Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader B.B. Gopakumar on Monday, 5 October 2026, demanded that former Public Works Minister M.K. Muneer be made a co-accused in the Vigilance inquiry ordered against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in connection with the 2006 suicide of a Malaysian engineer. The demand escalates political pressure in Thiruvananthapuram over a case that has resurfaced after nearly two decades.

The Core Allegation

The case centres on the suicide of Lee See Been, Chief Project Manager of PATI-BEL, an Indo-Malaysian consortium tasked with upgrading the MC Road under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP). Lee's suicide note named Gyanesh Kumar, who served as PWD Secretary at the time, and contained allegations of corruption and harassment in the project.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) government on Sunday ordered a Vigilance inquiry following a legal opinion by Director General of Prosecution T. Asaf Ali. The opinion stated that there were allegations Gyanesh Kumar had abused his official position, favoured contractors, and caused substantial financial loss to the state. It also pointed to the possibility of an offence of abetment of suicide.

BJP's Demand: Expand the Probe

Gopakumar argued that since the alleged irregularities took place when M.K. Muneer was the Public Works Minister, the Vigilance inquiry must extend to his role as well. He also called for an investigation into successive governments — both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the UDF — for allegedly failing to act on the complaint over nearly 20 years.

'Things that could not be detected for 20 years have suddenly come to light. The reason should be made clear,' Gopakumar said. He further demanded that the government disclose the action taken on the original complaint and the legal opinion obtained on it.

Gopakumar also questioned the decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry through the Crime Branch in a matter that, in his view, warranted a direct Vigilance probe.

Pinarayi Vijayan Also in the Crosshairs

The BJP has separately sought a case against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, citing information and evidence reportedly provided by the Enforcement Directorate. 'If Gyanesh Kumar, Pinarayi Vijayan or M.K. Muneer has committed any wrongdoing, all must face the law. There should be no double standards,' Gopakumar said.

The DGP's legal opinion, notably, maintained that delay does not by itself extinguish criminal liability for serious offences such as corruption and abetment of suicide, and that the allegation of harassment leading to Lee's death warranted a detailed investigation.

Political Broadside at Satheesan Government

Gopakumar also took aim at the four-month-old administration of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, alleging that its primary achievement had been power-sharing within the ruling coalition. He claimed the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) had secured five ministerial berths and an additional Cabinet-rank position through Muneer's appointment as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission.

He alleged that Satheesan had previously opposed the commission and similar appointments on grounds of financial burden to the state, only to reverse that position after assuming office — a charge the government has not publicly addressed.

What Comes Next

With the Vigilance inquiry now officially ordered, the scope of the probe — whether it will be expanded to include Muneer and other officials — is likely to become a flashpoint in the Kerala assembly. The BJP's demand for equal accountability across party lines sets up a politically charged confrontation as the Satheesan government navigates its early months in power.