Itanagar, April 6 Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday welcomed the CBI preliminary inquiry ordered by the Supreme Court into allegations surrounding the awarding of contracts to the CM’s family members, asserting that his government had “nothing to hide”.
Khandu, in a statement, said the inquiry would help clear the air and reaffirm transparency in governance.
“The truth will come out,” the chief minister said.
Khandu said his government had “nothing to hide”, and it will extend all required support for a fair and independent inquiry.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry within two weeks into the awarding of contracts for public works in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned by family members of the CM.
A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath said the inquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover the awarding and execution of public works, contracts, and work orders in the state for the period from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2025.
Earlier, in its affidavit, the Arunachal Pradesh government had stated that out of 21,079 works, only 121 were awarded to four firms through a proper tender process during the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh unit of the Congress demanded the resignation of Khandu in the wake of the development.
In a statement, state Congress president Bosiram Siram said the directive vindicated long-standing concerns raised by the party regarding alleged corruption, nepotism, and misuse of authority under the BJP-led government in the state.
“We demand that the chief minister resign on moral grounds to pave the way for a fair, impartial, and transparent inquiry into the matter,” Siram said.
Siram described the Supreme Court’s intervention as a “significant development” that underscores the seriousness of the allegations, and the need for a transparent investigation into the matter.
The Congress leader alleged that government contracts reportedly worth more than Rs 1,270 crore had been awarded over the past decade to firms connected to members of the chief minister’s family, calling it a serious breach of public trust.
Siram added that the Congress would continue to raise the issue and intensify its outreach across the state to mobilize public opinion against corruption and misuse of power.