Kerala orders fresh probe into 2006 graft, harassment allegations against Gyanesh Kumar
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a detailed vigilance inquiry into alleged corruption involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during his tenure as the Secretary of the state Public Works Department (PWD) in 2006, including allegations surrounding the suicide of a Malaysian engineer associated with a major Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) contract.The decision follows a complaint submitted by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) member Malayinkeezhu Venugopal, who alleged that several vigilance inquiries into Kumar’s conduct as PWD Secretary were closed without proper investigation. Chennithala said he examined the complaint and, after discussing the matter with Chief Minister VD Satheesan, directed Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to conduct a detailed inquiry.“In 2006, Gyanesh Kumar was PWD Secretary. At that time, a World Bank project of Rs 215 crore to develop MC Road from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram was being executed. A Malaysian company took up the project. When the project was underway, project engineer Lee See Ben raised many allegations. He left for his country and died by suicide, leaving two suicide notes. In the notes, he mentioned Gyanesh Kumar very clearly,” Chennithala told the media on Sunday, October 4.According to Venugopal’s complaint, 58-year-old Lee See Ben was the chief project manager of the Indo-Malaysian joint venture PATI-BEL, which was involved in the KSTP project. The complaint states that Lee left two suicide notes in November 2006, one addressed to his wife and another to a director of the company.Venugopal alleges that in the notes, Lee accused Gyanesh Kumar of subjecting him to severe stress and harassment. The complaint further alleges that government bills worth around Rs 12 to 13 crore relating to the project had been withheld, causing financial pressure on the company, and claims this was linked to an alleged demand for illegal gratification.These allegations have not been independently established. In January, TNM had filed an RTI regarding the vigilance inquiry into the corruption allegations against Gyanesh and the KSTP. The vigilance then replied that the case was closed as no irregularities were noticed. Why is the BJP backing Gyanesh Kumar | Let Me Explain 166 | Pooja PrasannaChennithala said the Vigilance Department had previously scrutinised the allegations but later stopped the inquiry.“Vigilance has enquired about all those details even in the suicide notes. Later, the inquiry was abruptly stopped. I felt a detailed inquiry was necessary based on the complaint filed by Venugopal. After speaking to the Chief Minister, I directed Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to conduct a detailed enquiry,” he said.The Home Minister also said that the present constitutional position held by Kumar would not prevent an inquiry into allegations relating to his earlier tenure as PWD Secretary.“Gyanesh Kumar will not get the protection of the Chief Election Commissioner, as this happened when he was PWD Secretary. There are no legal barriers in an inquiry against him,” Chennithala said.Venugopal, in his October 2 complaint, has sought the revival of earlier vigilance inquiries into alleged criminal misconduct by Kumar. He alleged that Kumar had, during his tenure as PWD Secretary, deviated from procedures in awarding public works contracts and favoured contractors, involving large amounts of public money.The complaint further alleges that several vigilance inquiries were closed after Kumar allegedly exercised influence from a subsequent position in the Union government. Venugopal has sought a fresh examination of the circumstances in which the earlier inquiries were closed and has urged the government to take appropriate action if wrongdoing is established.The complaint specifically calls for scrutiny of the earlier vigilance action connected with Lee’s death, including whether the circumstances surrounding the suicide and allegations contained in the notes were properly examined.The KSTP project referred to in the complaint involved the upgrading of the MC Road corridor between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram with World Bank assistance. Kumar was serving as PWD Secretary when the project was being implemented.Chennithala said Kumar was transferred to Delhi after a change in the state government.The latest vigilance probe comes amid a wider political controversy surrounding Kumar, with opposition parties demanding his resignation as Chief Election Commissioner over allegations concerning the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of institutional dissent over the SIR exercise and maintained that final decisions were taken unanimously.
KERALA Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a detailed vigilance inquiry into alleged corruption involving Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar during his tenure as the Secretary of the state Public Works Department (PWD) in 2006, including allegations surrounding the suicide of a Malaysian engineer associated with a major Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) contract.
The decision follows a complaint submitted by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) member Malayinkeezhu Venugopal, who alleged that several vigilance inquiries into Kumar’s conduct as PWD Secretary were closed without proper investigation.
Chennithala said he examined the complaint and, after discussing the matter with Chief Minister VD Satheesan, directed Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to conduct a detailed inquiry.
“In 2006, Gyanesh Kumar was PWD Secretary. At that time, a World Bank project of Rs 215 crore to develop MC Road from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram was being executed. A Malaysian company took up the project. When the project was underway, project engineer Lee See Ben raised many allegations. He left for his country and died by suicide, leaving two suicide notes. In the notes, he mentioned Gyanesh Kumar very clearly,” Chennithala told the media on Sunday, October 4.
According to Venugopal’s complaint, 58-year-old Lee See Ben was the chief project manager of the Indo-Malaysian joint venture PATI-BEL, which was involved in the KSTP project. The complaint states that Lee left two suicide notes in November 2006, one addressed to his wife and another to a director of the company.
Venugopal alleges that in the notes, Lee accused Gyanesh Kumar of subjecting him to severe stress and harassment. The complaint further alleges that government bills worth around Rs 12 to 13 crore relating to the project had been withheld, causing financial pressure on the company, and claims this was linked to an alleged demand for illegal gratification.
These allegations have not been independently established. In January, TNM had filed an RTI regarding the vigilance inquiry into the corruption allegations against Gyanesh and the KSTP. The vigilance then replied that the case was closed as no irregularities were noticed.
Chennithala said the Vigilance Department had previously scrutinised the allegations but later stopped the inquiry.
“Vigilance has enquired about all those details even in the suicide notes. Later, the inquiry was abruptly stopped. I felt a detailed inquiry was necessary based on the complaint filed by Venugopal. After speaking to the Chief Minister, I directed Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to conduct a detailed enquiry,” he said.
The Home Minister also said that the present constitutional position held by Kumar would not prevent an inquiry into allegations relating to his earlier tenure as PWD Secretary.
“Gyanesh Kumar will not get the protection of the Chief Election Commissioner, as this happened when he was PWD Secretary. There are no legal barriers in an inquiry against him,” Chennithala said.
Venugopal, in his October 2 complaint, has sought the revival of earlier vigilance inquiries into alleged criminal misconduct by Kumar. He alleged that Kumar had, during his tenure as PWD Secretary, deviated from procedures in awarding public works contracts and favoured contractors, involving large amounts of public money.
The complaint further alleges that several vigilance inquiries were closed after Kumar allegedly exercised influence from a subsequent position in the Union government. Venugopal has sought a fresh examination of the circumstances in which the earlier inquiries were closed and has urged the government to take appropriate action if wrongdoing is established.
The complaint specifically calls for scrutiny of the earlier vigilance action connected with Lee’s death, including whether the circumstances surrounding the suicide and allegations contained in the notes were properly examined.
The KSTP project referred to in the complaint involved the upgrading of the MC Road corridor between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram with World Bank assistance. Kumar was serving as PWD Secretary when the project was being implemented.
Chennithala said Kumar was transferred to Delhi after a change in the state government.
The latest vigilance probe comes amid a wider political controversy surrounding Kumar, with opposition parties demanding his resignation as Chief Election Commissioner over allegations concerning the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of institutional dissent over the SIR exercise and maintained that final decisions were taken unanimously.
