Jairam Ramesh alleges conflict of interest in Arunachal Pradesh contract allocations and asks why the Chief Minister has not stepped down despite the apex court’s order
New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday intensified its attack on Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, questioning why he continues to hold office despite a Supreme Court-directed CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities involving public contracts linked to his family.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Supreme Court, through a three-judge bench on April 6, ordered a preliminary CBI probe into allegations that firms allegedly connected to Khandu’s relatives secured contracts worth nearly Rs 1,270 crore between 2015 and 2025.
Calling the development “deeply concerning,” Ramesh argued that the matter involved potential conflict of interest at the highest level of government. He also pointed out that Khandu continues to oversee the Public Works Department, which could involve access to official records relevant to the investigation.
“It is not a lower court order but a directive from the Supreme Court itself,” Ramesh said, while questioning the silence of the BJP leadership despite its public stance against corruption.
The Supreme Court, while ordering the inquiry earlier this year, observed that government benefits and contracts cannot be distributed based on the preferences of political authorities. The bench led by Justice Vikram Nath noted that the allegations warranted an independent investigation into the integrity of public procurement processes.
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