Kerala Govt Orders Probe into Gyanesh Kumar’s role in alleged Rs two crore bribe case

The Kerala Government, which had recently alleged that the present Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, had in 2006 demanded Rs two crore as a bribe when he was the Secretary, Public Works Department in Kerala.

Digging out the 20-year-old case, Chief Minister V D. Satheesan said that the probe has been sanctioned under Section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act after consulting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The probe was ordered based on a complaint by contractor V O Sajan, who alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had asked for a bribe from Malaysian engineer Lee See Bin to clear pending bills.

Lee, who later died by suicide, was associated with Pathibel, the company that had undertaken a Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) contract. Sajan was a sub-contractor handling material supplies for the company.

“I spoke to the Chief Minister and granted sanction for an investigation under Section 17(A). The VACB can conduct a probe under the law, and I have given the necessary approval,” Chennithala said.

He made it clear that Kumar’s present position as Chief Election Commissioner and his immunity would not prevent an investigation into allegations relating to his earlier tenure as PWD Secretary.

He said, “Supreme Court judgments are clear that there is no bar on an investigation. The protection is attached to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and not to actions taken when he was the PWD Secretary,” he said.

Sajan claimed that Lee See Bin was under severe mental stress over the pending payments and had spoken to him about the alleged demand. Lee was staying near Sajan’s house at Chadayamangalam.

Sajan also alleged that the earlier vigilance investigation had been aimed at giving Kumar a clean chit. The VACB will now have to take the next steps in accordance with the law.