ITANAGAR, April 27: The Arunachal Justice Forum is claiming that Chief Minister Pema Khandu who is a respondent No. 3 in an impending PIL No.52/07/SLP(C) No. 31233(2010) a corruption case petition against his late father former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu , the Arunachal Justice Forum(AJF) demanded resignation of chief minister on moral ground so that fair inquiry may be conducted on impending case.
In its representation to the Governor, the AJF has claimed that an interlocutory application has been filed by AJF president Nabam Tagam and its General Secretary Pumcho Tapuk on 19th April 2021 filed special leave petition (SLP) on existing PIL No.52/2007 which was originally filed by Borang Lama and Butey Yuto and later by others.
Addressing the media persons at Arunachal Press Club, AJF legal advisor and IPR Secretary Rigam Santana said AJF is demanding resignation of the Chief Minister in greater interest of the state. “Since there is an impending case, the Chief Minister cannot be treated as an ordinary person. He is holding a highest post” said Rigam Santana arguing that there is an apprehension of manipulation of the impending cases and his continuing in office may affect the investigation process if ordered. He said.
Rigam further stated that the current Chief Minister might not be directly involved in the corruption in mentioned impending cases but he might influence the investigation process.
Several other allegations against the Chief Minister also leveled including en masse illegal appointments, secret memorandum of agreements (MoAs) with power developers, misappropriation of Rs 24000 crores of PM package and secret allotment of mining and minerals license.
The AJF members including the legal advisor could not provide any documents to substantiate their allegations and claim.
However their claim of MoA of Hydropower development in state by Pema Khandu as Chief Minister entered is beyond the fact as Khandu was not the chief Minister during the period. But they claim that they have sufficient documents to provide in the supreme court of India when asked for.
Rigam further urged the governor to invoke article 371 (H) (a) and order for a free and fair investigation against Khandu who should resign on moral grounds.
