Itanagar, April 7: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on April 7 welcomed the directive of the Supreme Court of India ordering a preliminary inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into allegations linked to his government, stating that his administration would fully cooperate with the process.
Reacting to the development, Khandu asserted that no wrongdoing had been committed and described the court’s order as an opportunity to bring clarity to a matter that has remained under public scrutiny for over a decade. He noted that the issue dates back 10 to 15 years and has been a recurring source of controversy.
The Chief Minister said the inquiry would help establish facts and dispel allegations, adding that he viewed the probe as a fair platform to prove his innocence. “This is a good opportunity for me to demonstrate that I am not guilty,” he said, expressing confidence in the legal process.
The directive follows an order issued on April 6 by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria, asking the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregular allotment of public contracts. The agency has been directed to submit its report within 16 weeks to determine whether a full-fledged investigation is warranted.
The case pertains to allegations that contracts were awarded to firms linked to Khandu’s relatives, including his spouse and nephew Tsering Tashi, with claims that due procedures were not followed in the tendering process.
The petition, filed in 2024, sought an independent probe by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team, alleging favouritism in the allocation of key public works contracts.
