Keralam orders probe against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over 2006 road project case

The Kerala government has ordered a fresh investigation into allegations of corruption against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who was previously the state's Public Works Department Secretary. The probe, led by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, will examine claims of irregularities in a 2006 road project.

The allegations centre on a World Bank-funded road project under the Kerala State Transport Project, where Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, associated with the project, died by suicide in 2006. According to The Hindu, Lee See Been's death was reportedly linked to alleged bribe extortion by Gyanesh Kumar, who was PWD Secretary at the time.

The investigation was prompted by a complaint from Congress activist Malayinkeezhu Venugopal, which alleged "malpractices and corrupt activities" during Kumar's tenure. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said he found prima facie merit in the complaint and directed the Vigilance Director to proceed with the inquiry.

Brief written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, Free Press Journal, The Hindu, The Economic Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.