The Supreme Court (SC) has instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out a preliminary inquiry. The inquiry conducts into claims that government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh went to firms connected to CM Pema Khandu’s family members.
SC instructs CBI to investigate CM Pema Khandu’s Family
Acting on a public interest litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation, the court asked the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry. It will review the awarding and execution of public works contracts between November 2015 and 2025.
The investigation focus on contracts granted to entities tied to the respondents named in the petition. It includes firms linked to the Chief Minister’s wife, mother, and nephew.
Case of ₹1,270-Crore Contract
A bench made up of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice NV Anjaria said that the CBI will look into the awarding of tenders, project execution, and payment flows. It noted that the agency is not limited to the specified time frame. It may investigate transactions outside this period if necessary.
The SC made it clear that its remarks at this stage are only to assess whether a deeper investigation is necessary. These comments do not reflect any conclusions about the validity of the allegations.
The petitioners claimed that contracts worth around Rs 1,270 crore improperly awarded to firms related to the CM family. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, argued that tenders granted out of turn and at inflated prices.
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