THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant political and administrative turn of events, the Kerala Home Department has called for the complete files pertaining to a two-decade-old Vigilance preliminary inquiry involving former Kerala PWD Secretary and current Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The probe centers around the 2006 suicide of a top official belonging to the Malaysian construction firm Pati-Bell.
Background of the 2006 Incident:
​The issue traces back to 2006 during the implementation of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). Lee Been Seen, a Malaysian civil engineer and project manager for Pati-Bell (the contractor handling major road infrastructure works), allegedly committed suicide due to severe financial distress.
In his suicide note, the engineer reportedly cited harassment and the withholding of legitimate project payments by state officials, specifically naming then-PWD Secretary Gyanesh Kumar. The non-clearance of bills had left the firm unable to pay local subcontractors, pushing the project manager to step into extreme distress.
Reopening of Investigation Records:
​Following widespread public backlash at that time, a preliminary inquiry was initiated by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). The Home Department has directed officials to retrieve and review all documents associated with the 2006 Vigilance inquiry to evaluate further legal and investigative steps.
This step comes amid nationwide political debates surrounding the Chief Election Commissioner, making the revival of these administrative records critical in state and national politics.
