New Innova Hycross at Rs 30 lakh for police complaints panel head, 'dire finance' ignored

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The Home Department has given sanction to purchase a new vehicle at a cost of Rs 30.37 lakhs for the use of Chairperson of State police complaints authority Justice(rtd) V K Mohanan. The state police chief earlier reported to the government that when V K Mohanan assumed charge, the vehicle in use had covered 1.05 lakh kilometres in six years and that there were frequent mechanical glitches. The DGP placed the demand for Rs 30.37 lakh to purchase a full option Toyota Innova Hycross (Hybrid) citing that V K Mohanan was also the chairman of Judicial commission constituted to probe Tanur boat mishap.
When the demand was first placed before the Finance Department, it was communicated that the request for replacing Toyota Innova Crysta 2017 model car which covered just 1 lakh kilometres, could not be agreed in view of the dire financial situation and the standing economy orders. If the vehicle has frequent mechanical problems as reported, action may be taken to execute necessary repairs to avoid recurring problems.
This was informed to the DGP; however, the finance department was made to reconsider the demand, following which sanction was given to purchase a new car. The Finance Minister also approved the demand, as per the notes of the cabinet meeting. It was also decided to entrust the Finance department with revising guidelines to determine the age of vehicles while purchasing new ones to replace old vehicles.