We need clear-cut answer: Supreme Court to Centre on allegations against Arunachal CM Pema Khandu

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a serious view of the allegation that various contracts of the public works in Arunachal Pradesh were awarded to firms linked to Chief Minister Pema Khandu's family members..The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan asked the Union Ministry of Finance and Union Ministry of Home Affairs to file a report and come clear on the allegations."We want the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs report. The CAG report is neither here nor there. We must have a clear cut answer and who are the parties to whom the contract is awarded and what is the process. If tenders were not called for, it must be stated. Both the ministries must come out clear. We also need to see who are the ones behind it," the Bench said..The CAG report is neither here nor there. We must have a clear cut answer.Supreme Court.The Court also called for a similar report from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)."We need detailed affidavit from the State of Arunachal furnishing details of parties to whom contract was awarded and with reference to contract mentioned in the plea. In addition, the reply shall entail contracts awarded to respondents 4 to 6. Ministry of Finance and Home Affairs to file detailed affidavit and CAG is also directed to submit contract wise details and the persons to whom it was awarded," the Court ordered while listing the matter for hearing on July 21..The top court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the allegations. Advocate Prashant Bhushan represented the petitioner Save Mon Region Federation."The state of affairs are shocking. The State is being run like a private limited company. All contracts to his wife's company, his cousins company etc," he said.In response to a query on how many contracts were involved, Bhushan said,"Hundreds ... for hundreds of crores. 70 contracts to his wife's companies worth hundreds of crores. The counter says land is given free of cost for employment generation.".However, the counsel representing the Arunachal Pradesh government called the PIL an abuse of process of law."CAG in report says Arunachal is slightly different and is doing everything it can do.. and it is as per law. This is a politically motivated.. petitioners are a small bunch of people who don't want development in the State," the Court was told.However, the Court told Attorney General for India R Venkatramani that response is required to be filed in the matter by the Union ministries. Accordingly, the Court called for reports on the allegations..According to the plea, the award of government contract works to the firms of family members of the Chief Minister and his close associates was evidence of favoritism in government contracts with direct knowledge, consent and active support of the CM.As per the petitioner, the construction company M/s Brand Eagles, owned by Khandu's wife, has been awarded a large number of government contracts despite there being a clear conflict of interest. It is the petitioner's case that when Pema Khandu's father, late Dorjee Khandu, was the CM of Arunachal Pradesh, the firm was in Pema's name and was awarded contracts without tender processes. Dorjee Khandu's second wife Rinchin Drema and his nephew Tsering Tashi have been impleaded as respondents. Tashi is the MLA for Tawang District and owns M/s Alliance Trading Co.According to the petitioner, numerous contracts have been awarded to M/s Alliance Trading Co. in clear violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act and code of conduct for ministers.