Case is not against CEC: K Muralidharan on Gyanesh Kumar inquiry
Kerala Minister K Muralidharan clarifies that the vigilance inquiry into Gyanesh Kumar concerns his 2006 tenure as PWD Secretary, not his role as CEC.
Kerala Health Minister K Muralidharan has stepped in to clarify the nature of the ongoing vigilance inquiry involving Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Addressing the media, the Minister emphasized that the investigation is not directed at the current CEC's present role, but rather pertains to his previous tenure as a state official.
Targeting the former PWD Secretary, not the CEC
Speaking to ANI, K Muralidharan sought to distance the current office of the Chief Election Commissioner from the legal proceedings. He explained that the scrutiny is focused on the actions of the individual during his time as the Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006.
"This case is not against the Chief Election Commissioner; this case was against our former government secretary of Kerala," Muralidharan stated. He further noted that the government's decision to revisit the matter was driven by a surge in complaints from significant figures, rather than political maneuvering.
The Minister dismissed suggestions of political bias, asserting: "That is not a politically motivated case. When he was the government secretary in Kerala, there were a lot of complaints at that time. Even the ruling party and opposition, both of them gave so many complaints against him."
The 2006 MC Road Case and the Suicide Note
The controversy traces back to 2006, during the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) aimed at upgrading the MC Road. The investigation involves the alleged death by suicide of Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer associated with the PATI-BEL consortium.
According to reports, a suicide note left by the deceased engineer reportedly named Gyanesh Kumar, who was serving as the state PWD Secretary at the time. This incident forms the core of the allegations regarding irregularities during that period.
New probe into alleged external pressure
The recent decision by Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to order a fresh investigation by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) stems from serious allegations that the original 2006 preliminary inquiry was compromised. There are claims that external influence was used to derail the initial probe.
The Home Department has taken the following steps in response to these developments:
- File Retrieval: The department has demanded all relevant files related to the original 2006 VACB preliminary inquiry.
- Directives to Vigilance: The Vigilance Director has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the claims of external interference.
- Accountability: The Home Minister's Office confirmed that the investigation will seek to determine if any improper influence was exerted to stall the case years ago.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has characterized the allegations of external influence as a grave matter that necessitates a detailed and transparent inquiry to ensure justice is served.