Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 4: 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 in connection with a road construction project undertaken nearly two decades ago.
The allegations relate to the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which was implemented when Kumar was serving as the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary.
The development comes amid protests by the Congress and other opposition parties against Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country.
Contractor Alleges Rs 2 Crore Bribe Demand
In a complaint submitted to the Director of the VACB, contractor Sajan from Chadayamangalam in Kollam district alleged that Kumar had demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore to release payments for completed construction work under the KSTP.
According to Sajan, cheques related to approved bills worth approximately Rs 17 crore were deliberately withheld despite clearance from project engineers. The delay reportedly caused financial difficulties for Malaysian company PATI-BEL, its contractors and workers.
Sajan claimed that the company’s project engineer, Malaysian national Lee See Been, had informed him that the payments would not be released unless the alleged bribe was paid.
The contractor further stated that PATI-BEL management had refused to secure the pending payments through bribery.
Contractor Links Payment Delay to Engineer’s Suicide
Sajan alleged that Lee See Been had arranged funds from another company project in Bengaluru to clear part of the outstanding payments owed to contractors and workers.
He also claimed that the prolonged delay in releasing approved bills and the alleged bribe demand contributed to Lee’s suicide in 2006.
According to the complaint, Lee had reportedly mentioned Kumar’s role in a suicide note. Sajan further claimed that Lee’s family members in Malaysia had informed company employees about the contents of the note.
However, these allegations remain unproven and are expected to be examined as part of the Vigilance inquiry.
Fresh Complaint Seeks Further Investigation
The contractor alleged that the earlier Vigilance investigation did not question him or several other individuals who had direct knowledge of the alleged bribe demand.
He has offered to produce Lee’s family members, former company employees and other witnesses to support his claims.
Following the complaint, the Vigilance Department reportedly sought permission from the Home Department to register a case after conducting a preliminary inquiry.
According to official sources, Chennithala ordered the preliminary inquiry after obtaining a legal opinion.
Earlier Vigilance Inquiry Into KSTP Project
The latest complaint follows an earlier directive issued by the Home Minister on October 4 to investigate allegations relating to the KSTP project. That inquiry was initiated following a complaint by KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal.
The controversy concerns the upgradation of the MC Road under the KSTP, which was executed by the PATI-BEL consortium. Gyanesh Kumar was serving as Kerala’s PWD Secretary during the relevant period.
A Vigilance investigation was initiated in 2006 following the death of Lee See Been. However, the inquiry was subsequently closed without further action, as the allegations were not established, according to reports.
The fresh inquiry is expected to examine whether the earlier investigation overlooked important evidence and witnesses.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar Yet to Respond
The Vigilance team is expected to examine the fresh allegations as part of its ongoing preliminary inquiry into the KSTP project.
The investigation will also look into the claims concerning the alleged Rs 2 crore bribe demand, pending contractor payments and the circumstances surrounding the earlier inquiry.
The allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar have not been established. Kumar has not responded to the latest allegations so far.
