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Informist, Monday, Apr. 6, 2026

 

--SC orders CBI preliminary probe into contracts awarded to Arunachal CM kin 

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to initiate within two weeks a preliminary enquiry into award of public work contracts worth INR 12.70 billion in Arunachal Pradesh to firms owned by the family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Preliminary enquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover execution of public works, contracts, and work orders within the period from 2015 to 2025, said the bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta.

 

The CBI shall in particular examine awards made to Khandu, his father's second wife Rinchin Drema and his nephew Tsering Tashi, said the court. The probe agency shall not be precluded from examining transactions outside the given period, said the court. The state of Arunachal Pradesh shall cooperate fully with the CBI, said the court, adding that the state's chief secretary shall designate a nodal officer for coordination with the probe agency. The CBI shall file a status report before this court within 16 weeks on whether independent investigation is warranted, said the court. 

 

The apex court was hearing a petition by non-government organisations Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Senaa, alleging that all the government contracts in the state were being awarded to close family members of the chief minister. The petition stated that Drema's firm Brand Eagles had been awarded a large number of government contracts despite there being a clear conflict of interest. 

 

The perusal of the list of contract works settled in favour of family firms shows that it was all done in an arbitrary manner by selectively managing the tender in favour of the family-owned firms, the petition said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, said the state of affairs was shocking and Arunachal Pradesh was being run like a private limited company. 

 

Bhushan had alleged that the case was "reeking of corruption" and that the state police would not be able to conduct an impartial investigation. Last year, the top court had directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing all contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, including those granted to firms linked to the chief minister's family members.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

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