Supreme Court Summons Arunachal Officials Over CBI Probe Non-Cooperation

The Supreme Court on Monday summoned Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) to appear before it on August 24 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that the state government was not cooperating with its court-ordered preliminary enquiry into public works contracts allegedly awarded to firms linked to the family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed both senior officials to file their responses to the CBI's status report and explain the alleged "non-cooperation" in the probe.

The development comes nearly four months after the apex court directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry into allegations that public works contracts were preferentially awarded to firms allegedly owned by or associated with Khandu's relatives.

Appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj informed the court that the agency required more time to complete the enquiry as it had not received the necessary cooperation from the state authorities.

"We will call the chief secretary," the bench observed, adding that if there was non-cooperation, it was difficult to understand why the state had been given such a "long rope."

After examining the CBI's status report dated July 17, the bench noted that the investigating agency had highlighted several discrepancies and had been unable to obtain records it had sought from the state government.

Questioning the pace of the probe, the court asked the law officer, "Why do you need anything more for registering a RC (regular case)."

"We have perused the status report given by the CBI dated July 17, 2026. A perusal of the same reflects that there is non-cooperation at the end of the state government in providing the necessary records...," the bench observed.

Issuing notices to the two top state officials, the court directed that they remain personally present on the next date of hearing.

"Both the aforesaid officers shall remain present before this court along with their responses to the aforesaid report of CBI and also explain why there is non-cooperation and non-compliance of the order of this court," the bench said.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 24.

On April 6, the Supreme Court had ordered the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks, holding that an independent investigation was warranted into allegations surrounding the award and execution of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh.

The court had also directed the Arunachal Pradesh government, its departments and all concerned authorities to extend full cooperation to the CBI during the enquiry.

In its April verdict, the apex court had observed that the state and its instrumentalities could not confer benefits according to the "whims of any political or administrative functionary."

"Accordingly, we deem it appropriate that CBI shall register a preliminary enquiry forthwith and shall conduct a time-bound investigation into the award and execution of the public works contracts and work orders which form the subject matter of this writ petition and the affidavits filed in these proceedings," it had said.

The order came on petitions filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, which sought a CBI or Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged irregularities.

During the proceedings, the petitioners alleged that government contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore were awarded over the past decade to four firms allegedly linked to Khandu's family members.

The Supreme Court had directed that the preliminary enquiry, and any consequential investigation, cover the award and execution of public works contracts and work orders in Arunachal Pradesh between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025, including the works and compilations placed on record before it.