VK Pandian: Odisha govt to explore the possibility of building 450 helipads for VK Pandian rides

Odisha commerce and transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and state law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan have called for a detailed probe into the helicopter flights taken by bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian between February and September last year. They are seeking information on how 450 helipads were constructed for these trips, what was the authorisation process and who financed the flights, TOI reported.

Harichandan stressed the need to investigate the cost and authorisation of helicopter flights. He asked how government funds were utilised for building helipads and who gave the necessary permissions for Pandian’s extensive travel. Pandian, who was then serving as 5T secretary, visited 400-450 places during that period.

“We will investigate who bore the cost of the helicopter flights. This needs to be sorted out. It requires a thorough investigation. At the government level, helipads were constructed wherever the helicopter landed and government funds were used. He (Pandian) visited 400-450 places. It is not clear who authorised this and how the authorisation was given. The departmental secretary has no authority to operate helicopters. So how was the permission granted?” TOI quoted Harichandan as saying.

He also added that the investigation will cover all aspects and after its completion, appropriate action will be considered.

“Once the investigation is complete, we will consider the appropriate punishment,” Harichandan told reporters.

The calls for an inquiry followed a demonstration by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, an RTI activist group, on July 24. They accused Pandian of misusing helicopters and chartered flights, who resigned from the IAS in October and joined the BJD the following month, and then campaigned for the party in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. In response, BJD functionary Sambit Routray criticised the opposition’s focus on Pandian’s helicopter flights. “BJP and Congress functionaries should focus on whether there has been development across the state. Why are they bothered about who flew what?” he said.

Pandian’s helicopter flights were aimed at interacting with the public and gathering opinions when the BJD government was in power. Harichandan reiterated the state’s commitment to investigate who bore the cost of these flights.

“Pandian used to take helicopter rides between February and September last year when the BJD was in power to connect with the public. “We will investigate who bore the cost of the rides,” Odisha Minister Harichandan said.”

(With tips from TOI)