Muneer calls for fresh probe into 2006 death of Malaysian project engineer

Former Kerala Public Works Minister M.K. Muneer has called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported death by suicide of Lee See Been, a project engineer involved in a major road project in the State. Lee was associated with an Indo-Malaysian joint venture working on the World Bank-aided development of the MC Road between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram.

He died in November 2006. Muneer, a senior Indian Union Muslim League leader, said on Sunday that no proper inquiry had been conducted into the engineer’s death. He said reports referred to a note, but that it lacked clarity.

Muneer held the Public Works portfolio from 2001 to 2006. Gyanesh Kumar, now the Chief Election Commissioner, was Public Works Secretary when the incident occurred, according to the report. Muneer said the Left Democratic Front government that followed had conducted a Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry into alleged irregularities in the road works under the Kerala State Transport Project.

He said Kumar was later exonerated by a court and transferred to New Delhi. His remarks came after the United Democratic Front government sought a preliminary inquiry into allegations that attempts to extort bribes from the PATI-BEL consortium had delayed the project and increased its costs. The consortium was described as the Indo-Malaysian construction firm involved in the work.

The allegations include claims of substantial losses to the exchequer and a possible connection between the reported conduct and Lee’s death. The material does not state that a new comprehensive investigation has yet begun.