THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar finds himself in the center of political debate, a major controversy from his tenure as Kerala’s Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary in 2006 has resurfaced. The issue centers around the tragic death of Lee See Been, Chief Project Officer of the Malaysian joint venture company PATI-BEL, which was working on the World Bank-assisted Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).
The 2006 KSTP Scandal & Tragic Suicide
On November 11, 2006, Lee See Been committed suicide in Kuala Lumpur shortly after returning from Kerala. In notes left for his family and company management, Lee reportedly detailed systemic harassment, deliberate financial delays, and corruption by senior bureaucracy in Kerala’s PWD.
Allegations against Officials: Lee directly named several state officials, including then-PWD Secretary Gyanesh Kumar, alleging severe harassment and non-clearance of legitimate dues.
State Action: Caught on the back foot amid intense public outcry, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government removed Gyanesh Kumar from his post as PWD Secretary and ordered a Vigilance Department inquiry into the project’s execution.
Project Stalled: The ₹1,632 crore KSTP initiative faced severe roadblocks. Delayed disbursements created overwhelming pressure from sub-contractors and workers onto Lee, driving him to take his own life.
