The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI to investigate allegations of contracts being awarded to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister's family members.

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry (PE) into allegations that contracts for several government works in Arunachal Pradesh were awarded to companies linked to the family of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

The apex court was told that in the last 10 years, four companies linked to Khandu's family were given government contracts and work orders worth about Rs 1,270 crore.

What did the bench say?

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria said on Monday, " The CBI will commence the PE in two weeks. The preliminary inquiry and subsequent investigations, if any, will cover government works, contracts and work orders executed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. "

The bench ordered that the CBI would not be prevented from investigating transactions outside the above timeframe. Arunachal Pradesh should cooperate with the CBI and provide the necessary records within four weeks. The state's Chief Secretary will appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the CBI. The state will ensure that no records are destroyed.

'No evidence should be destroyed'

The Supreme Court clarified that no evidence would be destroyed. The CBI would file a status report within 16 weeks. The Supreme Court issued this order on a public interest litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation and the Voluntary Arunachal Army.

Richin Drema, the second wife of Pema Khandu's father, Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash in 2011 while serving as Chief Minister, and his nephew, Tsering Tashi, were also made parties in the case.

Congress took a jibe at PM Modi

Following the Supreme Court's ruling, the Congress party has taunted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition party said the Prime Minister's pledge, "I will neither eat nor let others eat," was actually a "complete fraud" that is now being exposed.

Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this is just the beginning and many other BJP chief ministers also fall in this category, including at least one from the Northeast who is soon to become a former chief minister.

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