Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2 (IANS): In what is being seen in some quarters as a security lapse, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy found himself in a taxi as his official car was still to arrive to pick him up from the airport in the state capital Monday.

Not wishing to wait for his official car, the chief minister, who had taken a flight back from the national capital, waved at a taxi and hopped in, to dash off to his office.

Reporters questioned the chief minister about what was termed "a security lapse" in some quarters.

"Yes, I took a taxi. So what? In Delhi too, I rode in a taxi," Chandy responded.

Kerala Police, however, is not taking the matter so lightly. A probe has already begun into how the "lapse" occurred.

The chief minister's office said the problem was caused as the aircraft from Delhi arrived earlier than scheduled.

The scheduled time of arrival of the aircraft from Delhi was 10.50 a.m., but it touched down at Thiruvananthapuram 10.18 a.m. Except for Chandy's official vehicle, the security entourage was fully ready, so Chandy jumped into a taxi, an official in the chief minister's office explained.

Chandy's official car driver saw the entourage zip past to the office from the airport, and realised something was amiss.

State Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala was amused by reporters' curiosity in the matter, and laughed the matter away.