Today, the Supreme Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out a preliminary inquiry into allegations that the Arunachal Pradesh government gave public contracts to companies linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The Court has given the CBI 16 weeks to submit a report and clarify whether a full, independent investigation is needed. The agency will look into contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025, but it can also examine deals outside this period if required.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Senaa. Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for the petitioners.
The Court also directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to fully cooperate with the CBI and provide all relevant records within four weeks. It specifically ordered that no documents should be destroyed.
The Chief Secretary has been asked to appoint a nodal officer within a week to coordinate with the CBI.
According to the petitioners, several government contracts were awarded to firms linked to the Chief Minister’s family, including his wife, mother, and nephew. It has been alleged that contracts worth around ₹1270 crore were given in an unfair manner.
The petition, filed in 2024, claims that key tenders were awarded to close associates of Khandu. These include a construction company allegedly owned by his wife and another firm linked to his nephew, Tsering Tashi, an MLA from Tawang. The petitioners argue that proper procedures were not followed in awarding these contracts and sought an investigation by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Earlier, in January 2024, the Court had issued notices to the respondents. In March 2025, it also asked the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and the state government to explain how these contracts were awarded.
The case also draws attention to an earlier issue involving Khandu’s father, former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, where similar allegations were made. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had referred to a Code of Conduct which clearly states that ministers should not give undue benefits to their relatives.
Case Title: Save Mon Region Federation & Anr vs State of Arunachal Pradesh & Ors (W.P.(C) No. 54/2024).
