Kerala govt to reopen probe linked to Malaysian engineer's suicide during Gyanesh Kumar's stint

India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is set to face a reopened inquiry in Kerala over allegations linked to his tenure as the state’s public works secretary in 2006, as scrutiny of his role at the Election Commission of India intensifies. 

Kerala reopens 2006 infrastructure case

The Kerala government has ordered a preliminary examination of the case by the state Vigilance Department following a complaint by KPCC executive committee member Malayinkeezhu Venugopal. The examination was initiated on the instructions of Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

The case concerns the death by suicide of Malaysian civil engineer Lee See Been, who was associated with the PATI-BEL consortium involved in the upgradation of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project. At the time, Kumar was serving as Kerala’s Public Works Department secretary. The project involved the Angamaly-Thiruvananthapuram MC Road.

The state government had withheld payments to the contractor and sought compensation over delays in the project. The engineer later died by suicide in Kuala Lumpur. Reports at the time said he had cited alleged corruption involving public works officials in connection with the delay.

Allegations subsequently emerged that the engineer's suicide note and correspondence had referred to Kumar and accused him of inappropriate interference in the project.

However, the documents were not forwarded for an official inquiry at the time, according to the allegations now being raised. The action against Kumar was limited to an administrative transfer, after which he moved to the Centre on deputation.

Old Vigilance records brought back into focus

The case has resurfaced following recent public disclosures by former Kerala Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac and references to Kumar's involvement in Vigilance records.

Legal experts have also commented on whether the passage of nearly two decades prevents further action.

Supreme Court advocate Kaleeswaram Raj has said the delay does not, by itself, create a legal bar to prosecution. He cited the Naxal Varghese case as a precedent.

Raj has also said constitutional protection enjoyed by the Chief Election Commissioner does not extend to alleged acts committed before the person assumed the constitutional office.

Former Kerala Chief Secretary makes political allegation

A separate allegation involving Kumar has also emerged from former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson.

The retired 1980-batch IAS officer recently spoke about an encounter with Kumar during a flight to Delhi in 2016, when both were serving officers.

Thomson alleged that Kumar repeatedly tried to persuade him to join the BJP. According to Thomson, Kumar suggested that he contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election, with the possibility of becoming a Member of Parliament and later a Union minister.

Thomson said he rejected the suggestion immediately but alleged that Kumar continued trying to persuade him.

He also claimed that Kumar openly expressed strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political standing in Kerala.

The disclosure has added to the political debate over Kumar's perceived impartiality as head of the country's election body.

Opposition protests over electoral roll revision

Kumar, a 1988-batch retired Kerala cadre officer, became the country's 26th Chief Election Commissioner in February 2025, succeeding Rajiv Kumar. The developments in Kerala come as Kumar faces wider political pressure over the functioning of the Election Commission.

Opposition parties, led by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, have held protests across the country, with youth organisations also demanding Kumar's arrest and resignation.

The protests followed reports alleging that around 130 million voters were removed from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

The Election Commission has faced criticism over the process and its implementation, adding to the political pressure surrounding Kumar.

Election Commissioners' objections reported

Questions have also been raised over differences within the Election Commission itself.

Investigative reports said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded objections on 14 occasions over a 10-month period. The objections reportedly concerned voter registration, technology infrastructure and electoral rolls.

The Election Commission rejected suggestions that the instances demonstrated an institutional conflict.

It said feedback during preliminary stages was part of the normal administrative process and maintained that the key final schedules were approved unanimously.

Kumar, a 1988-batch retired Kerala cadre officer, became the country's 26th Chief Election Commissioner in February 2025, succeeding Rajiv Kumar.