Kerala orders a fresh anti‑corruption inquiry into ex‑CEC Gyanesh Kumar, directing Crime Branch and vigilance agency to revisit 2006 graft official findings.

Kerala's government has ordered an anti‑corruption enquiry into former chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over graft allegations stemming from a 2006 investigation.

The Home Department asked the Crime Branch to furnish the findings of its 2006 probe so that legal opinion can be formed on the matter.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala instructed the Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau (VACB) to re‑examine the conclusions of an earlier vigilance enquiry. That enquiry was originally ordered by former chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan after the Lee See Been controversy.

Kumar, who served as chief election commissioner, has not been publicly charged, but the fresh directive signals a renewed administrative focus on the 2006 allegations.

The Crime Branch’s 2006 findings relate to accusations of financial irregularities that surfaced during Kumar's tenure. By requesting those findings, the Home Department aims to determine whether further legal steps are warranted.

Achuthanandan’s earlier vigilance enquiry examined the same set of allegations, but the current re‑examination by VACB will assess whether the prior conclusions remain valid in light of any new evidence.

Officials said the Home Department’s request for the Crime Branch report is part of a standard legal‑opinion process. The department has not disclosed a timeline for the re‑examination.

Legal experts note that the combination of a Crime Branch review and a VACB re‑assessment could provide a comprehensive view of the alleged misconduct.

The move follows heightened public scrutiny of past graft cases in Kerala. Authorities have emphasized that the enquiry will proceed in accordance with established anti‑corruption procedures.

Further updates are expected once the Crime Branch submits its findings and the VACB completes its review.