Keralam minister K.M. Shaji faces controversy over use of ‘loaned’ luxury car as official vehicle

Keralam Local Bodies Minister and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader K. M. Shaji’s use of a luxury sports utility vehicle, purportedly borrowed from a Saudi Arabia-based businessperson friend of his, as his official car has snowballed into a major political controversy marred by accusations of corruption, conflict of interest, unethical quid pro quos and violation of the Constitutional oath of office.

Mr. Shaji came under intense criticism for affixing the Keralam State Government registration plate, Keralam State 13, reserved for the official vehicles of cabinet Ministers, on a privately owned luxury vehicle belonging to his friend, Yakoob Thillenkeri, a Kannur resident who runs a business operation in Riyadh. 

Photographs of Mr. Shaji posing alongside the car, which flew the national flag from a staff affixed on the vehicle’s bonnet, had gone viral on social and conventional media recently, drawing applause from his supporters and criticism from Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders, notably former Minister K.T. Jaleel and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State president, Chintha Jerome, among others.

Moreover, Mr. Shaji had initially tried to defend his use of the “borrowed” vehicle, claiming the van assigned to him had clocked over 4 lakh kilometres and its roadworthiness was suspect.

Later, Mr. Shaji was constrained to return the vehicle to Mr. Thillenkeri after he and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government arguably found themselves in “poor light”, especially at a time when Keralam was reeling under rolling night-time power cuts exacerbated by paltry State finances. 

Nevertheless, on Sunday, Mr. Shaji assumed his politically combative persona on social media. In a Facebook post, Mr. Shaji dared the CPI(M) cadres to carry out their “threat” to block his passage if he used the private vehicles of his friends or well-wishers as his official conveyance. 

He challenged the media to investigate whether he had done anything out of the way for his friends or acquaintances. At the same time, Mr. Shaji chided journalists for chasing mirages instead of focusing on bread-and-butter issues that matter to Keralam’s people and polity. He also promised to “reveal an important matter at 11.30 a.m. (On Sunday)”, asking his social media followers to brace themselves for the hour. 

In a Facebook post titled “Shaji and Range Rover car”, Mr. Jaleel flagged a “serious violation” of the oath of office on the part of the Minister. He alleged that Mr. Shaji accepted a freebie in contravention of the Constitutional pledge not to show fear or favour while holding elected office.

Mr. Jaleel also accused Mr. Shaji of demeaning State symbols by using them on a “loaned private vehicle”.

Quoting the Holy Quran, Mr. Jaleel cautioned Mr. Shaji against professing what the latter could not practice.

Earlier, Ms. Jerome demanded that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan publicly clarify whether Mr. Shaji’s acceptance of the private vehicle for official use amounts to an unethical quid pro quo.