No request to resume helicopter operations has been discussed before the government. when the CM left in a special flight, the Keralam SPC told the Lok Ayuktha

State Police Chief (SPC) Ravada Chandrasekhar informed the Lok Ayukth that no request from Chipson Aviation to extend the helicopter service was taken up with the state government when Chief Minister VD Satheesan recently undertook a special flying trip to oversee rescue operations in the rain-hit areas of Malappuram. He added that the Chief Minister did not get any financial benefit by making the trip.

The contract between SPC and the manned helicopter rental company was automatically terminated on 19 September 2026. Pursuant to Article 16 of the contract, it will automatically terminate on expiry on 19 September 2026 and any decision to extend it had to be taken before the expiry of the contract. However, no decision was made to extend it, as the government did not intend to pursue the matter any further.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the disaster management portfolio, has decided to visit Nilambur, TK Colony, Pookkothumpadam, where six people were swept away in a flash flood in the Kottapuzha river on September 20, Mr. Chandrasekhar informed a division bench comprising Lok Ayuktha N. Anilkumar and Upa Men Lokon Ayuktha Ashok.

Mr. Chandrasekhar called the claim of the petitioner, KM Shajahan, that after the expiry of the existing agreement, Chipsan Aviation had submitted a proposal to provide helicopter services on pay-per-use basis and the twin-engine helicopter was allegedly offered at ₹ 24 lakh per flight hour and the single-engine helicopter at ₹ 23.2 lakh per flight hour and a bogus base.

Since the government had no intention of renewing or inviting a new tender for the helicopter lease, the allegation that the firm had a direct and substantial commercial interest in the matter to be decided by the state government was absolutely false, he said.

The Lok Ayuktha later issued a notice to the state chief secretary in the case.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 21:54 IST