Harichandan emphasized the need to investigate the costs and authorization of the helicopter rides. He questioned how government funds were used for constructing helipads and who provided the necessary permissions for Pandian’s extensive travels. Pandian, who was then serving as the 5T secretary, visited 400-450 places during this period.
“We will investigate who covered the cost of the helicopter rides. Clarity must be provided on this matter. It needs a thorough probe. At the govt level, helipads were constructed wherever the helicopter landed, and govt funds were used. He (Pandian) visited 400-450 places. It is not clear who authorized this and how the authorization was issued. A department secretary does not have the authority to use helicopters. How, then, was permission granted?” TOI quoted Harichandan as saying.
He also mentioned that the investigation would include all aspects, and appropriate action would be considered after its completion.
“After the investigation is complete, we will consider the appropriate punishment,” Harichandan told reporters.
The calls for investigation followed a demonstration by Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, a group of RTI activists, on July 24. They alleged misuse of helicopters and chartered flights by Pandian, who resigned from the IAS in October and joined the BJD the following month, subsequently campaigning for the party in both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.In response, BJD functionary Sambit Routray criticized the opposition’s focus on Pandian’s helicopter rides. “BJP and Congress functionaries should focus on whether there has been development across the state. Why are they concerned with who rode what?” he remarked.
Pandian’s helicopter rides aimed to interact with the public and gather feedback when the BJD government was in office. Harichandan reiterated the state’s commitment to investigating who bore the costs of these rides.
“Pandian took helicopter rides between Feb and Sept last year, when BJD was in office, to interact with the public. ‘We will probe who covered the cost of the rides,’ Odisha minister Harichandan said.”
(With inputs from TOI)
