Trouble for Gyanesh Kumar as Keralam reopens probe into Malaysian engineer's death

The case pertains to the suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium involved in the upgradation of MC Road under the Keralam State Transport Project.

In Short

• Probe linked to Malaysian engineer's suicide in 2006
• The suicide note had reportedly Gyanesh Kumar's name
• The former IAS officer was Keralam's PWD Secretary back then

Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered a Vigilance investigation into a case involving current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, relating to allegations of irregularities during the latter's tenure as the state's Public Works Department Secretary in 2006.

The case pertains to the suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium involved in the upgradation of MC Road under the Keralam State Transport Project.

His suicide note reportedly mentioned Gyanesh Kumar. The investigation is being initiated following allegations that external pressure was exerted, and that the original enquiry was derailed.

Chennithala has directly instructed the Vigilance Director to conduct a thorough probe into allegations of external influence in the case and take appropriate action based on the findings.

The allegations against Gyanesh Kumar include criminal misconduct in awarding public works to contractors while he was PWD secretary.

The Vigilance Department had earlier conducted enquiries and, according to the complainant, these were closed abruptly.

The complainant is Malayankeezhu Venugopal, and has sought enquiry into all these allegations. He has claimed that Gyanesh Kumar escaped the probe using political and internal influence.

- Ends