SC Orders CBI Probe into Arunachal CM, Tripura LOP Jitendra Chaudhury Demands Wider Corruption Investigation Against Corrupt Tripura Ministers
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, April 7, 2026
In a significant development with potential political ramifications across the Northeast, the Supreme Court of India has ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into allegations of large-scale financial irregularities against Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.The apex court’s directive comes after nearly two years of judicial review of a petition filed by Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria has instructed the CBI to initiate a preliminary inquiry within two weeks. The investigation will focus on contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025, and the agency has been directed to submit its final report within 16 months. The allegations against Khandu include awarding government contracts to firms linked to close family members, including his wife, stepmother, and nephew, misappropriation of approximately Rs.1,270 crore through these contracts, and violations of open tender norms in infrastructure and construction projects. The ruling has placed the Khandu-led government under intense scrutiny.The Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Arunachal Pradesh in 2016 following a mass defection of Congress legislators, including the entire cabinet. Since then, opposition presence in the state assembly has remained limited, even as allegations of corruption have periodically surfaced.Meanwhile, neighboring Assam is witnessing political turbulence over allegations against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The key accusations include alleged possession of illegal overseas assets and claims that his wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, holds passports from three different countries, raising legal concerns and triggering political debate. In connection with the passport controversy, a joint team of Assam Police and Delhi Police visited the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera following the registration of an FIR. However, Khera was not present at his Nizamuddin residence during the visit, further intensifying political reactions.Reacting to these developments, Jitendra Chaudhury, Leader of the Opposition in Tripura and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has demanded a broader and impartial investigation into alleged corruption across states, including Tripura. Addressing a Facebook Live session, Chaudhury welcomed the probe into Arunachal Pradesh, called for similar investigations in Assam, and alleged that corruption has also taken place in Tripura since the BJP came to power.
He further urged central agencies such as the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate to initiate suo motu investigations into the financial growth of ministers in Tripura over the past eight years. Chaudhury emphasized that corruption is not confined to any single political party and stated that even opposition leaders should be investigated if credible allegations arise. He warned that failure to act decisively could worsen the growing trend of financial corruption in the country.Highlighting the difficulty ordinary citizens face in approaching the Supreme Court, he called upon investigative agencies to proactively take cognisance of corruption cases without waiting for formal complaints. He also alleged that corruption in Tripura is widespread and claimed that several ministers could face imprisonment if fair and independent investigations are conducted.The Supreme Court’s directive for a CBI probe into Arunachal Pradesh’s top leadership, coupled with rising allegations in Assam and fresh demands for investigations in Tripura, signals a potentially broader political and legal churn in the Northeast.
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