Supreme Court orders CBI preliminary probe into Arunachal contracts linked to CM Pema Khandu’s kin

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the award of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly linked to family members of the state's Chief Minister, Bharatiya Janata Party's Pema Khandu.

A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said the enquiry, and any consequential investigation, will examine the award and execution of public works, contracts and work orders in the state between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2025. The court also asked the CBI to submit a status report within 16 weeks.

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"The CBI shall register a PE (preliminary enquiry) within two weeks from the date of the judgement and will proceed in accordance with law," Justice Nath said while pronouncing the order. The detailed judgment is awaited.

The top court had reserved its verdict on February 17 after hearing arguments in the matter. During the proceedings, it was informed that contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore had been awarded over the past decade to four firms allegedly connected to Khandu’s family.

Appearing for the petitioners — NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena — advocate Prashant Bhushan cited an affidavit filed by the state government and argued that multiple contracts were awarded to companies owned by the chief minister’s relatives.

Counsel for the Arunachal Pradesh government had earlier dismissed the plea as "sponsored litigation."

On December 2 last year, the apex court had directed the state to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing all contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, including those given to firms linked to the chief minister’s family.

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Khandu has been made a party respondent in the PIL, along with his late father Dorjee Khandu’s second wife, Rinchin Drema, and nephew Tsering Tashi.

Dorjee Khandu served as Arunachal Pradesh chief minister from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in April 2011.

The petition alleges that Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, secured a significant number of government contracts despite an apparent conflict of interest.