Keralam Vigilance Records Another Witness Statement in Gyanesh Kumar Probe
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) officials said the statement of Shajahan, who worked as an assistant to the Malaysian engineers during the project, was recorded as part of the inquiry
Thiruvananthapuram: The VACB, probing alleged corruption in a road project undertaken when Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was serving as the Keralam Public Works Department secretary, has recorded the statement of another person associated with Malaysian engineers involved in the project, officials said on Thursday.
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) officials said the statement of Shajahan, who worked as an assistant to the Malaysian engineers during the project, was recorded as part of the inquiry.
According to officials, Shajahan recently gave a detailed statement in which he allegedly claimed that the Malaysian engineers were in severe distress as bills related to the road works were not cleared on time, affecting the project.
The inquiry relates to alleged corruption in the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), undertaken in 2006 when Kumar was serving as the PWD secretary.
The KSTP had undertaken a World Bank-funded project worth Rs 215 crore in 2006 to reconstruct the MC Road stretch from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram.
The contract was awarded to PATI-BEL, a joint venture between a Malaysian firm and Bhageeratha Engineering.
Lee See Been, the Malaysian company's project engineer, had allegedly raised several complaints during the construction before returning to Malaysia, where he later died by suicide.
The inquiry did not progress in 2006 following Been's death and Kumar's transfer to central deputation in New Delhi.
Recently, sub-contractor V O Sajan, who was associated with the project, also gave a statement to the VACB as part of the inquiry.
VACB has also sought records about the project from KSTP, officials said.
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered the inquiry against Kumar.
The investigation comes at a time when the Congress and other opposition parties are holding protests against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Kumar is yet to react to the inquiry and the allegations against him.