Satheesan Defends Air Travel and CMRL-Exalogic Probe, Vows to Curb Wasteful Spending

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday defended his government's handling of the CMRL-Exalogic probe and his own air travel, telling reporters after a Cabinet briefing that the administration's goal was to prevent wasteful expenditure and stop leakages from the state exchequer.

On the inquiry involving former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Satheesan said the government had acted without undue haste. He said the ED report was handed to the State Police Chief and legal opinions were sought, after which the police were duty-bound to proceed in line with Supreme Court guidelines. A preliminary inquiry must precede any decision on registering an FIR, he added, and the government had only carried out its legal responsibility. A Crime Branch team is expected to conduct that preliminary inquiry. "Law will take its own course. That is all we have done," he said.

Turning to the controversy over his air travel, the Chief Minister said the helicopter he used was covered by an agreement signed by the previous LDF government at a monthly cost of Rs 80 lakh. He said he used it as per that agreement, and that the three-year contract has since lapsed and the government chose not to extend it.

Defending his use of a chartered aircraft to reach rain-hit Malappuram, where six people died in a landslip, Satheesan said a friend had offered the aircraft. "I have used it, and I will use it again," he said, noting that chief ministers across the country use private aircraft. He pointed to similar use by former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy, and said those who own aircraft in Kerala are not the kind of people who would seek favours in return.

On Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shaji using a friend's Range Rover, Satheesan said the minister's official vehicle was about a decade old and broke down frequently, prompting him to use the friend's car.

Responding to questions about ministers travelling abroad, the Chief Minister said he had asked them to go and see global developments that could benefit Kerala. He noted there are around 1,000 organisations of Keralites in the UAE alone, and that after a decade the return of a UDF government had led diaspora groups to invite ministers and arrange their tickets. Satheesan said he had travelled widely to the Middle East as Leader of Opposition without using state funds.

Highlighting his expenditure-cutting measures, he said ministers were continuing with old official vehicles instead of buying new ones. "I am perhaps the only Chief Minister who travels alone to Delhi," he said, adding that he had declined additional police security there because Kerala Police personnel were already stationed in the capital.

Ending the briefing, Satheesan appealed to the media to show restraint while questioning him. Speaking towards the television cameras, he said he could not hear any question because 12 journalists were asking at the same time, and asked whether such behaviour would have occurred before Pinarayi Vijayan. He then walked away.