Keralam Home Minister Orders Probe Into Chief Election Commissioner
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered a Vigilance probe into corruption allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding a 2006 road project.
Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered a preliminary Vigilance probe into corruption allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The investigation focuses on Kumar's 2006 tenure as the state's Public Works Department Secretary during a World Bank-funded Kerala State Transport Project to upgrade the MC Road.
The probe follows a complaint by KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal alleging financial irregularities and citing the suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been. Chennithala stated that suicide notes recovered from Lee explicitly mentioned Kumar. While a Vigilance inquiry occurred in 2006, Chennithala alleged the case was hushed up following a change in government.
The Home Department has summoned the original 2006 files to determine if external influence affected previous proceedings. Chennithala asserted that Kumar's current position as Chief Election Commissioner does not grant legal protection from the investigation because the alleged events took place before his appointment.
