Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 6: The Supreme Court of India on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the awarding of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh, including those reportedly linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N. V. Anjaria instructed the CBI to register the inquiry within two weeks and proceed as per the law.
The court specified that the probe should cover the awarding and execution of public works, contracts, and work orders between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. However, it clarified that the agency may also examine transactions beyond this period if necessary to trace financial links, ownership patterns, or related dealings.
Disposing of a public interest litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, the Bench emphasised that the CBI must follow due process while conducting the inquiry.
The court directed the agency to closely examine procurement procedures, tender approvals, instances where open tenders may have been bypassed, and adherence to statutory norms. It also asked investigators to review financial records, work orders, and execution details.
Importantly, the apex court has asked the CBI to submit a status report within 16 weeks, indicating whether a full-fledged independent investigation is required.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has been ordered to extend full cooperation. The Chief Secretary must appoint a nodal officer within a week to coordinate with the CBI, while all relevant documents—including tenders, approvals, agreements, bills, and digital procurement data—must be submitted within four weeks.
The court also issued strict instructions to preserve evidence, directing that no related physical or electronic records be destroyed, altered, or made inaccessible.
Clarifying its stance, the court noted that its observations are limited to assessing the need for an independent probe and should not be interpreted as conclusions on the merits of the allegations or as prejudging any individual.
The case stems from allegations that contracts worth around Rs 1,270 crore were awarded to firms linked to family members of the Chief Minister. During the hearings, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, claimed that several contracts were granted without following due procedures, including bypassing open tender norms.
Earlier proceedings saw the court seek detailed affidavits from the state government and a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. In December 2025, the Bench expanded the scope of the inquiry to cover all districts of the state, observing that the issue was not limited to Tawang district alone.