No political vendetta in probe against CEC Gyanesh Kumar: Keralam CM Satheesan
CM rejects suggestions that probe was retaliatory move against CEC, who is under Opposition fire for alleged electoral irregularities, says law will take its own course
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 (PTI) Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan has denied any political vendetta behind the state government's decision to order a Vigilance probe into allegations linked to a road project involving CEC Gyanesh Kumar when he was state PWD secretary two decades ago.
Satheesan's comments came amid intense protests in Delhi and other parts of the country, led by the Congress, demanding the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the electoral process in light of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls.
"It is not political. There is no political vendetta," Satheesan said in a recent interview with PTI Videos.
Rejecting suggestions that the probe was a retaliatory move against the CEC, who is under opposition fire for alleged electoral irregularities, Satheesan said the law will take its own course.
Asked whether the move amounted to a vindictive action, similar to what the Opposition accuses the ruling party at the Centre of doing, he said the government had acted on a complaint.
"Some complaint was received by the Home Minister against this fellow's activities when he was PWD secretary. Then as usual, they have ordered an inquiry," he said.
The government would decide on further action after receiving the inquiry report, the CM added. "After getting the report from (the Vigilance), we will take action."
Last week, state home minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered the probe into alleged corruption in the KSTP road project and the death of a Malaysian engineer associated with it in 2006, when Kumar, a Keralam cadre IAS officer, was serving as the state's Public Works Department secretary.
The probe was ordered after state Congress leader Malayinkeezhu Venugopal filed a complaint seeking an investigation against the incumbent CEC Kumar.
The probe comes amid protests by opposition parties against the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the country's electoral process. PTI