New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations that public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh were awarded to firms linked to Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s family members.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria ordered the CBI to examine contracts awarded between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2025.

“The CBI shall initiate a preliminary inquiry within two weeks. Preliminary inquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover execution of public works, contracts, and work orders within the period January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025,” the bench stated.

The court added that the CBI would not be barred from investigating transactions outside this period. It also directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to cooperate fully and provide relevant records within four weeks. “The Chief Secretary of the state shall designate a nodal officer for coordination with the CBI. The state shall ensure no record is destroyed,” the order noted.

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The apex court further instructed that no evidence should be destroyed and asked the CBI to submit a status report within 16 weeks.

The order follows a petition filed by Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Senaa, seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the alleged awarding of public works contracts to firms owned by the Chief Minister’s family members.

The petition named Pema Khandu’s father Dorjee Khandu’s second wife, Rinchin Drema, and his nephew, Tsering Tashi, as parties in the case. Dorjee Khandu, the then Chief Minister, had died in a helicopter crash in 2011.

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The petitioners claimed that Rinchin Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, had been awarded numerous government contracts despite an apparent conflict of interest. They argued that such favouritism would not have been possible without the direct knowledge and support of the Chief Minister.

“The Minister of this department was Dorjee Khandu until 2011, after which the charge was taken up by his son, Pema Khandu, the present Chief Minister. It is a serious cause of concern given the number of work orders executed by a few selective firms belonging to the Minister and his family,” the petition stated.

(PTI)