Supreme Court investigates Arunachal CM's contract allegations

The Supreme Court of India will review a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that claims Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu awarded government contracts to his family members. The court has requested information from the state government and several union ministries, as well as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), about the individuals who received contracts and the processes involved in awarding them. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, responded to concerns raised by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that all major contracts in Arunachal Pradesh are going to Khandu's family. The court specifically asked if Khandu or his relatives, including his wife and nephew, have received any government contracts. They want a clear account of whether proper tender processes were followed. The NGOs expressed alarm over the situation, arguing that it seemed as if the state was being operated like a private business. They claimed that contracts were predominantly given to firms tied to Khandu and his relatives. Khandu's family relationships have been highlighted in the legal case, since his father was formerly the chief minister and had a role in awarding contracts before his death. While the state government opposed the petition, calling it an abuse of legal processes, the petitioners maintained that there are serious concerns about transparency and governance in these contract awards. They urged an investigation into the apparent conflict of interest involving Khandu's family businesses. The Supreme Court has asked for detailed reports from the relevant parties and will hold another hearing after July 21.