Politics
Kerala reopens 2006 vigilance probe of CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Hindustan Times··5d ago
Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry on October 4 into Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The probe covers alleged irregularities in the World Bank-funded Kerala State Transport Project from Kumar's PWD tenure. Allegations first surfaced in 2006 and led to a preliminary inquiry that year. The project was planned to cost $336 million.
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What It Means For You
- The inquiry continues a 2006 preliminary VACB file rather than opening an unrelated case.
- Opposition parties are also pressing for Kumar's removal as CEC over electoral roll revision.
- The Election Commission says past-year decisions, including on SIR, were unanimous.
What's Happening
- Chennithala said he ordered the probe after legal advice and talks with Chief Minister VD Satheesan.
- Congress leader Malayankeezhu Venugopal filed the latest complaint behind the order.
- Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer of the Keralam cadre, headed the PWD during the project.
The Road Project On Record
- The World Bank was to finance $255 million of the $336 million KSTP plan.
- Plans covered 581km of road upgrades across two phases.
- In December 2006 the Bank downgraded implementation progress to moderately unsatisfactory.
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