Kerala Orders Vigilance Review of ₹2-Crore Bribery Claim Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to examine a fresh complaint by a former contractor alleging that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar demanded a ₹2-crore bribe nearly two decades ago, when Mr. Kumar was the State's Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary. The direction was reported by an official source on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The complaint has been filed by Sajan, a contractor from Chadayamangalam in Kollam district. It concerns work carried out under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). Mr. Sajan has alleged that Mr. Kumar demanded the bribe to release payments for completed work. He has claimed that cheques for bills worth about ₹17 crore, already approved by engineers, were withheld. This, he said, caused financial difficulties for the Malaysian company PATI-BEL, its contractors and workers.

According to the complaint, the company's project engineer, Malaysian national Lee See Been, told Mr. Sajan that Mr. Kumar was refusing to release the cheques unless the bribe was paid. Mr. Sajan has said that when he suggested the company pay something to settle the issue, he was told that PATI-BEL authorities were not permitting them to obtain the cheques by paying a bribe.

Mr. Sajan has further alleged that Mr. Lee used funds from another company project in Bengaluru to settle part of the outstanding payments due to contractors and workers. He has claimed that the delay in releasing the approved bills and the alleged bribe demand contributed to Mr. Lee's death by suicide in 2006. Mr. Sajan has also claimed that Mr. Lee mentioned Mr. Kumar's role in a suicide note, and that his family members in Malaysia informed company employees about it.

In his complaint to the VACB Director, Mr. Sajan said an earlier Vigilance investigation into the incident did not question him or other people who had direct knowledge of the alleged bribe demand. He has offered to produce Mr. Lee's family members, former company employees and other witnesses to provide evidence.

Based on the complaint, the Vigilance department sought the Home Department's permission to register a case after conducting a preliminary inquiry. Sources said Mr. Chennithala ordered the preliminary inquiry after receiving a legal opinion. The latest complaint is expected to be examined by the Vigilance team that is already conducting a preliminary inquiry into the KSTP allegations, following directions from Mr. Chennithala.

The fresh complaint comes after the Minister ordered a Vigilance probe on October 4, following a complaint by KPCC leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal. The case relates to alleged corruption in the upgradation of the MC Road under the KSTP, undertaken by the PATI-BEL consortium. Mr. Kumar was serving as the State's PWD Secretary during the period.

The development comes amid protests by the Congress and other Opposition parties against the CEC over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country. The allegations in Mr. Sajan's complaint have not been independently verified. No response from Mr. Kumar was included in the report. Under Indian law, an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.