Bhubaneswar: Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on Sunday said inquiry into the helicopter rides of bureaucrat-turned-politician V K Pandian is going on and the govt will take strong action after the findings are out.
Jena’s comment comes days after law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said a probe will be initiated as to how 450 helipads were constructed to land helicopters used by Pandian.
Pandian, a close aide of former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, had made helicopter sorties between February and September last year when the BJD was in power. He visited the districts to interact with the public and take their feedback. For this reason, helipads were apparently built.
“Investigation into the chopper ride has been put on fast track. We will make everything public once it is over. Details can’t be disclosed prematurely,” Jena told the TOI.
Jena was first to speak about need for a thorough probe into Pandian’s helicopter rides. In fact, sources revealed that construction of helipads were being overseen by works department and work orders were being issued officially to different contractors. But it is not known at whose behest the helipads were being constructed — the district collectors or any other district-level officer. While the use of helicopter falls under the transport department, works department looks after helipad construction.

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