THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police chief has told the Lok Ayukta that Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s chartered flight to flood-hit Malappuram did not constitute an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He said Chipsan Aviation had arranged the aircraft on request, and no proposal for renewing its contract was pending before the government at that time.
The police chief filed the statement on behalf of the CM in response to a complaint by activist K M Shajahan, who alleged that accepting sponsorship from a private firm amounted to abuse of official position and nepotism.
The police chief said the CM, who holds the disaster management portfolio, visited Malappuram in the wake of a flash flood in the Kottapuzha river that claimed six lives. The state government, through the police chief, had entered into a contract with Chipsan Aviation for helicopter services, which expired on September 18, he said.
He dismissed as baseless the allegation that the firm’s fresh proposal was pending before the government when it sponsored the chief minister’s flight. No such proposal existed, he said, rejecting the claim that Chipsan had a direct commercial interest in arranging the chartered flight.
‘CM has not availed any pecuniary benefit’
“The respondent (CM) has not availed any pecuniary benefit by performing helicopter journey, which was made for attending a most essential official need, which was arranged by Chipsan Private Ltd, on request, whose services had been availed by government for the last several years on the strength of valid agreements,” the statement read.
The Lok Ayukta had, on October 26, directed the government to produce its version, following which the state police chief filed his response.
The CM’s sponsored flight to Malappuram had triggered a political row, with the Opposition LDF and even some ruling-front leaders criticising the move.
The CM had defended the trip as part of disaster management efforts, maintaining that no public money was spent on it.
He, however, declined to disclose the sponsor’s details.