Vigilance Probe Initiated Against CEC
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a fresh probe by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The investigation focuses on alleged irregularities from Kumar's tenure as Kerala's Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006, specifically linked to the suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been.
The current inquiry follows serious allegations that the original preliminary investigation conducted in 2006 was compromised due to external pressure. The Home Department has requested all pertinent files from the initial VACB inquiry for review.
The 2006 Suicide Case
Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer, was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium, which was responsible for upgrading the MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). Tragically, Lee See Been died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur, reportedly leaving a note that named Gyanesh Kumar, who was the state PWD Secretary at the time, in connection with alleged corruption involving public works officials and project delays.
At the time, action against Kumar was limited to an administrative transfer, after which he moved to a central deputation. Home Minister Chennithala has directed the Vigilance Director to conduct a thorough inquiry into the claims of external influence, emphasizing the gravity of these allegations.
Renewed Momentum and Broader Context
The case has gained renewed public attention following disclosures by former Kerala Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac and references found in Vigilance records. This reopened inquiry comes as Kumar faces increasing pressure from opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi, concerning the Election Commission's recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Adding to the controversy, former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson alleged that Kumar attempted to persuade him to join the BJP and contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, expressing strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political standing. Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has called on state Chief Electoral Officers to publicly clarify the instructions they received regarding the SIR process, questioning its legality.
Reports indicate that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections on 14 separate occasions over a 10-month period concerning decisions on Form 6 submissions, voter deletions, and access to central electoral-roll databases. While the Election Commission has rejected claims of institutional dissent, stating that operational feedback during draft stages is standard practice and final decisions were unanimous, the INDIA bloc plans nationwide demonstrations against Kumar.