Thiruvananthapuram: Evidence has emerged regarding the sponsorship of the chartered aircraft used by Chief Minister VD Satheesan to travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Malappuram. Copies of an invoice confirm that Chipson Aviation settled the bill for the journey. The Chief Minister flew in a chartered aircraft owned by Bengaluru-headquartered Kelachandra Logistics.

Chipson Aviation previously leased helicopters to the Kerala state government. With that contract having expired, official discussions regarding its renewal are currently underway, coinciding with disclosures that the firm sponsored the Chief Minister’s air travel.

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When journalists questioned Satheesan during a press conference about whether Chipson Aviation, a government vendor, funded his travel, he retorted, “What difference does it make who pays for it?”

According to the invoice, the total charge for the flight was ₹19,88,595, which includes ₹16,85,250 in basic airfare and ₹3,03,345 in GST. The Kelachandra Group is owned by the family of Karnataka Cabinet Minister and senior Congress leader K J George.

Defending his actions amidst the growing controversy, Satheesan stated that he would continue to travel in privately sponsored aircraft if required, asserting there was nothing improper about it. He noted that former Chief Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan and Oommen Chandy had undertaken similar journeys, emphasising that his travel incurred no cost to the state exchequer.

However, the CPM launched a scathing attack against Satheesan, arguing that accepting free travel from industrialists violates constitutional principles and constitutes a breach of his oath of office.