Keralam LSGD Minister KM Shaji Under Fire For Using Luxury SUV

Keralam Minister K M Shaji's use of an ultra-luxury car as his official vehicle has sparked a political row, with a prominent Opposition leader on Friday questioning his claim that it belongs to a friend and was used because the government vehicle assigned to him was unfit for long-distance travel. 

Shaji, a firebrand Indian Union Muslim League leader holding the LSGD portfolio, has said he would not claim even a rupee from the government for travelling in the Range Rover belonging to his friend.

"It belongs to my friend.



Anyone can verify it. I do not intend to take even a rupee from the government for travelling in this vehicle," Shaji told the media. He said he had been forced to depend on his friend's vehicle as the one provided by the government was not suitable for long-distance travel.

 "The vehicle given to me by the government is not capable of travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to other places. It is a vehicle that has been used extensively and has travelled nearly four lakh kilometres. So I used my friend's vehicle for local travel," Shaji said.