The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to probe Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu. The case relates to allegations that he favoured firms run by his family members in the allotment of government contracts over the past decade.
A bench led by Justice Vikram Nath ordered the agency to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) within two weeks.
The court issued the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.The bench also included Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.
It said the enquiry would cover public works contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025.The bench also included Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.
These include the alleged absence of open tenders, lack of transparency in awarding contracts, the flow of funds, and payments made under the tenders.
Supreme Court Gives CBI Free Hand in Pema Khandu Case
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to probe Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu.
The allegations claim that firms linked to his family benefited from government contracts over the past decade.A bench led by Justice Vikram Nath ordered the agency to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks.
The direction came during the hearing of a PIL filed by Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.The bench, also comprising Justices Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, said the enquiry would cover public works contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025
The probe will examine allegations related to open tenders, transparency, fund flow, and contract payments.
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SC Expands Focus to Contracts Awarded to Pema Khandu-Linked Firms
The Supreme Court asked the CBI to submit a status report within four months. It also directed the state chief secretary to appoint a nodal officer and provide all records needed for the probe.
The court further ordered the state not to destroy any material relevant to the case.
Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Neha Rathi told the court that major contracts in Tawang district went to firms linked to the chief minister or his relatives.
The court then asked the state to produce records of all such contracts.
During the hearing, the bench said it found it “remarkable” that many tenders and work orders allegedly went to family members.
Rejecting the state’s claim, the court said the matter was not confined to Tawang and covered the entire state.
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