The political landscape in Arunachal Pradesh has become increasingly contentious following the Supreme Court of India’s directive for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to initiate a preliminary enquiry into alleged misconduct in government contract allocations. The Arunchal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), led by Bosiram Siram, has called for the resignation of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, labeling the Supreme Court’s directive as a significant indictment of the ruling BJP government amid accusations of corruption, nepotism, and power abuse. Siram alleged that over ₹1,270 crore in contracts were improperly awarded to companies connected to the Chief Minister’s family, characterizing this as a “gross betrayal of public trust” and demanding a transparent investigation under judicial oversight to avoid any influence in the process.
In contrast, Chief Minister Khandu welcomed the investigation, affirming his commitment to cooperate with the CBI and expressing confidence that the truth would emerge, thereby enhancing governance transparency. The state government, through its affidavit, contended that only a small fraction—121 out of 21,079 contracts, equating to just 0.57%—were linked to the allegations. In monetary terms, these contracts represented ₹1,245.04 crore, or 2.74% of the total ₹45,380.96 crore in contracts awarded via proper tender processes. The Supreme Court’s instructions to the CBI will involve scrutinizing these claims to ascertain their validity and determine the necessity for a comprehensive investigation.
