Thomas Isaac recalls 2006 controversy; Gyanesh Kumar named in Malaysian official’s suicide note
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Thiruvananthapuram: Amid growing protests by opposition parties across the country against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, CPM Central Committee member and former Kerala Finance Minister Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac has revived allegations of corruption and controversy surrounding Kumar’s tenure as Kerala Public Works Department secretary nearly two decades ago.
In a Facebook post, Isaac recalled that Kumar’s name had reportedly figured in the suicide note of a Malaysian company official involved in a road construction contract in Kerala.
A Kerala-cadre IAS officer, Kumar had served as the Public Works Department secretary when the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), funded by the World Bank, was being implemented. Lee Bin Seen was the Kerala project officer of Patibel, a joint venture between Malaysian companies Pati and Bhagirath Constructions that had secured a road construction contract under the project.
Lee reportedly died by suicide at his residence in Kuala Lumpur in November 2006, shortly after returning from Kerala. According to Isaac, his suicide note attributed his decision to end his life to alleged corruption, harassment and mental distress caused by PWD officials. Isaac claimed that Kumar’s name figured prominently in allegations, including demands for bribes.
Following the allegations, Kumar was removed from the post of PWD secretary towards the end of 2006, and the state government ordered a Vigilance inquiry, Isaac said. He further alleged that Kumar later moved to the Union Defence Ministry and subsequently gained the favour of the BJP leadership.
Isaac also claimed that a project originally estimated to cost Rs 216 crore eventually exceeded Rs 330 crore, which he attributed to deliberate delays in clearing bills and administrative mismanagement.
According to Isaac, the state government ultimately had to bear the consequences of alleged negligence by departmental officials, while the controversy also resulted in the loss of an engineer’s life.
He further claimed that former senior police officials had acknowledged that the Vigilance investigation initiated at the time could not be completed because of procedural limitations and a lack of interest among officials.