Trouble for Arunachal CM? SC asks CAG to probe award of govt contracts to CM Khandu’s kin

The apex court's ruling came after it disposed a PIL filed by ‘Voluntary Arunachal Sena', which alleged that high-value public work contracts in the state were awarded to firms owned

Trouble seem to be brewing for Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu just ahead of the Assembly elections. The Supreme Court has directed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to examine award of government contracts to firms allegedly linked to the family members of CM Khandu.

The apex court’s ruling came after it disposed a PIL filed by Voluntary Arunachal Sena, which alleged that high-value public work contracts in the state were awarded to firms owned by the CM’s family members and relatives.

The 2010 plea filed before the SC by the Voluntary Arunachal Sena had alleged “gross illegalities, malpractices, rampant corruption and misappropriation of funds coupled with abuse of power in critical areas of governance in the state.”

As per the allegations mentioned in the plea, severe anomalies occurred in the distribution of 24,800 metric tonne of food grains (rice) which resulted in raising of false carriage bills and fraudulent realization of amount to the tune of Rs. 68,44,07,911.00 (Rs sixty eight crores forty four lakhs seven thousand nine hundred eleven).

The food grains were to be distributed among less than 2 lakh people spread across 13 districts, and the monthly allocation to ration card holders under public distribution system is around 8 to 10 Kg, the plea said.

The plea also alleged misuse and misappropriation of National Calamity Contingency Fund and Calamity Relief Fund to the tune of Rs 3.34 crore.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y Chandrachud had on January 29 agreed to examine a separate plea seeking a CBI or SIT probe into award of contracts for public works to firms owned by family members of Chief Minister Khandu.

It had issued notices to the Centre, the Arunachal Pradesh government and others on the PIL filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.

Pema Khandu’s father Dorjee Khandu’s second wife Rinchin Drema and his nephew Tsering Tashi have been made parties in the case. The plea claimed Rinchin Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, has been awarded a large number of government contracts despite there being a clear conflict of interest.

On February 2, CM Pema Khandu speaking to Northeast Live had refuted the allegations levelled against him and termed it as politically motivated.

According to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, there is nothing concrete about the allegations and that the Gauhati High Court has already given him a clean chit in the same case.

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