The Keralam government has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to examine fresh bribery allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, relating to a road project undertaken in the state in 2006. The complaint also alleges that the alleged demand contributed to the suicide of a Malaysian engineer working with the project.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered the fresh examination after receiving a complaint submitted to the Vigilance Director. Kumar was serving as the state's Public Works Department secretary at the time of the alleged incidents.
The allegations remain unproven, and Kumar has not publicly responded to them so far.
Complaint Alleges Rs 2 Crore Bribe Demand
The complainant, Sajan, a former contractor from Kollam district, alleged that Kumar demanded a Rs 2 crore bribe to release payments for completed work under the Kerala State Transport Project.
According to the complaint, cheques worth approximately Rs 17 crore had already been approved by engineers but were allegedly withheld. Sajan claimed that the delay created financial difficulties for Malaysian company PATI-BEL, its contractors and workers.
The complaint further alleges that project engineer Lee See Been, a Malaysian national, told Sajan that the payments would not be released unless the company paid the demanded bribe.
Sajan claimed that Lee arranged funds from another company project in Bengaluru to settle part of the outstanding payments. He alleged that the financial pressure and the purported bribe demand contributed to Lee's suicide in 2006.
The complainant also claimed that Lee referred to Kumar in a suicide note and that the engineer's family members in Malaysia informed company employees about it. These claims have not been independently established.
Fresh Complaint Seeks Examination of Earlier Vigilance Inquiry
Sajan alleged that the earlier Vigilance investigation did not question him or other people who allegedly had direct knowledge of the bribe demand. He has offered to produce Lee's family members, former company employees and other potential witnesses.
The Vigilance department has reportedly sought permission from the Home Department to register a case after conducting a preliminary inquiry. The latest complaint is expected to be examined alongside an existing preliminary inquiry into the Kerala State Transport Project allegations.
Chennithala had ordered a Vigilance probe on October 4 after receiving a complaint from Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal.
Case Linked to MC Road Project
The allegations concern the upgrading of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project, which was undertaken by the PATI-BEL consortium.
A Vigilance inquiry was initiated in 2006 following Lee's death but was subsequently closed without further action after the allegations were not established, according to the report.
The fresh examination is expected to look into the original allegations as well as whether the earlier investigation overlooked relevant witnesses or evidence.
Political Protests Continue Amid Allegations
The latest development comes amid protests by the Congress and other opposition parties against Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across the country.
The VACB will now examine the fresh complaint and the earlier handling of the case. Any further action will depend on the findings of the inquiry. The allegations against Kumar remain unproven.
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