Used friend's Range Rover with permission: Keralam minister defends amid row
Keralam minister KM Shaji on Sunday defended his use of a friend’s Range Rover as his official vehicle, saying he had used it for several years after obtaining the necessary permissions.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader, who holds the Local Self-Government Department portfolio, had also said he would not claim even a rupee from the government for travelling in the vehicle.
The issue drew sharp criticism from the opposition LDF, which alleged that the arrangement was a “violation of the oath of office”. Shaji said he had used the vehicle because the government-provided one was not suitable for long-distance travel, and maintained that there was nothing improper in the arrangement.
In a Facebook post, Shaji said the vehicle was not something he began using after becoming a minister. He said he had been using it occasionally for several years, including during the past five years when he held no official position. He added that he had several good friendships and that many of his friends owned expensive vehicles.
Shaji said he did not see anything wrong in using their vehicles after following the prescribed procedures. “If there are any legal issues in this matter, everyone has the right to point them out,” he said. He added that he had used the vehicle after obtaining the necessary permissions and that it was not one he used regularly.
He also urged the media and the public to examine whether any of his friends who provided him with food, accommodation or vehicles had received any undue benefits from the government because of their association with him.
“If you find anything like that, tell me and the public without any hesitation,” he said, adding that if he was found to have done anything improper for such friendships, he should be exposed without any consideration.
Shaji also hit out at CPI(M) cyber workers, former ministers and his political critics, saying he had never been afraid of them and had no intention of being so in the future.
Responding to those who had threatened to block vehicles used by him, he said any vehicle he travelled in would continue to be used as long as it was legally eligible to be driven on the road. “There is no ‘fake banana bunch’ in my vehicle to stop it,” he said. He also said he would make an important announcement at 11.30 am on Monday.
The Range Rover belonged to his friend Yakoob, a native of Thillankeri in Kannur district who works in Saudi Arabia. Following the controversy, the minister returned the car, which was seen parked in the courtyard of Yakoob’s house on Saturday without the official number plate allotted to the minister.
There are reports that Shaji returned the car before travelling abroad, and he has not decided whether to use the same vehicle after his return.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 20, 2026 09:56 IST
