Vigilance Probe Into CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Kerala Examining Old Case
Kerala Vigilance is examining an old case involving CEC Gyanesh Kumar regarding alleged irregularities during his tenure as PWD Secretary.
The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is currently scrutinizing an old case involving the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, Manoj Abraham, the Kerala Vigilance Director, confirmed on Thursday. The department is reviewing files related to alleged irregularities during Kumar's previous tenure as the Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006.
Investigation Into 2006 Allegations
The decision to revisit the case comes following directives from the Kerala Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala. The Minister has instructed the VACB to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations. The matter is linked to the reported suicide of Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer associated with the PATI-BEL consortium. This consortium was involved in the MC Road upgrade project under the Kerala State Transport Project.
According to reports, the engineer's alleged suicide note had named Gyanesh Kumar, who was serving as the PWD Secretary at the time of the incident. The current renewed interest in the case stems from allegations that the initial preliminary inquiry conducted back in 2006 may have been derailed due to external pressures.
Timeline for Decision
Addressing the media regarding the status of the investigation, Manoj Abraham stated that the department is currently in the process of examining the relevant files. "The examination part is going on. The CD file, it's a very old case. So based on the petition, we are examining the files and we can take a decision after a week or so," Abraham told ANI.
The Kerala Home Department has specifically requested all relevant files pertaining to the 2006 VACB preliminary inquiry to ensure a comprehensive review. The Vigilance Director has been tasked with investigating whether external influence played a role in the original probe's outcome.
Political Context and Protests
This development occurs amidst heightened political tension. Members of the INDIA bloc have been actively protesting against the Election Commission regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced that opposition MPs would stage a peaceful sit-in protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Gandhi Smarak in Delhi. This follows a series of demonstrations, including a march to Nirvachan Sadan on Tuesday and protests near Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, as the opposition continues to demand clarity on electoral roll revisions.