T’puram: CM V D Satheesan said that an acquaintance had arranged a private aircraft for his visit to Malappuram where six people were killed in flash floods and that there was no need to disclose that person’s identity. Responding to questions after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, he said govt did not spend any money on his journey and that he would travel again in a similar way if need arose.“A Malayali arranged that aircraft for me. What is wrong with that? Disaster management funds are meant to help those affected by disasters. That money will not be used for the CM’s air travel,” he asked, adding that Rs 8 lakh each had been given to 10 persons from the fund.Satheesan also referred to ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s use of helicopters and private aircraft and questioned whether the names of those who had arranged them were disclosed. He said CPM state secretary M V Govindan should remember this and questioned why previous CMs were dragged into the controversy.He said Vijayan and ex-CM Oommen Chandy had travelled in aircraft arranged by individuals. “All CMs in India have travelled in private aircraft and helicopters apart from officially-arranged ones,” he said. Satheesan said those arranging an aircraft for the CM to reach a disaster site will not seek favours and that his govt will not provide any.He said govt had already made the state’s abysmal financial situation clear in its white paper and so it could not indulge in avoidable expenditure. This is why govt initially decided against purchasing new vehicles, he said, adding that many ministers are using vehicles purchased in 2017 and that some cars were nearly 10 years old. Referring to K M Shaji’s use of a private vehicle, he said the minister’s official vehicle had repeatedly developed problems and so he used a friend’s vehicle.On the foreign visits of ministers, Satheesan said he had encouraged them if their visits entailed no govt expenditure and organisations abroad invited them and arranged their tickets.Satheesan said he had undertaken several journeys as the opposition leader without claiming expenses and that he did not take his gunman on flights. He said he travelled alone to Delhi despite the state police chief, the chief secretary and Delhi Police urging him to take someone along as this meant only one ticket had to be purchased.On the helicopter arrangement, he said Chipsan Aviation’s contract had ended on Sept 19. He said govt had not spent money on his helicopter journeys and that it was trying to reduce the cost of future arrangements.Satheesan said the police enquiry into ED’s letter was not an impulsive decision. ED sent a letter to the state police after which it was forwarded to the home department and sent for legal advice. He said the AG and director of prosecutions cited SC’s interpretation of PMLA Section 66(2) and the Lalita Kumari judgment. The latter requires a preliminary enquiry before the registration of an FIR in certain cases, he said.
