Kerala Home Minister Initiates Vigilance Inquiry Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A vigilance inquiry has been ordered against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations linked to his tenure as PWD secretary in 2006.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a vigilance inquiry into Gyanesh Kumar's actions from 2006.
The inquiry is based on a complaint regarding public works contracts and the suicide of Lee See Been.
Previous investigations into these allegations were reportedly inconclusive.
Kerala's Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has announced a vigilance inquiry into Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, focusing on corruption allegations stemming from his time as the state's Public Works Department (PWD) secretary in 2006. This inquiry follows a formal complaint lodged by Malayankeezhu Venugopal, who has requested an investigation into the awarding of public works contracts during Kumar's tenure.
The allegations against Kumar are serious and multifaceted. They include claims of criminal misconduct related to the awarding of contracts to contractors while he was in charge of the PWD. Additionally, the inquiry will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Lee See Been, a Malaysian national and chief project manager for an Indo-Malaysian joint venture, who died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur in 2006. Reports suggest that Lee's suicide note mentioned Kumar and included accusations of corruption and harassment by PWD officials.
The complaint from Venugopal highlights that earlier vigilance inquiries into these matters were abruptly closed without a thorough investigation. Kumar was transferred from the PWD before the end of 2006 amid the controversy, but the previous inquiries did not yield a conclusive outcome. This has raised concerns about the integrity of the investigations conducted at that time.
In a further development, the Kerala government has sought access to the records of the preliminary vigilance inquiry conducted in 2006, which was initiated following Lee's suicide. These records are expected to provide insights into the earlier investigations related to the Kerala State Transport Project and the allegations against Kumar.
The resurgence of this issue comes at a politically sensitive time, as Kumar faces increasing criticism regarding the Election Commission's management of electoral roll revisions. The new vigilance inquiry aims to address the allegations raised in Venugopal's complaint and may have significant implications for Kumar's position and the credibility of the Election Commission moving forward.
