NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of irregularities in the award of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh, including those allegedly linked to family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria directed the probe agency to register a preliminary inquiry within two weeks and proceed in accordance with law.
The apex court further ordered that the inquiry would examine the award and execution of public works, contracts, and work orders between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025, while clarifying that the CBI would not be precluded from looking into transactions outside this period to trace “beneficial ownership, related party links, fund flows, or other connected circumstances”.
Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, the Justice Nath-led Bench observed: “The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) shall register a preliminary inquiry within two weeks from the date of this judgment and shall proceed in accordance with law.”