Accusations against CM Pema Khandu in contract allocation case, Supreme Court orders CBI investigation

New Delhi. The Supreme Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the allegations against Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu of awarding contracts to his relatives’ companies. The bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath gave this order.

The Supreme Court said that the CBI should start the investigation within two weeks. The court said that the investigation will be of contracts from January 2015 to December 2025. The court had reserved the decision on 17 February. The court had issued notice to the Home Ministry and Finance Ministry on March 18, 2025. During the hearing, petitioner’s lawyer Prashant Bhushan had said that the state is being looted.

Several contracts were given to the company of the wife of the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and her nephew. These contracts were in violation of anti-corruption law and the code of conduct of ministers. Advocate Prashant Bhushan had said that about 70 contracts worth thousands of crores were given to the company of the Chief Minister’s wife and nephew. During the hearing, the state government’s lawyer had called this petition an abuse of law. He had said that this is a politically motivated petition.