Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the award of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly linked to family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath said the enquiry—and any subsequent investigation, would cover the award and execution of public works, contracts and work orders in the state between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025.
“The CBI shall register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks from the date of this judgment and proceed in accordance with law,” Justice Nath said while pronouncing the order. The agency has also been directed to submit a status report to the court within 16 weeks. The detailed order is awaited.
The apex court had reserved its verdict on February 17 after hearing arguments in the matter.
During the proceedings, the court was informed that government contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore had been awarded over the past decade to four firms allegedly associated with members of the Chief Minister’s family.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners—NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, cited an affidavit filed by the state government and argued that multiple contracts had been granted to companies owned by Khandu’s relatives.
Counsel for the Arunachal Pradesh government had earlier opposed the plea, describing it as a “sponsored litigation”.
On December 2 last year, the Supreme Court had directed the state to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing all contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, including those involving firms linked to the Chief Minister’s family.
Pema Khandu has been named as a respondent in the public interest litigation, along with Rinchin Drema, second wife of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and Tsering Tashi, his nephew.
Dorjee Khandu served as Chief Minister from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in April 2011.
The petition also alleged that Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, secured a significant number of government contracts despite an apparent conflict of interest.