SC Orders CBI Probe into Arunachal Contract Row
Top court seeks preliminary enquiry into firms linked to CM’s relatives
- Supreme Court orders CBI to begin probe within two weeks
- Contracts worth ₹1,260 crore under scrutiny
- NGOs allege links to CM Pema Khandu’s relatives
- State govt calls plea “sponsored litigation”
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th April: The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the award of contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria concluded the hearing in the matter and granted two weeks to all parties to file written submissions before delivering its final verdict.
The petition was filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan. The petitioners alleged that four firms connected to the Chief Minister’s relatives were awarded contracts and work orders worth around ₹1,260 crore over the past decade.
According to the plea, contracts worth ₹1,245 crore were awarded through tenders, while an additional ₹25 crore was issued via work orders. The petitioners argued that these contracts accounted for nearly three per cent of total government works in the state during the period and called for an independent probe, stating that a state-level inquiry may lack impartiality.
Opposing the allegations, the Arunachal Pradesh government termed the petition a “sponsored litigation” and maintained that due procedures were followed in awarding contracts.
