Arunachal CM Pema Khandu welcomes Supreme Court order for CBI preliminary enquiry

Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday, April 7 welcomed the directive of the Supreme Court of India ordering a preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into a long-pending case linked to his government.

 

Reacting to the development, Khandu stated that the state government would fully cooperate with the investigating agency, asserting that no wrongdoing had been committed by his administration. He described the court’s directive as an opportunity to bring clarity to an issue that has remained under public scrutiny for over a decade.

 

The Chief Minister noted that the matter dates back 10 to 15 years and has been a source of recurring controversy. He emphasised that the enquiry would help establish facts and dispel allegations surrounding the case.

 

Khandu further said that he welcomed the investigation as it would provide him a fair platform to prove his innocence. “This is a good opportunity for me to demonstrate that I am not guilty,” he said, reiterating his confidence in the legal process.

 

The Supreme Court of India on April 6 directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of irregular allotment of public contracts by the Arunachal Pradesh government to companies linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

 

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria ordered the probe and asked the CBI to submit its report within 16 weeks, indicating whether a full-fledged independent investigation is warranted.

 

Among the specific allegation, the petition cited contracts awarded to a construction firm linked to Khandu’s spouse and another firm allegedly owned by his nephew, Tsering Tashi, claiming due procedures were not followed in awarding tenders.

 

The petition, filed in 2024, sought an independent probe by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), alleging favouritism in the allocation of key public works contracts.