No Clarity On V K Pandian’s Chopper Use, Says Law Minister; BJD & Congress React

Bhubaneswar: A political storm is brewing over use of chopper by bureaucrat-turned-politcian V K Pandian, who withdrew from active politics after BJD’s drubbing in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, during the previous Naveen Patnaik regime in Odisha while serving as the private secretary to the chief minister.

Speaking to the media, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Sunday said that there is no clarity on who was bearing the helicopter expenses and how 450 helipads were constructed to land the chopper carrying him. “Helipads were constructed using government funds as Pandian toured 400-500 places and the matter will be investigated. A probe will also be initiated on who and how permission was given for the use of helicopter by a department secretary as there is no provision for the same,” he said.

This came a couple of days after State Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena informed that the government is investigating the extensive use of helicopters by Naveen’s close aide Pandian. “If anyone misuses the state exchequer, action will be taken without exception. Many had raised concerns about Pandian’s frequent travel by chopper across the state between February 2020 and December 2023. The extravaganza is difficult to accept,” he told reporters on Friday.

Reacting to the development, senior Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said that multiple scams, including Pandian’s helicopter expenses, that surfaced during the previous BJD regime should be probed. “Be it the Rs 35,000 crore corruption in rural drinking water supply, Rs 20,000 crore spent on procuring equipment during COVID pandemic or irregularities in hockey, the government should conduct a detailed investigation. There should be an audit of the funds utilised in the treatment of patients during the pandemic,” he said. 

Defending the helicopter expenses, BJD leader Sambit Routray said that Pandian was touring different places in the state for public hearings. “The BJP has been making noises over conducting investigation into non-issues after coming to power in the state by chance. Instead of blaming the previous regime, which saw numerous development works, the incumbent government should work for the progress of the state. How could Naveen Patnaik rule the state for some many years if the government was corrupt? Different projects pertaining to development of roads, temple and mutts were completed by the then BJD dispensation,” he claimed.