Thiruvananthapuram, 04 Oct (H.S): A petition by Congress leader Malaynkeezhu Venugopal has prompted the Kerala government to order a fresh Vigilance inquiry into allegations linked to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's tenure as Public Works Department Secretary.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala issued the direction on Sunday, seeking an examination of claims that external pressure had derailed an earlier inquiry into alleged irregularities surrounding the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).

The case centres on Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006 after returning from Kerala. Lee was associated with PATI-BEL, the consortium entrusted with upgrading MC Road under KSTP.

His purported suicide note reportedly named Kumar, who was serving as PWD Secretary at the time. The allegations subsequently became the subject of a preliminary inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB).

The Home Department has now sought relevant files relating to the 2006 inquiry. The records will be examined to establish how the allegations were handled and whether outside intervention affected the proceedings.

According to the Home Minister's Office, Chennithala has instructed the Vigilance Director to investigate the allegations of external influence and take appropriate action based on the findings.

The minister described the allegations as serious and said they warranted a detailed investigation. The fresh direction follows Venugopal's petition seeking government intervention in the case.

The renewed inquiry will scrutinise claims concerning the earlier investigation alongside the allegations linked to Kumar's tenure in the PWD. The reported reference to him in the purported note remains subject to investigation and does not establish wrongdoing.

Further action will depend on the Vigilance findings. Retrieval and examination of the earlier records are the steps announced by the Home Department as it revisits the circumstances surrounding the original inquiry and the allegations of interference.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman