Supreme Court Orders CBI Inquiry into Allegations of Corruption in Arunachal Pradesh Contracts

Supreme Court Directs CBI Investigation

On Monday, the Supreme Court mandated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary investigation regarding claims of favoritism in the awarding of government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh. These contracts are reportedly linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, as reported by a news outlet.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria issued this directive following public interest litigations filed by two NGOs, the Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Senaa.

The petitioners asserted that over Rs 1,200 crore in contracts and tenders had been granted to firms associated with Khandu, his spouse Tsering Dolma, and his nephew Tsering Tashi.

The court instructed the CBI to investigate contracts awarded from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025, and requested a status report within 16 weeks.

The allegations include favoritism towards Brand Eagles, a company linked to Tsering Dolma, and Alliance Trading Company, owned by Tsering Tashi. The petitioners argue that this behavior violates the Prevention of Corruption Act and the ministerial code of conduct.

In December, it was reported that the Arunachal Pradesh government had awarded 146 contracts to two firms owned by Dolma and one each owned by Khandu's brother Tashi Khandu and sister-in-law Nima Drema in Tawang district from 2012 to 2023, amounting to Rs 383.7 crore.

Out of these, 59 contracts worth Rs 16.8 crore were reportedly awarded without a tender process, with at least 11 exceeding the Rs 50 lakh limit for contracts issued without tenders.

The contracts primarily involved public infrastructure projects, including the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, irrigation channels, and power lines.