Supreme Court Seeks CBI Confirmation on Documents in Pema Khandu Contract Row

Home / Top Stories Pema Khandu Contract Row: Supreme Court Seeks CBI Confirmation On 17 Trunks Of Documents X Supreme Court monitored the CBI probe into allegations of irregularities in public contract allotments involving Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu’s family Supreme Court resumed monitoring the CBI’s preliminary enquiry into allegations of irregularities in public contract allotments involving firms linked to Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu’s family The Supreme Court on Monday resumed monitoring the CBI investigation into allegations of irregularities and corruption in the allotment of public contracts in Arunachal Pradesh involving Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his family. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a miscellaneous application concerning compliance with the Court’s earlier directions in the matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta , appearing for the Arunachal Pradesh government, sought a week’s time to place the State’s position on record. The Court asked whether the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, whose presence had been directed earlier, were present. Mehta confirmed that the officers were present. During the hearing, the Supreme Court also issued notice in another plea raising similar allegations of corruption against the Arunachal Pradesh government. The Court observed that the matter was being considered as a miscellaneous application in the nature of contempt, concerning alleged non-compliance with its earlier directions. Mehta assured the Court that the State would be able to satisfy it that the directions had been complied with in letter and spirit. The Court granted two weeks to file a reply. Another counsel appearing for the State informed the Court that 17 trunks containing documents had been handed over to the CBI. The Court directed the State to file an affidavit and asked the CBI to confirm whether it had received the entire material. Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing in the matter, questioned whether the material already examined by the CBI during its preliminary enquiry was not sufficient to register a regular case. The Court, however, declined to make any observation at this stage, stating that the issue would have to be addressed by the CBI after receiving and examining the documents. Bhushan further submitted that he had been informed, though he could not confirm the information, that the State government had supplied the CBI with documents relating to all public contracts , rather than only those contracts allegedly awarded to members of Khandu’s family. He expressed concern that providing such a large volume of material could make the CBI’s task more difficult, while clarifying that his concern was primarily regarding delay in the investigation. The Court remarked that the State had provided more documents than were required and said there was no reason for concern, adding that the CBI might even find other irregularities in the material. Bhushan reiterated that his concern was only about delay in the investigation. In its order, the Court recorded that the Solicitor General had sought two weeks’ time to file a counter-affidavit . The matter will be taken up thereafter. In April, the Court had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary enquiry into allegations of irregular allotment of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. The Court was hearing a PIL filed by the Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, which alleged that large-scale public contracts were awarded to firms owned by or linked to the Chief Minister’s family members and close associates. The petition specifically named firms such as M/s Brand Eagles, reportedly owned by Khandu’s spouse, and M/s Alliance Trading Co., linked to his nephew Tsering Tashi, an MLA from Tawang district. It was alleged that these entities received multiple contracts in violation of established te