Itanagar, April 6 : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has welcomed the Supreme Court’s directive for a preliminary CBI inquiry into allegations surrounding the award of public contracts in the state, some of which were reportedly given to firms linked to his family and associates.
“The truth will come out,” Khandu said in a statement, adding that the inquiry would help clear the air and reaffirm transparency in his governance. He assured that his government would extend full cooperation to ensure a fair and independent probe.
The contracts under scrutiny were purportedly awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. Khandu, who assumed office in July 2016, has previously been associated with the Congress and the People’s Party of Arunachal before joining the BJP.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to transparency, Khandu asserted that his administration had “nothing to hide.”
The Supreme Court’s order comes in response to petitions filed by two NGOs; Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, alleging irregularities and favoritism in public procurement processes. The inquiry is expected to examine procurement procedures, reasons for bypassing tenders, custody of records, beneficial ownership of contractor firms, and fund flows.
