The Kerala government has sanctioned a vigilance investigation into allegations that former Public Works Department secretary Gyanesh Kumar demanded a ₹2 crore bribe to clear pending Kerala State Transport Project bills, following a complaint linked to the 2006 suicide of Malaysian engineer Lee See Bin.
Home minister Ramesh Chennithala approved the probe on Tuesday evening after obtaining legal advice and consulting the chief minister, according to the Times of India report. Chennithala said the complainant had offered to submit evidence supporting the allegations and that the decision was taken in accordance with Supreme Court directives and the legal opinion received by the government.
The complaint was filed by contractor V O Sajan of Chadayamangalam in Kollam district with the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Sajan alleged that Kumar, who was serving as PWD secretary during the relevant period, deliberately withheld cheques for bills worth around ₹17 crore even though engineers had approved the payments.
The bills were related to work executed under the KSTP by PATI-BEL, a Malaysian company, and its contractors and workers. Sajan claimed that delays in releasing the payments created severe financial pressure for the company and those working on the project.
According to the complaint, Sajan had worked as a sub-contractor for PATI-BEL and lived near Lee See Bin in Chadayamangalam. He alleged that Bin had personally told him about the demand for a bribe and that company authorities had refused to make such a payment to secure the release of pending bills.
Sajan further alleged that Bin used funds from another project in Bengaluru to settle part of the dues owed to contractors and workers. The complaint claims that the alleged demand and delay in clearing approved payments contributed to Bin’s suicide in 2006. It also alleges that Kumar’s name appeared in the suicide note and that Bin’s family members in Malaysia informed company employees about it.
The allegations have not been established. The vigilance investigation will examine the complaint and the evidence offered by Sajan. The complainant has said he can produce Bin’s family members, former company employees and other witnesses whom he considers capable of supporting his account.
Sajan also questioned an earlier vigilance inquiry into the matter, alleging that people with direct knowledge of the events had not been questioned. The fresh complaint is expected to be considered as part of a preliminary inquiry into the KSTP-related allegations.
The latest action follows a separate order by Chennithala on October 4 for a vigilance probe based on a complaint by KPCC functionary Malayinkeezhu Venugopal. That complaint alleged corruption in the upgrading of the MC Road under the KSTP, which was executed by the PATI-BEL consortium while Kumar was PWD secretary.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau’s preliminary examination will determine the next steps in the complaints concerning the KSTP payments and the road-upgradation work.
