Arunachal Pradesh – The Supreme Court on Monday instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to begin a preliminary probe within two weeks into government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh allegedly linked to the family of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench led by Justice Vikram Nath made it clear that the inquiry must cover all public works, tenders, and work orders issued in the state between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. The court has also asked the CBI to submit a detailed status report within 16 weeks. The order had been reserved earlier during a hearing held on February 17.
Allegations of Conflict of Interest
Petitions filed in the case claim that around ₹1,270 crore worth of government contracts over the past decade were awarded to four companies allegedly connected to the Chief Minister’s family.
Representing the petitioners, advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that these allocations point to a clear conflict of interest. The pleas were filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, raising concerns over transparency in the awarding of contracts.
Family Members Named as Respondents
The case names several individuals as party respondents, including Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his stepmother Rinchen Drima, and nephew Tsering Tashi.
Rinchen Drima’s firm, Brand Eagles, has been specifically mentioned in the petitions, with allegations that it received multiple government contracts under questionable circumstances.
Background of the Khandu Family
The petition also refers to late former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash in April 2011. His family’s continued involvement in business dealings with the state government has now come under judicial scrutiny.
Focus on Transparency and Accountability
With the Supreme Court stepping in, the spotlight is now on how public contracts were distributed in Arunachal Pradesh over the past ten years. The court’s directive is expected to bring greater accountability and may set a precedent for examining potential conflicts of interest in government dealings.