In a major setback for Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Supreme Court on Monday, April 6, 2026, directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) into allegations of favoritism in the allotment of public works contracts to his family members.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria ordered the central agency to initiate the probe within two weeks. The investigation will scrutinize government contracts and work orders worth approximately ₹1,270 crore awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025.
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Key Allegations: The “Private Company” Charge
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, represented by Advocate Prashant Bhushan.
Concentrated Contracts: Petitioners alleged that roughly 3% of the state’s total government works during the 10-year period were awarded to just four firms linked to the CM’s immediate family.
Family Ties: The firms under the scanner are allegedly owned by the Chief Minister himself, his wife (Riniki Bhuyan Sharma), his mother, and his nephew (Tsering Tashi), who is also an MLA from Tawang.
Specific Entities: The plea highlighted M/s Brand Eagles (linked to his wife) and M/s Alliance Trading Co. (owned by his nephew) as primary beneficiaries of “irregular” tender processes.
The Supreme Court’s Mandate
The apex court has set strict guardrails to ensure the integrity of the probe:
| Directive | Requirement |
| CBI Timeline | Register Preliminary Enquiry within 2 weeks. |
| Status Report | Submit findings to the Supreme Court within 16 weeks. |
| Record Safety | The State must ensure no record (physical or electronic) is destroyed. |
| Coordination | The Chief Secretary must designate a Nodal Officer to assist the CBI. |
| Scope | Covers 2015–2025; CBI is free to examine earlier transactions if needed. |
Breaking Headlines: April 6, 2026
The Arunachal order adds to a day of significant judicial and political activity:
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Kejriwal’s Recusal Plea: The Delhi CM is personally arguing for a judge’s recusal in the Excise Policy case at the High Court today.
Malda “Special Hearing”: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a special 4 PM hearing regarding the “criminal failure” of the Bengal administration during the April 1 hostage crisis.
Hormuz Tanker Update: The Green Sanvi is expected to dock at Dahej tomorrow (April 7), bringing 46,655 tonnes of LPG to ease the domestic shortage.
Assam “Passport-Gate”: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to file defamation charges against Congress today following allegations regarding his wife’s foreign citizenships.
Investigative Insight: The “Aatmanirbhar” Conflict
The Arunachal case highlights a recurring friction point in North-East politics: the thin line between “promoting local entrepreneurs” and “nepotistic monopoly.” By ordering a CBI probe, the Supreme Court has signaled that it does not trust the state-level machinery to investigate its own head of government. Interestingly, the ₹1,270 crore figure represents a significant portion of the state’s developmental budget.
While the state government argued this was “sponsored litigation,” the Bench noted that the scale of the contracts (3% of the total state work to one family) was enough to warrant an independent look. With Pema Khandu being a key BJP face in the North East, the 16-week CBI deadline puts his administration under a “transparency clock” that will coincide with the May 4 results of several state elections. For the people of Arunachal, the outcome will determine if the “Mon Region” development was truly public-spirited or, as the petitioners claimed, “run like a private company.”
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