Naharlagun: Chief Minister Pema Khandu asserted on Friday that the corruption and financial mismanagement allegations levelled against him in the Supreme Court are purely “politically motivated.”
Khandu clarified that the case dates back to 2010 and has already been successfully defended in the double bench of the Guwahati High Court.
“Despite efforts to expedite the case’s resolution, delays occurred due to the backlog of numerous cases in the Supreme Court. Now that the case has been fast-tracked, we anticipate a swift resolution in the Supreme Court. The allegations are baseless, politically motivated, and lack substance,” the chief minister stated.
He also dismissed corruption accusations made by the Arunachal Against Corruption (AAC).
The chief minister addressed reporters on the sidelines of a bridge inauguration in Naharlagun.
Khandu’s response comes in the wake of a notice from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in response to a plea filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF) and Voluntary Arunachal Sena (VAS).
SMRF and VAS, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court, sought a CBI and SIT probe into the awarding of public works contracts to companies owned by CM Khandu’s family members.
The notice was issued to the Union of India, the Arunachal Pradesh state government, the CBI, and others.
The petition named Pema Khandu’s father, Dorjee Khandu’s second wife, Rinchin Drema, and his nephew Tsering Tashi as parties in the case. It alleged that Rinchin Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, received numerous government contracts despite a clear conflict of interest.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The petition highlighted that the state’s Relief and Rehabilitation department, responsible for allocating works for flood damage restoration, had been overseen by Dorjee Khandu. Subsequently, Pema Khandu took charge of the department.
In a press conference on Thursday, the AAC had called for Khandu’s resignation on moral grounds to facilitate a fair and unbiased investigation into the case filed against him and his family in the Supreme Court.
Also Read | Arunachal: Protest erupts in Namsai after labourer’s death