Thiruvananrhapuram, 24 Sept (H.S.): Delhi-based Chipsan Aviation paid ₹19,88,595 for Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s chartered flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Malappuram on September 21, according to invoice documents. The journey was made to visit an area affected by a natural disaster.

The invoice lists an aircraft rental charge of ₹16,85,250 and integrated GST of ₹3,03,345 at 18 per cent. The aircraft used for the trip belonged to the Kelachandra Group, owned by Karnataka minister K J George, according to the documents.

The disclosure has renewed questions about who arranged and funded the Chief Minister’s travel. Satheesan had earlier said that a Malayali acquaintance arranged the aircraft and asked what was wrong with using it. He also maintained that the journey had not cost the state government a rupee.

When asked to identify the sponsor, however, the Chief Minister declined to do so, questioning why others should be drawn into the matter. The invoice now identifies Chipsan Aviation as the company that paid for the flight.

Chipsan has supplied a helicopter to the Kerala police under a contract for the past three years. That arrangement has ended, and there have been reports that the company is seeking a new contract with revised terms. The disclosure that it paid for the Chief Minister’s journey comes amid those reported efforts.

The invoice establishes the amount billed for the flight and identifies the company that paid it. It does not, on its own, explain why Chipsan covered the cost or whether the payment was connected to its dealings with the government.

Satheesan’s statement that no public money was spent on the trip remains consistent with the invoice. The unanswered question is why a company with a recent government contract paid for his travel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman