Congress leader demands probe into Election Commissioner’s 2006 tenure

The investigation, ordered by Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, focuses on alleged irregularities during Kumar’s tenure at the PWD. Central to the inquiry is the 2006 death of Lee See Been, a Malaysian civil engineer working on the MC Road upgrade project. Reports indicate that Been’s suicide note explicitly named Kumar, prompting allegations that an initial probe into the matter was suppressed by external political pressure.

Chennithala confirmed the government’s intervention following a petition from Congress activist Malayinkeezhu Venugopal, which detailed claims of systemic corruption and malpractice. The Home Department has since recalled all files related to the original 2006 preliminary investigation. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has been directed to determine whether the case was derailed and to hold those responsible accountable, regardless of their current status in public office.