The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the awarding of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh, including those linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The order came while hearing a public interest litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation, which alleged that contracts worth around ₹1,270 crore were improperly awarded to firms connected to the Chief Minister’s family members.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria directed the CBI to examine the allocation and execution of contracts between November 2015 and 2025. The court clarified that the probe would cover not only how tenders were awarded but also how projects were executed and how funds were disbursed. It further stated that the agency is free to examine transactions beyond this period if necessary.
The inquiry will specifically look into firms allegedly linked to Khandu’s wife, mother, and nephew. Among those mentioned in the petition are M/s Brand Eagles, reportedly associated with his spouse, and M/s Alliance Trading Co., linked to his nephew Tsering Tashi, an MLA from Tawang.
The court has given the CBI 16 weeks to submit a status report indicating whether the findings warrant a full-fledged investigation. It also made it clear that the current direction is limited to assessing the need for deeper scrutiny and does not constitute any conclusion on the allegations.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, argued that contracts were allegedly granted out of turn and at inflated rates, raising concerns over transparency and due process.
The case now moves into the preliminary inquiry stage, where the CBI will assess whether sufficient evidence exists to justify a comprehensive investigation into the alleged irregularities.
