New Delhi, Apr 6: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the allocation of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly associated with relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench led by Justice Vikram Nath stated that the enquiry, along with any subsequent investigation, will examine the award and execution of government contracts and work orders issued between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2025.
The court has also instructed the CBI to submit a status report within 16 weeks. While delivering the order, the bench clarified that the agency must proceed strictly in accordance with the law after registering the preliminary enquiry. The detailed judgment is yet to be released.
The matter had been reserved for orders on February 17 after extensive hearings. During proceedings, it was highlighted that contracts worth nearly ₹1,270 crore were allegedly granted over the past decade to four firms linked to the chief minister’s family.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing petitioner organisations, cited official affidavits to argue that several contracts were awarded to companies connected to the CM’s relatives. In response, the state government had earlier dismissed the petition as a “sponsored litigation.”
Previously, the apex court had directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to submit a detailed affidavit outlining all contracts issued during the specified period, including those involving firms tied to the chief minister’s family.
The petition also names Khandu as a respondent, along with his family members, including Rinchin Drema and Tsering Tashi. It further alleges that Drema’s firm received multiple government projects despite potential conflict-of-interest concerns.