Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered an inquiry against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) will investigate against Gyanesh Kumar in this 20 year old case.
This case is related to allegations of corruption in the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) road construction project in 2006 and the death of a Malaysian contractor related to it.
At that time, the current Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was posted as PWD Secretary in the state.
This step has been taken against Gyanesh Kumar at a time when there are protests against him regarding several decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and there are demands for his resignation.
However, Gyanesh Kumar has not yet given any reaction on this matter. As soon as their side comes, we will also include it in this news.
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20 year old case
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told news agency ANI, "Yesterday, Congress worker Malayinkeezhu Venugopal gave me a petition regarding the irregularities and corrupt activities done by Gyanesh Kumar when he was the PWD Secretary in Kerala."
"Some serious issues have been addressed in that presentation. Meanwhile, Malaysian project engineer Lee committed suicide. PWD Secretary Gyanesh Kumar is clearly mentioned in the suicide note," he said.
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Ramesh Chennithala said, "Therefore, the government cannot sit silently. I cannot become a mute spectator. I have sent it to the Director of Vigilance to examine the details of the petition and take legal action to get justice."
He further said, "This is not a political vendetta. Of course, our leader Rahul Gandhi is fighting against BJP's misgovernance. Gyanesh Kumar is only an instrument of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah. But this matter is different... As a minister, it is my duty to investigate the details of the case."
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Regarding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Kerala government minister K Muraleedharan said, "When he was holding the post of secretary in the state of Kerala, there were a lot of complaints against him. This time some important people have made more complaints. That is why the government has taken notice of this matter... Both the ruling party and the opposition had given many complaints against him."
On one hand, the opposition parties have been continuously raising many questions regarding the SIR process of the Election Commission, on the other hand, after the news of the English newspaper Indian Express recently, movements have started against him and his resignation is being demanded.
According to the news of 'Indian Express', two Election Commissioners Vivek Joshi and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu expressed disagreement on many decisions of the Commission 14 times in the last 10 months. Despite that, the Election Commission of India under the leadership of Gyanesh Kumar continued the SIR process.
Gyanesh Kumar's tenure as Chief Election Commissioner is till January 26, 2029. About 20 assembly elections are to be held during his tenure.
Besides, the elections for the post of President and Vice President will also be held during his tenure in 2027. After this, preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections will also take place during his tenure.
Gyanesh Kumar held many positions in Kerala
According to the Election Commission website, Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988 batch Kerala cadre officer of the Indian Administrative Service. After completing B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur, he has also studied Business Finance from ICFAI and Environmental Economics from HIID, Harvard University, USA.
He has also served in the Government of Kerala as Sub-Collector of Adoor, MD of Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST, Municipal Commissioner of Cochin Corporation, MD of Kerala State Co-operative Bank, District Collector of Ernakulam, Secretary of Goshri Island Development Authority, MD of Thiruvananthapuram Airport Development Society and Resident Commissioner of Kerala House, New Delhi.
According to the ECI, as Secretary to the Government of Kerala, he has worked in various departments like Financial Resources, Fast Track Projects, Public Works Department, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Gyanesh Kumar has served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Government of India; Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; And has also worked as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation.
After superannuation on 31 January 2024, he was appointed Election Commissioner in the Election Commission on 15 March 2024. Gyanesh Kumar took charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on 19 February 2025.
