Keralam Minister for Local Self-Governments K.M. Shaji on Sunday reiterated his defence over the use of a luxury car bearing a State government registration plate, saying a widely circulated photograph showing him leaning on the vehicle was produced using artificial intelligence tools and accusing political rivals of manufacturing controversy.
Minister rejects legal culpability, concedes a moral question
Mr. Shaji, an Indian Union Muslim League leader, told the media that the vehicle in question was not a government-owned car and that ministers were permitted to use private vehicles for official purposes provided they carried the tricolour. He maintained that there was no legal violation, but acknowledged a “moral issue” in the episode.
“The vehicle being used by a Minister is the Minister’s vehicle, and it can be a private vehicle...The only issue is that we should not grant any favours in return. If such a situation comes, we will see,” Mr. Shaji said.
He added that the vehicle had been returned “much before the controversy was created” and that he had already explained the matter to senior IUML leadership. Mr. Shaji also defended an overseas trip to Bulgaria, saying it was undertaken after an invitation from the World Malayali Forum.
Accusations and wider political fallout
The Minister accused the news media of amplifying a controversy he blamed on the “cyber wing” of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), asserting the photograph currently in circulation had been doctored. He said the existing rules governing ministerial vehicles would need to be amended if critics intended to pin legal blame on him.
Mr. Shaji further said that if members of the United Democratic Front were hurt by the episode, he would respect their feelings, signalling awareness of possible intra-coalition sensitivity.
What the minister said and what remains unclear
- Defence: Mr. Shaji said the image circulated on social media was created with AI tools.
- Legality: He argued there was no legal breach since private vehicles can be used for government purposes if they display the tricolour.
- Morality: He admitted a moral question existed and claimed to have returned the vehicle before the controversy emerged.
- Party communication: Mr. Shaji said he had briefed senior IUML leaders on the matter.
Background and protocol
The photograph has fuelled debate over the propriety of ministers using privately owned vehicles with State registration markings reserved for official use. While Mr. Shaji maintained that the rules only require the presence of the tricolour on vehicles used by ministers, questions remain about the permissibility of affixing official registration plates on private cars and the transparency of such arrangements.
The matter has political resonance in Kerala, where issues of governmental propriety and symbolic markers such as registration plates can lead to rapid public scrutiny and opposition criticism. The minister’s allegation that the image was AI-manipulated adds a digital-age dimension to the controversy, placing the dispute at the intersection of political accountability and emerging challenges related to misinformation.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Prior to controversy | Mr. Shaji used a luxury vehicle that later became the subject of media attention. |
| Before social media surge | Minister said he had returned the vehicle. |
| 27 September 2026 | Mr. Shaji told media the circulated photo was produced using AI and defended his actions. |
What to watch next
Further developments may include formal clarification from the State administration on rules governing ministerial vehicle use, a possible probe if complaints are filed, or internal party deliberations should the matter escalate within the United Democratic Front. The Minister’s allegation of an AI-manipulated image could also draw attention from authorities or fact-checkers dealing with digitally altered content.
The episode underscores the broader governance question in Kerala about the boundaries between personal and official resources and the heightened scrutiny public figures face in the social-media era.
Reporting note: Statements quoted above were supplied by media reports on Mr. Shaji’s comments to the press on September 27, 2026.
