The Kerala PWD inquiry into allegations linked to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s tenure as the state’s Public Works Department Secretary is widening, with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala saying new complaints and petitions have emerged. Chennithala said the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) would be allowed to conduct the investigation independently.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Chennithala said several complaints had been received against Kumar over alleged irregularities and corrupt practices during his time as PWD Secretary. Kumar is currently the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
“Many complaints are coming against Mr Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India. When he was PWD Secretary, he committed several irregularities and corrupt practices. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau of Kerala is now enquiring into it. New developments are emerging and petitions are being filed,” Chennithala said.
The minister added that he would not interfere in the VACB’s work. “I will not interfere in the affairs of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. Let the law take its own course and let the inquiry be conducted,” he said.
The state government had earlier granted approval for the VACB inquiry on November 4. Chennithala said the sanction followed an examination of legal opinion received by the government and consultations with the Chief Minister. The approval was required under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act before the bureau could proceed with the inquiry.
The allegations concern the clearance of contractors’ bills associated with the Main Central Road project, which connects Thiruvananthapuram and Angamaly. The project was funded by the Asian Development Bank and involved a consortium undertaking the road works.
According to Chennithala’s earlier account, a petitioner named Sajan alleged that Kumar had demanded Rs 2 crore for clearing pending bills. The claims have not been established, and the VACB inquiry is intended to examine the allegations and related records.
The case also includes allegations connected to the death by suicide of Lee See Been, described as a project officer associated with the Malaysian company participating in the road project consortium. The supplied report does not state the findings of any investigation into that death or establish a connection between it and the allegations concerning bill clearance.
The inquiry places the administrative handling of a major externally funded road project under scrutiny. Such projects typically involve multiple layers of government approval, contractors, consultants and funding conditions, making the examination of payment records and official decisions central to determining whether any wrongdoing occurred.
Chennithala’s latest statement indicates that the matter remains active, with additional petitions reportedly being filed. The minister has said the VACB should proceed without political or administrative interference. No findings or conclusions from the bureau’s inquiry have been announced in the supplied report.
