Kerala orders probe into bribery allegations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to examine claims involving a road project from two decades ago.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to examine fresh bribery allegations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, according to The Hindu. The allegations involve a road construction project under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) from nearly 20 years ago, when Kumar served as the state's Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary.
The complaint was filed by Sajan, a contractor from Kollam district. He alleged that Kumar demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore to release payments for completed work. Sajan claimed that Kumar deliberately withheld cheques for bills worth approximately Rs 17 crore that had already been approved by engineers.
The delay reportedly caused financial difficulties for the Malaysian company PATI-BEL and its workers. Sajan alleged that the company's project engineer, Lee See Been, told him that Kumar refused to release the cheques unless a bribe was paid. Sajan further alleged that the delayed payments and the bribe demand contributed to Lee's suicide in 2006.
The complainant claimed that Lee mentioned Kumar's role in a suicide note and that Lee's family in Malaysia had informed company employees about it. Sajan stated that an earlier Vigilance investigation failed to question him or others with direct knowledge of the matter and has offered to produce witnesses.
The VACB sought permission from the Home Department to register a case after conducting a preliminary inquiry. Chennithala ordered the inquiry after receiving a legal opinion. This follows a previous order on October 4 for a probe into KSTP corruption following a complaint by KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal.