The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to
register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into the award of contracts for
public works in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned by family members of
Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said the
enquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover the award and
execution of public works, contracts and work orders in the state for the
period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2025.
The bench directed the CBI to file a status report
before it in the matter within 16 weeks.
"The CBI shall register a PE (preliminary
enquiry) within two weeks from the date of the judgement and will proceed in
accordance with law," Justice Nath said while pronouncing the order.
The top court had on February 17 reserved its order
in the matter.
During the hearing in the matter, the apex court was
told that government contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore were
awarded in the last 10 years in Arunachal Pradesh to four firms related to the
family members of Khandu.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the
petitioner NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, had
referred to an affidavit filed by the state of Arunachal Pradesh and argued
that a number of contracts were awarded to the companies owned by the family
members of the chief minister.
The counsel appearing for the state had earlier
argued that the plea was a "sponsored litigation".
On December 2 last year, the top court asked the
Arunachal Pradesh government to file a comprehensive affidavit giving details
of the contracts awarded from 2015 to 2025, including those to firms of family
members of the chief minister.
Khandu has been made a party respondent in the PIL.
Pema Khandu's father Dorjee Khandu's second wife
Rinchin Drema and his nephew Tsering Tashi have also been made parties to the
case.
Dorjee Khandu served as the chief minister of
Arunachal Pradesh from 2007 until his death in a helicopter crash in April
2011.
The plea claimed Drema's firm, Brand Eagles, was
awarded a large number of government contracts despite there being a clear
conflict of interest.