New Delhi: Calling it a “gross travesty” of the Supreme Courtroom’s order, the Congress questioned why Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu was not faraway from workplace regardless of the Supreme Courtroom directing the CBI to launch a probe into corruption allegations.
In a publish on X, Congress normal secretary Jairam Ramesh stated permitting Khandu to proceed would undermine the spirit of the Supreme Courtroom’s intervention.
Congress normal secretary and MP Jairam Ramesh advised “Now we have directed {that a} preliminary investigation be initiated into the alleged awarding of contracts price 1.27 billion rupees in a direct battle of curiosity through the 10-year interval ending December 2025. This isn’t an order of a decrease court docket.” Nevertheless, the CM continues to be the Minister for Individuals with Disabilities and is in command of the information required for the CBI to conduct its investigation. ”
Mr Ramesh additionally quietly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, utilizing the extensively used ‘I will not eat, I will not eat. (I do not settle for bribes and I will not let anybody else give bribes),” he stated, elevating questions in regards to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s response to corruption allegations.
“Why did the person who as soon as stated this turn into like this?”na kaunga na kaung dunga“Quietly, why wasn’t the Arunachal Pradesh CM requested to resign?” Ramesh requested.
“There are different Bharatiya Janata Social gathering CMs who come beneath the class of Arunachal Pradesh CM,” he added.
On April 6, 2026, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Courtroom directed the CBI to provoke a preliminary investigation into the alleged direct contract acquisition of contracts price Rs 1.27 billion by the Arunachal Pradesh CM’s household over a 10-year interval between January 2015 and December 2025.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) Could 19, 2026
On April 6, the SC directed the CBI to start a preliminary investigation inside two weeks right into a PIL filed by an NGO alleging that public contracts in Arunachal Pradesh had been irregularly awarded to corporations linked to Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s family.
The court docket made it clear that it’s for the CBI to resolve whether or not an in depth investigation is required. The company is required to submit a standing report inside 16 weeks.
The SC additionally made it clear that if needed, the CBI might develop its investigation past the allegations talked about within the PIL. The court docket stated the authorities can look at authorities information, the bidding course of and the explanations behind awarding the contract through the preliminary investigation.
The SC ordered the Arunachal Pradesh authorities and all its ministries to cooperate with the CBI and set a four-week deadline for the state at hand over all data, together with digital data, associated to contracts allotted to all corporations within the final 10 years.
The Chief Secretary has additionally been requested by the SC to nominate a nodal officer to coordinate with the CBI and facilitate entry to CBI data and personnel.
Through the listening to, the Arunachal Pradesh authorities termed the PIL a ‘sponsored swimsuit’, although the affidavit filed within the Supreme Courtroom admitted that the federal government contract was awarded to an organization associated to CM Khandu’s family.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, showing on behalf of the petitioners, advised the court docket that contracts and work orders price practically Rs 1,270 crore had been awarded to 4 corporations linked to Khandu’s household over the previous 10 years. He claimed this confirmed a transparent battle of curiosity and referred to as for a CBI probe because the matter “reeked of corruption”.
Bhushan had additionally alleged that the state police couldn’t examine the matter impartially because it concerned an organization linked to the sitting chief minister’s household.
Apparently, Pema Khandu and his father have been related to Congress for a very long time. Mr. Khandu served as secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee and was sworn in as chief minister in July 2016 whereas main the Congress authorities.
Just a few months later, he led a mass exodus from the get together, citing dissatisfaction with the Congress management and the necessity for stronger central assist for border states. After a brief stint within the regional group, Khandu and his supporting MLAs formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering on December 31, 2016, making Arunachal Pradesh a Bharatiya Janata Social gathering-ruled state. Khandu has been the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh since July 2016.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
Additionally learn: Two NGOs vs. Pema Khandu—What’s the “Rs 127 billion public contract” case in opposition to Arunachal CM and his family?
