The Kerala Home Department has directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar sought bribes from contractors to clear public works bills when he was the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) secretary in 2006.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala’s office said Wednesday the inquiry would be based on a complaint by a contractor named Sajan, who alleged Kumar sought Rs 2 crore from Malaysian engineer Lee See Been, the project manager of a road project undertaken by the India-Malaysia joint venture PATI-BEL.

Lee died by suicide in Malaysia in November 2005, allegedly leaving behind a note accusing PWD officials of withholding payments over bribe demands.

The matter is already under the VACB’s scanner following a complaint filed last month by Congress leader Malayankeezhu Venugopal with the Home Minister.

Venugopal had alleged that Kumar’s name figured in the Malaysian engineer’s suicide note and that the VACB…