Kerala Orders Vigilance Probe Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar Over 2006 Road Project

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) inquiry into allegations of irregularities in a 2006 road construction project involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was serving as the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) secretary at the time.

Chennithala said the inquiry was ordered following a complaint by Malayankeezhu Venugopal, a Congress leader and member of the state executive.

The investigation will follow a preliminary VACB inquiry conducted in 2006, which was discontinued after Kumar left Kerala on central deputation to Delhi later that year.

According to Chennithala, the decision to order a fresh inquiry was taken after obtaining legal advice and consulting Chief Minister VD Satheesan.

Allegations Linked To MC Road Project

The inquiry will examine allegations of corruption and bribery related to the upgradation of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which was being executed by the PATI-BEL consortium.

Kumar was the PWD secretary overseeing the project at the time.

Chennithala said the allegations emerged following the death by suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who was associated with the project, in Kuala Lumpur.

“Two suicide notes were written by Been, one to his superior at work and one to his wife. Gyanesh Kumar was named in one of the suicide notes,” Chennithala said.

The allegations have not been independently established, and the vigilance inquiry will determine whether there is evidence supporting the claims.

Congress Leader Cites Project Delays

Venugopal alleged that repeated delays in the road modernisation project led the PATI-BEL consortium to submit complaints to the state government.

He claimed Been, who was the project manager, had travelled to Kerala several times to meet senior PWD officials and seek timely clearance of bills, while facing pressure from subcontractors.

Venugopal further alleged that Kumar was among the PWD officials named in the suicide note.

Preliminary Probe Was Ordered In 2006

Chennithala said the then Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by VS Achuthanandan had ordered a preliminary vigilance inquiry in 2006, following which Kumar was removed from the PWD department.

“Shortly after, he earned a deputation to Delhi and left Kerala. He never came back to the state and the probe fizzled out,” Chennithala said.

TM Thomas Isaac, the CPI(M) leader who served as Kerala’s finance minister during the 2006-11 LDF government, welcomed the fresh vigilance inquiry.

“The case files of the 2006 vigilance probe should be with the department. They must be examined,” Isaac said.

He added that PATI-BEL had not wanted to continue with the project at the time amid concerns that a corruption investigation could damage the company’s reputation. Isaac said the circumstances were different now and that anyone with relevant evidence could come forward.

Probe Comes Amid Political Controversy

The inquiry against Kumar comes amid opposition criticism of his functioning as Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition parties and groups have accused him of taking unilateral decisions within the Election Commission and have staged protests demanding his resignation.

The vigilance inquiry will now examine the allegations related to the 2006 road project and determine whether any wrongdoing occurred.

Note: Allegations mentioned in the report are claims made by political leaders and complainants and should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed through the investigation or other competent proceedings.