₹700-CRORE ROAD PROJECT UNDER VIGILANCE LENS AS KERALA REVISITS ALLEGATIONS LINKED TO GYANESH KUMAR

October 29, 2026

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCTOBER 29, 2026: Kerala Public Works Department Minister P.K. Basheer has informed the state Assembly that a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in a road construction project associated with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar remains underway, with the vigilance report yet to be submitted.

The inquiry concerns the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), a World Bank-funded infrastructure programme undertaken in 2006, when Kumar was serving as the state's Public Works Department secretary. The minister stated that alleged irregularities in the project had caused an estimated loss of ₹700 crore to the government.

Basheer was responding to questions from BJP legislators regarding the status of the investigation. He said the fresh preliminary inquiry had been ordered after discrepancies were identified in the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau's earlier investigation into the matter.

The project involved the reconstruction of the Main Central Road, connecting Angamaly with Thiruvananthapuram. The contract was awarded to PATI-BEL, a joint venture involving a Malaysian company and Bhageeratha Engineering.

The case has also drawn attention because Lee See Been, a Malaysian engineer associated with the project, died by suicide in 2006 after reportedly raising concerns about the work. Allegations concerning the handling of the project and demands for bribes have resurfaced as part of the renewed investigation.

The Kerala government ordered a fresh vigilance inquiry earlier this month following a complaint alleging irregularities during the project. The allegations have not been established as proven wrongdoing, and the current inquiry has yet to report its findings.

The investigation places renewed scrutiny on a long-running infrastructure controversy involving public expenditure, contract administration and allegations of corruption. Its outcome will determine what further action, if any, is warranted