2 hrs ago
Kerala Minister Says Vigilance Case Targets Former PWD Secretary
Kerala has ordered a new investigation into complaints from 2006.
The complaints concern Gyanesh Kumar’s time as the state’s Public Works Department secretary.
Kumar is now the Chief Election Commissioner.
Health Minister K Muralidharan said the case is about Kumar’s earlier state job, not his current national role.
He also said the case is not politically motivated.
The matter involves Malaysian engineer Lee See Been, who died by suicide.
A reported note from the engineer named Kumar.
Officials will examine whether outside pressure affected the original inquiry.
Health Minister K Muralidharan said the vigilance case concerns Gyanesh Kumar’s former role as Kerala PWD Secretary, not his current position as Chief Election Commissioner.
Muralidharan said complaints about Kumar had been made by people from both the ruling party and the opposition.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate alleged irregularities dating to 2006.
The case concerns Malaysian engineer Lee See Been, whose reported suicide note named Kumar.
The Home Department has sought files from the original 2006 inquiry amid allegations that external pressure derailed it.
- Who
- Gyanesh Kumar, former Kerala PWD Secretary and current Chief Election Commissioner; the inquiry was ordered by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
- What
- The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has been directed to investigate allegations of irregularities and external influence in a 2006 case.
- Where
- Kerala, India.
- When
- The alleged irregularities and original preliminary inquiry date to 2006; the new probe was ordered recently, with no exact date stated.
- Why
- The investigation follows complaints about Kumar’s tenure as PWD Secretary and allegations that outside pressure derailed the original inquiry.
Government Inquiry
Minister’s Clarification
Purpose and framing of the probe
Government Inquiry
The Home Minister ordered a thorough inquiry into alleged irregularities and claims that external pressure affected the original 2006 preliminary inquiry.
Minister’s Clarification
K Muralidharan said the case is not politically motivated and concerns Kumar’s former state-government role, not his current position as Chief Election Commissioner.
Key facts
- Agency conducting inquiry
- Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB)
- Person under inquiry
- Gyanesh Kumar, in relation to his former role as Kerala PWD Secretary
- Period under review
- 2006
- Home Minister
- Ramesh Chennithala
- Health Minister quoted
- K Muralidharan
- Engineer connected to case
- Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer associated with the PATI-BEL consortium
- Project mentioned
- MC Road upgrade under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP)
Quotes
K Muralidharan
Keralam Health Minister
“That is not a politically motivated case. See, when he was the government secretary in Kerala, there were a lot of complaints at that time. Even the ruling party and opposition, both of them gave so many complaints against him. So, the government has taken a case against him. This case is not against the Chief Election Commissioner; this case was against our former government secretary of Kerala.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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