The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the CBI to launch a preliminary investigation within two weeks into the awarding of public contracts for construction works in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned by family members of Prime Minister Pema Khandu, as reported by PTI.
During the hearing, the court was informed that over the last decade government contracts and work orders were worth approx ₹1,270 crores have been allocated in Arunachal Pradesh to four companies linked to Khandu’s family.
The court, headed by Justice Vikram Nath, said the inquiry and any follow-up inquiry would cover the award and execution of public works, contracts and engagements in the state for the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2025.
The bench directed the CBI to report to it within 16 weeks on the status of the case.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan representing NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, which filed the petition, cited an affidavit submitted by the Arunachal Pradesh government and alleged that several contracts were awarded to companies owned by the chief minister’s family members.
Counsel for the state had previously argued that the lawsuit was “sponsored litigation.”
what’s going on
On December 2 last year, the apex court had asked the Arunachal Pradesh government to submit a comprehensive affidavit detailing contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, including contracts to firms belonging to the chief minister’s family members.
Khandu became a party respondent in the PIL.
Pema Khandu’s father’s second wife Dorjee Khandu Rinchin Drema and his nephew Tsering Tashi were also involved in the case.
Dorjee Khandu served as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in April 2011.
The plea alleged that Drema’s company, Brand Eagles, was awarded a large number of government contracts despite a clear conflict of interest.
(With input from agencies)
