Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Satheesan Defends Chartered Aircraft, Probe and Spending Decisions
V.D. Satheesan defended several decisions made by his government.
These included investigating the CMRL-Exalogic matter and using aircraft for travel.
He said the helicopter was part of a contract signed by the previous government.
That contract cost Rs 80 lakh each month and was not renewed after three years.
Satheesan also used a friend’s chartered aircraft to reach Malappuram after a deadly landslip.
He said he would use such an aircraft again if needed.
He defended ministers travelling abroad to learn about ideas that could help Kerala.
He said the government’s goal was to save public money and prevent money from being lost.
V.D. Satheesan defended the government’s decision to initiate a preliminary inquiry into the CMRL-Exalogic matter.
He said the helicopter he used was covered by a previous government contract costing Rs 80 lakh per month.
Satheesan defended using a friend’s chartered aircraft to visit landslip-hit Malappuram and said he would use it again.
He said ministers’ foreign travel was intended to help them learn about developments useful to Kerala.
The Chief Minister said the government aimed to prevent wasteful spending and stop leakages from the state exchequer.
- Who
- Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, the UDF government, and officials involved in the CMRL-Exalogic inquiry.
- What
- Satheesan defended the government’s inquiry decision, official travel arrangements, ministers’ foreign trips, and efforts to reduce spending.
- When
- Wednesday, during a Cabinet briefing.
- Where
- The matters concerned Kerala, including Malappuram, as well as travel to Delhi and abroad.
- Why
- Satheesan said the inquiry followed an Enforcement Directorate report and legal advice, while the spending decisions were intended to limit waste and financial leakages.
- CMRL-Exalogic inquiry
- A Crime Branch team is expected to conduct a preliminary inquiry before any decision on registering an FIR.
- People named in inquiry
- The matter involves former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas.
- Helicopter contract
- The previous LDF government’s agreement cost Rs 80 lakh per month and lasted three years.
- Contract status
- The helicopter agreement expired and the new government decided not to extend it.
- Chartered aircraft
- Satheesan said a friend offered the aircraft he used to reach rain-hit Malappuram.
- Foreign travel
- Satheesan said diaspora organisations, including groups in the UAE, invited ministers and arranged their tickets.
- Spending objective
- The government says it aims to prevent wasteful expenditure and plug leakages from the state exchequer.