The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its order on a plea seeking a CBI investigation into the award of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly linked to the family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria granted two weeks’ time to the parties to file written submissions.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, relied on an affidavit filed by the State and submitted that four firms connected to the Chief Minister’s family were awarded contracts and work orders worth about ₹1,270 crore over the last ten years.
According to the petitioners, works worth ₹1,245 crore were allotted through tenders, while additional work orders of around ₹25 crore were also issued to these firms. It was argued that these contracts constituted roughly three per cent of the total value of government contracts awarded in the State during the period.
Bhushan contended that the firms were owned by the Chief Minister, his wife, mother and brother, and urged the Court to order a CBI probe, submitting that a state-level investigation would not be impartial. He also sought an inquiry into whether other bidders in the tenders had direct or indirect links with the Chief Minister.
Counsel for the State opposed the plea, describing it as a “sponsored litigation”.
Earlier, on December 2 last year, the Supreme Court had directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing all contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, including those granted to firms linked to the Chief Minister’s family members.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been arrayed as a party respondent in the public interest litigation. His stepmother Rinchin Drema and nephew Tsering Tashi have also been impleaded.
The petition specifically alleged that Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, received a significant number of government contracts, raising concerns of conflict of interest.
Dorjee Khandu, father of the present Chief Minister, served as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in April 2011.
With the judgment reserved, the Court will consider the pleadings and written submissions before deciding whether a central agency probe is warranted into the award of public works contracts in the State.
