Kerala Vigilance Probing Old Case Involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Kerala Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham announced on Thursday that the department is investigating an old case involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Abraham stated that a decision on the matter would be made within approximately one week after the examination is completed.
The case relates to alleged irregularities during Gyanesh Kumar's tenure as Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006. The matter involves the alleged death by suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium involved in upgrading the MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project. According to reports, the engineer's alleged suicide note named Gyanesh Kumar. The fresh inquiry was initiated following allegations that the preliminary inquiry conducted in 2006 had been derailed due to external pressure.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had earlier directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to probe the alleged irregularities. The Home Department has sought relevant files relating to the 2006 VACB preliminary inquiry, and Chennithala has directed the Vigilance Director to conduct a detailed inquiry into allegations of external influence and take appropriate action based on the findings.
