Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is set to face a vigilance probe in Kerala after Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala sanctioned an investigation into allegations that Kumar demanded a Rs 2 crore bribe to clear government contract bills during his tenure as the state's Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006. Chennithala said on Wednesday that he granted the sanction under Section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act after consulting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

Source: IANS via Daily World

The allegations come from contractor V.O. Sajan, who has alleged that Kumar demanded Rs 2 crore from Malaysian engineer Lee See Bin to clear pending bills. Lee, who was associated with Pathibel — the consortium that had undertaken a Kerala State Transport Project contract — later died by suicide. Sajan, a sub-contractor who handled material supplies for the company, has also alleged that an earlier vigilance investigation was aimed at giving Kumar a clean chit. These are allegations, and no finding has been made against Kumar.

Source: IANS via Daily World

Speaking to ANI, Chennithala said the sanction was granted on Tuesday evening after the government examined the legal opinion received in the matter. He said the consortium had undertaken work on the main central road project from Thiruvananthapuram to Angamaly, funded by the Asian Development Bank, and alleged that the project work had not been carried out properly.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

Chennithala made it clear that Kumar's present position as Chief Election Commissioner would not prevent an investigation into allegations relating to his earlier tenure as PWD Secretary, saying Supreme Court judgments make clear there is no bar on such an investigation and that the protection attaches to the CEC's office, not to actions taken as PWD Secretary. It is now for the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to decide how to proceed, he said.

Source: IANS via Daily World

On October 28, Congress leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal had sought an immediate Vigilance Directorate probe into the allegations, saying people associated with the project were ready to record their statements before the vigilance authorities.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat