Keralam VACB forms special team to probe KSTP corruption allegations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6, 2026: The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has constituted a special investigation team to conduct a preliminary enquiry into alleged corruption in road construction works under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), involving Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during his tenure in the state nearly two decades ago.

The enquiry will be conducted by the Vigilance Special Investigation Unit-I, according to an order issued by the VACB.

The move follows a complaint filed by contractor Sajan, who alleged that Kumar, then Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD), had demanded a bribe of Rs 2 crore to release payments for completed project works.

In a communication issued on November 5, Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham directed the unit to register a preliminary enquiry and examine the allegations. He also instructed the team to complete the investigation at the earliest.

The team has been asked to examine relevant documents and statements relating to an earlier Vigilance enquiry, along with the fresh allegations raised in the complaint.

The Director has further instructed the unit to register the enquiry in the prescribed format under the Vigilance Manual and submit progress reports without delay. Any request for an extension must be supported by specific reasons and obtain prior approval from the Director.

In his complaint, Sajan, a native of Chadayamangalam in Kollam district, alleged that Kumar had deliberately withheld cheques for bills amounting to around Rs 17 crore, even though the payments had been cleared by engineers.

He claimed that the delay in releasing the payments had caused severe financial difficulties for Malaysian company PATI-BEL, its contractors and workers.

According to the complaint, the company’s project engineer, Malaysian national Lee See Been, had informed Sajan that Kumar was refusing to release the cheques unless the alleged bribe was paid.

The allegations relate to the upgradation of MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which was undertaken by the PATI-BEL consortium when Kumar was serving as the state’s PWD Secretary.

The latest complaint follows an earlier Vigilance probe ordered on October 4 by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala after KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal raised allegations concerning the project.

Kumar has not responded to the allegations so far.

The development comes amid protests by the Congress and other Opposition parties against Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted across the country.