The investigation will focus on irregularities in the conduct of voters rolls and a contract awarded to an Indo-Malaysian construction company during Kumar's tenure as Public Works Department secretary.
The Kerala government has ordered a preliminary investigation into corruption allegations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, dating back to his tenure as the state's Public Works Department secretary. The development comes amid ongoing allegations about irregularities in the conduct of the special intensive revision of voters rolls and calls from Opposition parties seeking his removal from office. The Congress-led United Democratic Front government has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe allegations of bribery involving an Indo-Malaysian construction company that was awarded a contract to upgrade the Main Central Road under the Kerala State Transport Project during Kumar's tenure. The project, which was delayed and saw cost escalations during Kumar’s tenure while the Left Democratic Front government was in power, was originally awarded by the previous UDF government.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday said that the government received a formal complaint alleging irregularities during Kumar’s tenure as the public works department secretary. In his petition, Congress leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal alleged that the 2006 inquiries against Kumar did not follow due process and ignored incriminating accusations in Lee See Been's purported suicide note. Venugopal claimed that Lee had mentioned Kumar in his suicide note.
Chennithala said the allegation that 'external influence' derailed the earlier investigation is 'serious' and will be inquired into. Kumar is currently facing protests over other matters, particularly after The Indian Express’ September 2021 investigation revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected 14 times in 10 months to decisions by the poll panel related to the special intensive revision.
Source:
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