The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary and principal secretary (home), directing them to appear before the court on 24 August over the alleged non-cooperation of the state government with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the enquiry into contracts awarded to firms allegedly related to the kin of Chief Minister Pema Khandu. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said both these officers would remain present before it on 24 August along with their responses to the CBI’s status report, and also explain why there was non-cooperation. The top court had delivered its verdict on a plea filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the matter.
On 6 April, the apex court had directed the CBI to register within two weeks a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public works in Arunachal to firms allegedly owned by or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu. The bench noted that it had perused the CBI’s status report dated 17 July, 2026, which indicated that the state government had failed to provide the records required for the investigation despite the Supreme Court’s directions issued in its judgment dated 6 April, 2026. The status report reflects that there is no cooperation at the end of the state government in providing the necessary records.
Taking note of the alleged non-compliance, the court directed the chief secretary and the principal secretary (home) to remain personally present on the next date of hearing, along with their response to the CBI’s report. The apex court also asked the two senior officers to explain why there had been non-cooperation and non-compliance with its earlier directions. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 24 August.
In its verdict, the top court had said the preliminary enquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover the award and execution of public works contracts and work orders in Arunachal from 1 January, 2015 to 31 December, 2025, including the works and compilations placed on record in the proceedings before it. During the hearing in the matter, the apex court was told that government contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore were awarded in the last 10 years in Arunachal to four firms allegedly related to the family members of Khandu. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the CBI, said the probe agency has sought more time to complete the enquiry and the state authorities were not cooperating with it.
The bench observed that the probe agency has flagged certain discrepancies and asked why the agency needed anything more for registering a regular case. ‘We will call the chief secretary,’ the bench observed, and said if there was non-cooperation then why a ‘long rope’ was given.
