The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has demanded that Chief Minister Pema Khandu resign on moral grounds until the completion of a Supreme Court-monitored CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in public works contracts worth around ₹1,270 crore.
The Congress alleged that the contracts were awarded to firms purportedly linked to relatives of the Chief Minister. The party said the Chief Minister’s resignation would help maintain public confidence in the independence and credibility of the investigation, particularly amid allegations of non-cooperation by the state government.
According to the APCC, the CBI, in a status report submitted to the Supreme Court, has alleged that the state government failed to provide certain records and materials required for the investigation.
The party said the Supreme Court, taking note of the CBI’s July 17 status report, directed the state Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) to appear before it on August 24 and explain the alleged non-cooperation.
Describing the CBI’s allegation as “extremely serious”, the APCC said a Supreme Court-directed investigation could not be treated as a routine administrative matter.
The Congress recalled that Khandu had publicly welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention and assured people that his government would extend full cooperation to the CBI.
“However, the recent developments before the Supreme Court have cast serious doubts over those assurances,” the APCC said, questioning why allegations of non-cooperation had reached the apex court despite the Chief Minister’s stated commitment to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The party also sought clarification on whether all documents, files and records sought by the CBI had been handed over without exception. It asked the government to explain any delay in producing documents and spell out measures taken to ensure that no relevant physical or digital records were altered, withheld, misplaced or destroyed.
The APCC demanded a free, fair, transparent and time-bound investigation without political or executive interference. It also called for the production of all relevant tender documents, work orders, payment records, approvals, files and other material sought by the CBI.
The party further demanded that all physical and electronic records connected with the contracts under investigation be preserved and protected. It also sought a public status report from the state government detailing the extent of cooperation extended to the investigating agency.
The Congress said the state government must demonstrate that it has complied fully with the Supreme Court’s directions and cooperated with the CBI without reservation.
“Let the CBI investigate without obstruction. Let every record be produced. Let the truth emerge before the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” the APCC said, asserting that the people of the state deserved clear answers.
