Gyanesh Kumar faces vigilance probe over 2006 PWD allegations

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) inquiry into allegations of corruption involving Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The probe concerns his 2006 tenure as the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary.

The investigation follows a complaint by Malayankeezhu Venugopal regarding alleged irregularities in the awarding of public works contracts. The case is also linked to the 2006 suicide of Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer and project manager for the PATI-BEL consortium. Lee’s suicide note reportedly mentioned Kumar and contained allegations of corruption and harassment by PWD officials.

Kerala Health Minister K Muralidharan stated that the inquiry is not politically motivated, clarifying that the investigation targets Kumar’s actions as a former government secretary rather than his current role as CEC. Muralidharan noted that numerous complaints had been filed against Kumar by both the ruling and opposition parties during his time in the state administration.