SC summons top Arunachal officials to explain ‘non-cooperation’ with CBI probe
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 3, 2026) summoned the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 3, 2026) summoned the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that the State government had failed to cooperate with its probe into allegations that Chief Minister Pema Khandu had favoured firms linked to his family members in the award of government contracts over the past decade. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was examining a status report filed by the Central agency pursuant to the court’s earlier directions when it was informed that the Arunachal Pradesh Government had not cooperated in providing records sought by the CBI during its preliminary enquiry. Taking note of the agency’s report, the Bench directed both senior officials to appear before it on August 24, 2026, and explain the State government’s alleged failure to comply with the court’s earlier directions. “We deem it appropriate to issue notice to the Chief Secretary, State of Arunachal Pradesh, and the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, making it returnable on August 24, 2026. Both the aforesaid officers shall remain present before this court along with their response to the aforementioned report of the CBI, and also explain as to why there is non-cooperation and non-compliance with the directions issued by this court,” the Bench said.
The order was passed in a public interest litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, alleging that several high value contracts for development works in Tawang district were awarded to firms linked to the Chief Minister and his family members. The petitioners have alleged favouritism in the award of these contracts and sought an independent investigation into the matter. Earlier, the top court had directed the State government to produce records relating to all contracts awarded across Arunachal Pradesh to the firms named in the petition. On Monday (August 3), Justice Mehta questioned Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the CBI, on the progress of the preliminary enquiry and asked whether the agency was giving a “long rope” to the Chief Minister despite having collected sufficient material. Nataraj informed the Bench that the State government had not been cooperating with the inquiry and was yet to furnish all the documents sought by the agency. “The government is yet to furnish all the requisite documents... We will initiate steps in the proper manner. Let the State government cooperate,” he submitted. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, urged the court to direct the CBI to register a First Information Report (FIR), contending that the agency’s preliminary enquiry had already revealed prima facie material indicating irregularities in the award of government contracts.
The BriefWire