Kerala orders probe against CEC Gyanesh Kumar reopening two-decade old suicide case

Bengaluru: The Congress-led UDF regime in Kerala has ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) investigation into allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar relating to his tenure as the state's Public Works Department (PWD) secretary in 2006.

The development comes amid Congress allegations of mass deletion of names on electoral rolls by the Election Commission at the BJP’s behest.

The probe will examine allegations of irregularities in awarding public works contracts and claims that an earlier inquiry was influenced and subsequently stalled. It will also investigate issues linked to the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), including the death of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, Home and Vigilance Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Sunday.


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He said he received a formal petition from Congress leader Malayankeezhu Venugopal seeking a fresh inquiry into the matter.

"The allegation that external influence derailed the earlier preliminary inquiry is serious. The investigation will follow the evidence. No one will be prejudged. Justice must be done through due process. Public accountability does not expire with time," Chennithala said.

The petition, the minister said, raised serious allegations concerning Kumar's tenure as PWD secretary, including issues related to the KSTP and the circumstances surrounding Been's death. The matter had been referred to the Vigilance Director for appropriate inquiry and action under law, he added.

"Political differences are separate. This inquiry must be decided by facts and evidence," he said.

Been, the chief project manager of PATI-BEL, an Indo-Malaysian joint venture involved in upgrading the 240-km MC Road corridor between Thiruvananthapuram and Angamaly, died by suicide in 2006. A note allegedly left behind by him reportedly referred to Kumar, who was then serving in the Kerala PWD.

The Congress-led UDF government said the allegations against Kumar include criminal misconduct in awarding public works contracts.

A vigilance probe was initiated after Been's death in 2006 but failed to make significant progress. Kumar later moved to the Defence Ministry on deputation.