Thiruvananthapuram: The Transport Department has decided to remove the 'MLA' title from the driving licence of former Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar. The licence had been renewed with 'MLA' appended next to his name, a move that is legally impermissible.

The Transport Department initiated the inquiry following a report published by Mathrubhumi. The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has also launched an investigation into how Ganesh Kumar managed to obtain a driving licence four months before attaining 18 years of age.

The South Zone Deputy Transport Commissioner has been entrusted with the probe. Official records will be scrutinised to identify the officer who issued the licence. This irregularity was also brought to light by the Mathrubhumi report.

Rules dictate that a driving licence can be cancelled if irregularities are detected in its issuance. Meanwhile, Ganesh Kumar had previously claimed that the title 'MLA' was added by officials and that he was unaware of it.