Vigilance inquiry ordered: Contractor accuses Gyanesh Kumar of bribery and abetment of suicide

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A contractor has alleged that bills approved by Public Works Department (PWD) engineers had been withheld without justification since May 2006 and that the alleged actions of Gyanesh Kumar contributed to the suicide of an official of Malaysian company PATI-BEL.

V.O. Sajan, a native of Chadayamangalam, had lodged a complaint alleging that Gyanesh Kumar demanded a bribe while serving as Public Works Secretary. Sajan appeared before the Vigilance team led by Emmanuel Paul, Superintendent of Police, Special Investigation Unit-I, in connection with the inquiry.

In his complaint, Sajan alleged that Lee See Been, chief project manager of PATI-BEL, who died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006, had told him that Gyanesh Kumar demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore and withheld four bills worth Rs 14 crore. Sajan had worked in association with PATI-BEL, which was then involved in the construction of roads under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).

Sajan said he had submitted a fact-based complaint and would hand over supporting evidence. He also cited information that Lee's family had reportedly told company employees that Kumar's name appeared in the suicide note.

The allegations are yet to be established. An earlier Vigilance investigation into related allegations had been closed after the cases were reported as mistake of fact in 2012. The fresh complaint has prompted a preliminary inquiry. The Vigilance is examining whether there is sufficient evidence of corruption and abetment of suicide to register a case against Gyanesh Kumar, who is currently the Chief Election Commissioner.