Kerala Govt Orders Probe into Gyanesh Kumar's role in alleged Rs two crore bribe case

In Short

Kerala Government orders a fresh vigilance probe into allegations that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar demanded a Rs. 2 crore bribe during his tenure as Kerala PWD Secretary in 2006.

Kerala Govt Orders Probe into Gyanesh Kumars role in alleged Rs two crore bribe case
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Kerala Govt Orders Probe into Gyanesh Kumar's role in alleged Rs two crore bribe case

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The Kerala Government, which had recently alleged that the present Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, had in 2006 demanded Rs two crore as a bribe when he was the Secretary, Public Works Department in Kerala.

Digging out the 20-year-old case, Chief Minister V D. Satheesan said that the probe has been sanctioned under Section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act after consulting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The probe was ordered based on a complaint by contractor V O Sajan, who alleged that Gyanesh Kumar had asked for a bribe from Malaysian engineer Lee See Bin to clear pending bills.

Lee, who later died by suicide, was associated with Pathibel, the company that had undertaken a Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) contract. Sajan was a sub-contractor handling material supplies for the company.

"I spoke to the Chief Minister and granted sanction for an investigation under Section 17(A). The VACB can conduct a probe under the law, and I have given the necessary approval," Chennithala said.

He made it clear that Kumar's present position as Chief Election Commissioner and his immunity would not prevent an investigation into allegations relating to his earlier tenure as PWD Secretary.

He said, "Supreme Court judgments are clear that there is no bar on an investigation. The protection is attached to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner and not to actions taken when he was the PWD Secretary," he said.

Sajan claimed that Lee See Bin was under severe mental stress over the pending payments and had spoken to him about the alleged demand. Lee was staying near Sajan's house at Chadayamangalam.

Sajan also alleged that the earlier vigilance investigation had been aimed at giving Kumar a clean chit. The VACB will now have to take the next steps in accordance with the law.

A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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