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The Supreme Court on Monday (April 6, 2026) directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to commence a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s family was awarded public contracts worth ₹1,270 crore over 10 years from January 2015 to December 2025 in direct conflict of interest.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in a judgment, disposed of a petition filed by NGOs Voluntary Arunachal Sena and Save Mon Region Federation, represented by advocates Prashant Bhushan and Neha Rathi, with an order to the CBI to submit a comprehensive status report on its enquiry within the next 16 weeks.
Petitioners alleged that there was rampant corruption, nepotism and dispensing with a transparent and open tender system in the award of contracts for 10 years between January 2015 till December 31, 2025.
The Court directed the CBI to commence its preliminary inquiry within two weeks of this judgment. The Court clarified that the purpose of the preliminary inquiry was to independently look into the veracity of the allegations, and should not be construed as a comment on the merits of the case and prejudice anyone.
“The preliminary enquiry and consequential investigation, if any, would cover the award of public contracts, work orders in the State of Arunachal Pradesh from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2025, including works placed on record in these proceedings,” the judgment directed.
Significantly, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to “particularly examine” awards made to Mr. Khandu, his brother Tsering Tashi and step-mother Rinchin Drema and individuals/firms related to them.
The Court directed the CBI to look into various aspects of the award of the public contracts, including the procurement process, reasons for dispensing with open tender, question of compliance with applicable statutory requirements, availability and custody of records, the flow of funds and payments and such other connected aspects necessary to ascertain if any illegality or cognisable offence was disclosed.
The judgment, pronounced by Justice Nath, said the CBI would not be precluded from looking into transactions outside the 10-year period from 2015-2025 to the limited extent necessary for tracing beneficial ownership, related party links, fund flow and other connected circumstances that bear upon the transactions during that decade.
The Court said the Arunachal Pradesh Government apparatus, its various departments and authorities must pull all stops and cooperate fully with the CBI.
“They shall within four weeks of this judgment make available all the relevant records, sanction orders, administrative approvals, technical sanctions, tenders, comparative statements, tender committee records, work orders, agreements, measurement books, bills and vouchers, utilisation and completion certificates and electronic data related to e-procurements and payments,” the Supreme Court ordered.
The Bench directed the State Chief Secretary to designate a nodal officer in one week to work in coordination with the CBI. The departments concerned should also follow suit and appoint nodal officers to liaison with the Central probe agency and grant them full access to any records relevant to the investigation.
The Court directed the CBI to file a status report in 16 weeks.
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