

The fresh enquiry will now examine the allegations raised in the complaint, along with the circumstances surrounding the earlier investigation.

Case Resurfaces Amid SIR Controversy

The 2006 allegations have resurfaced nearly two decades later amid growing political criticism of Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission’s handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The new Vigilance enquiry will examine the allegations raised by Venugopal, including those concerning the award of public works contracts during Kumar’s tenure as PWD Secretary, as well as the circumstances surrounding Lee’s death.

It will also look into the earlier Vigilance enquiry and the allegation that the matter was not properly pursued.