Keralam HM orders probe against CEC Gyanesh

Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance probe into the corruption allegations in the KSTP road work project and the death of a Malaysian engineer associated with it in 2006, when incumbent CEC Gyanesh Kumar was serving as the PWD secretary in the state, sources said on Sunday.

The development comes amid protests by the Congress and other opposition parties against Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across India. Gyanesh Kumar is a Kerala-cadre IAS officer who headed various departments in the state before moving to central ministries.

Chennithala ordered the probe after KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal filed a complaint seeking an investigation against Gyanesh Kumar. Speaking to reporters, Chennithala said he examined the complaint and found prima facie merit in the allegations. The ruling UDF and Opposition LDF welcomed Chennithala's decision to order a Vigilance probe.

"I am convinced that a detailed Vigilance inquiry is essential," he said, adding that he has spoken to Chief Minister VD Satheesan before directing Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham to take lawful steps to conduct a detailed investigation. In 2006, a World Bank-funded project worth Rs 215 crore was undertaken by the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) for the reconstruction of the MC Road from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram. He said PATI-BEL, a joint venture between the Malaysian firm and Bhageeratha Engineering, had undertaken the project. A Malaysian company undertook the work, while its project engineer, Lee See Been, allegedly raised several complaints during the construction and later returned to Malaysia, where he died by suicide. Chennithala said two suicide notes were reportedly recovered, one addressed to the engineer's wife and another to the director of the company, in which Gyanesh Kumar was explicitly mentioned. The minister said after the incident, Vigilance had examined the matter, including the contents of the note written in Kuala Lumpur, but the investigation did not progress after the government changed in 2006.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India