New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram. The file of a nearly 20 year old case related to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has once again been opened. The Home Department of the Kerala Government has ordered the resumption of vigilance investigation into the alleged corruption case that came to light in 2006. This matter pertains to the time when Gyanesh Kumar was posted as Secretary of Kerala Public Works Department (PWD).
The matter pertains to alleged irregularities in the work related to road construction under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). The project was being carried out by Indo-Malaysian joint venture PATI-BEL and involved construction and improvement of stretches of some major roads in the state at a cost of about Rs 216 crore. The project also received funding from the World Bank.
Questions were raised after the suicide of Malaysian engineer
The matter took a serious turn when the project's chief project manager and Malaysian engineer Lee C Bean committed suicide in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006. Two suicide notes were allegedly found in his name, in which it was claimed that Gyanesh Kumar's name was there.
It was alleged in the case that bribe was demanded and pressure was put on the engineer to approve the payment related to the project. However, questions were raised even at that time regarding the availability and contents of the suicide note. A preliminary vigilance investigation into this matter was started in Kerala in 2006, but it could not reach any final conclusion.
Investigation will start again after two decades
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that he has received a new complaint in this matter. The complaint alleged that the vigilance investigation conducted in 2006 was affected due to external pressure and was stopped midway. After this, Chief Minister V.D. After discussion with Satishan, instructions were given for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The new complaint has been made by Congress leader Malayinkizhu Venugopal. The Home Department has also re-called for documents and investigation files related to the old case. Now the Vigilance Department will further investigate the matter on the basis of old records.
Gyanesh Kumar was removed from the post in 2006
According to details available, Gyanesh Kumar was removed from the post of Kerala PWD Secretary after the allegations came to light. After this he went to Delhi on deputation to the Center and never returned to the Kerala cadre. The old investigation of the case could not proceed further.
Now, with the resumption of investigation after nearly two decades, the political and administrative debate on this old episode has once again intensified. However, resumption of investigation does not in itself prove the allegations. The actual status of the allegations will be clear only after further investigation in the case.