New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday agreed to issue notice in a PIL seeking directions for SIT probe into the alleged irregular allotment of public contracts to the companies owned by relatives of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala was apprised of the previous pending SLP in relation to the alleged arbitrary allotments of contracts to the family of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners mentioned that a similar SLP related former Chief Minister Late Dorjee Khandu was pending before the bench of Justices Anirudha Bose and Bela Trivedi.
Late Dorjee Khandu (father of present CM Pema Khandu) was also accused of giving important public works contracts to his family companies.
The CAG had mentioned that there was alleged partiality in giving away key tenders to the close associates of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, including the construction company ‘M/s Brand Eagles’ belonging to the CM’s spouse.
Additionally, Pema Khandu’s nephew, Tsering Tashi, an MLA from Tawang District owning M/s Alliance Trading Co. has been awarded work contracts without following due procedure.
The petition prayed for an investigation into the matter either by the CBI or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Taking note of the same, the bench of the Supreme Court issued notice in the writ petition with liberty to serve the standing counsel of State of Arunachal Pradesh.
A similar matter filed by an NGO named “Voluntary Arunachal Sena” and was represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, wherein it was alleged that contracts were given by the state government of Arunachal Pradesh without floating any tender. The Court has relisted the matter for February 14, 2024.
