2 hrs ago
Kerala Orders Fresh Probe Into 2006 Road Project Case
Kerala has asked its Vigilance Bureau to look again at a case from 2006.
The case is about a road project supported by the World Bank.
At the time, Gyanesh Kumar was a senior official in Kerala’s Public Works Department.
Allegations connected to the project were made after an engineer died by suicide.
The allegations included claims about project management and corruption, but they were not proven in court against Kumar.
An earlier inquiry did not reach a publicly established finding of criminal guilt.
A new complaint says the earlier inquiry may have been stopped or influenced.
Investigators will review both the project allegations and what happened to the earlier inquiry.
The new investigation is not proof that Kumar did anything wrong.
Kerala has ordered a fresh Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau probe into a 2006 case linked to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The case concerns alleged irregularities in the World Bank-assisted Kerala State Transport Project, including road work on MC Road.
A complaint by KPCC member Malayinkeezhu Venugopal alleged that earlier Vigilance inquiries were closed or derailed due to external influence.
The new inquiry will review the original allegations and how the earlier probe was handled, including records from the 2006 preliminary inquiry.
No final conviction or judicial finding establishing criminal wrongdoing by Kumar is cited; the fresh investigation does not itself establish guilt.
- Who
- Kerala's Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau will investigate allegations linked to Gyanesh Kumar; the complaint was filed by Malayinkeezhu Venugopal.
- What
- A fresh inquiry into allegations about the Kerala State Transport Project and the handling of an earlier Vigilance inquiry.
- Where
- Kerala; the project included MC Road between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram.
- When
- The underlying case dates to 2006; the fresh probe has now been ordered.
- Why
- A complaint alleged irregularities in the project and external influence in the closure or derailment of the earlier inquiry.
Key facts
- Project
- Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), a World Bank-assisted initiative.
- Project estimate
- Around Rs 215 crore.
- Road section
- MC Road between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram.
- Complaint filed by
- KPCC member Malayinkeezhu Venugopal.
- Inquiry ordered by
- Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala directed Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to conduct a detailed inquiry.
- Scope
- Examine the original KSTP allegations and the handling of the earlier Vigilance inquiry.
- Status of allegations
- The article reports no final conviction or judicial finding establishing criminal wrongdoing by Kumar.
Sources
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