Bhubaneswar: Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan today said that there is a need for an investigation into the helicopter travel expenses of former Secretary V.K. Pandian, citing misuse of government funds.
Pandian, who served as Secretary in the previous government, allegedly used helicopters for l travel to over 400 locations, with the government footing the bill for his helipad construction. Minister Harichandan questioned who authorized these expenses and instructed the helipad’s construction at government cost.
The Minister said that investigation will focus Pandian’s helicopter travel expenses and construction of helipad.
“Who instructed to build the helipad and at whose expense? How did a secretary without the right to use a helicopter get government approval?” he questioned.
Harichandan said that punishment would be imposed after the investigation.
Earlier on Friday, minister for Commerce and Transport Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said that the investigation into the helicopter used by Pandian is in progress and will be completed soon.
The matter will be thoroughly probed, Jena added.
