Vigilance probe ordered against Gyanesh Kumar in Kerala
The case dates back to when current Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar served as the PWD secretary in Kerala.
Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a vigilance investigation into alleged corruption in the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) road project and the death of a Malaysian contractor in 2006. This case dates back to when the current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar was serving as the Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Kerala.
According to a report by ANI, the investigation has been initiated based on a complaint filed by Malayankizh Venu Gopal. The complaint alleges that while serving as the PWD Secretary, Gyanesh Kumar allegedly committed criminal misconduct in the process of awarding contracts for government construction works. The complainant has demanded a detailed investigation into the entire matter.
The complaint also seeks an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Malaysian national Lee See Been. Lee was associated with an Indo-Malaysian joint venture PATI-BEL, which was working on a project related to road construction under the Kerala State Transport Project. Lee reportedly committed suicide in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
According to the complaint, it is claimed that Gyanesh Kumar's name was mentioned in Lee See Been's alleged suicide note. The note also reportedly contained allegations of corruption and harassment against some PWD officials. The complainant has demanded an investigation into these allegations as well.
Following Lee's death, a vigilance investigation was ordered in 2006. However, the complaint alleges that the investigation initiated at that time was abruptly halted later, and the allegations were not properly investigated.
According to sources,
Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the state's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to conduct a preliminary inquiry. Based on the findings of the preliminary inquiry, it will be decided whether further detailed investigation or other legal action is required in the case.
The Home Minister's office stated that Chennithala has also instructed the Vigilance Director to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of external influence related to Gyanesh Kumar and to take appropriate action based on the findings.
Gyanesh Kumar is an IAS officer of the Kerala cadre. He has worked in various important departments of the Kerala government before going on central deputation. In 2006, he was the Secretary of the state's Public Works Department. Later, he moved to the Ministry of Defence on deputation.
According to sources, the vigilance investigation initiated after Lee See Been's death did not progress further, and during this time, Gyanesh Kumar went on central deputation. The complainant alleges that the investigation into the old case was not pursued with adequate seriousness.
This development against Gyanesh Kumar comes at a time when several opposition parties, including the Congress, are protesting against him regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral voter lists across the country. The opposition parties are demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Reports have emerged that around 700 people were detained during the opposition's protest in Delhi, including Aam Aadmi Party leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bhardwaj, and Sanjeev Jha, AISA president Neha Bora, CPI(M) leader MA Baby and Brinda Karat, CPI national secretary P. Sandosh Kumar, RJD leader Manoj Jha, social activist Yogendra Yadav, DYFI president A.A. Rahim, and former JNUSU president Aishi Ghosh among others.
Meanwhile, thousands gathered for a protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai despite not receiving police permission.
In the meantime, a report by The Indian Express claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on at least 14 different occasions regarding voter lists, voter registration, and decisions related to technical systems over a period of 10 months. According to the report, these objections included issues related to voter registration through Form-6, removal of voters' names, and access to the central voter list database.
However, the Election Commission later dismissed the claims of institutional differences. The Commission stated that administrative questions, operational suggestions, and providing input during the drafting process are part of the normal procedure. The ECI also clarified that all final decisions related to the SIR program were made by consensus. The opposition's campaign against Gyanesh Kumar is likely to intensify further. The INDIA bloc has planned protests across the country. The opposition parties are preparing for another protest on October 6, while a major rally is planned in New Delhi on November 1.
In this context, the Kerala government's order for a preliminary vigilance inquiry into the allegations related to the 2006 KSTP project and the death of Malaysian contractor Lee See Been is seen as a new political and administrative challenge for Gyanesh Kumar. However, for now, it is the preliminary inquiry stage, and the determination of the veracity of the allegations will only be possible after the investigation's findings.