New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday summoned the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) of the Arunachal Pradesh government after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the court that it had faced non-cooperation from the state administration while conducting a preliminary enquiry into allegations of irregularities in the award of public works contracts allegedly linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta took serious note of the CBI’s status report, which stated that the investigating agency had encountered difficulties in obtaining records and documents required for carrying out the court-directed enquiry.
Observing that the report indicated a lack of cooperation from the state authorities, the apex court directed both senior bureaucrats to file their responses and remain personally present before the Bench on August 24.
Importantly, the Supreme Court has clarified that the preliminary enquiry is still underway and no findings have been recorded against Chief Minister Pema Khandu or any other individual at this stage.
CBI Alleges Difficulty in Obtaining Records
During the hearing, the CBI submitted a status report highlighting that the Arunachal Pradesh government had not extended the necessary cooperation required for the preliminary enquiry.
According to the agency, officials encountered obstacles in obtaining relevant official records and documents needed to verify allegations concerning the award of government contracts.
Taking note of these submissions, the Bench directed the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) to explain the alleged non-compliance with the court’s earlier directions.
The court ordered both officers to remain personally present during the next hearing scheduled for August 24.
Background: Supreme Court Ordered Preliminary Enquiry in April
The present proceedings arise from an earlier order passed by the Supreme Court on April 6, directing the CBI to initiate a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into allegations that public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh had been preferentially awarded to firms allegedly owned by or associated with relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
While directing the CBI to conduct the enquiry, the apex court had observed that public resources and government contracts cannot be distributed according to the whims of political or administrative functionaries and that the allegations required an independent investigation.
The court had emphasised the need for transparency and fairness in the award of public contracts funded by public money.
Ten-Year Period Under Scanner
The Supreme Court’s earlier order gave the CBI a broad mandate to examine government contracts awarded over a ten-year period.
The enquiry covers:
- Public works contracts and work orders issued between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025.
- Award and execution of government contracts.
- Documents and materials already placed before the Supreme Court during the proceedings.
Depending on the findings of the preliminary enquiry, the CBI may undertake a detailed investigation if considered necessary.
Petition Filed by Civil Society Organisations
The case originated from a petition filed by two non-governmental organisations—Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.
The petitioners sought either a CBI investigation or the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine alleged irregularities in the allocation of public works contracts in the state.
They alleged that government contracts had been awarded in a preferential manner to firms allegedly linked to relatives of the Chief Minister.
It is these allegations that prompted the Supreme Court to order an independent preliminary enquiry by the CBI earlier this year.
No Findings on Merits Yet
While taking note of the CBI’s complaint regarding non-cooperation, the Supreme Court made it clear that the present proceedings relate solely to the conduct of the preliminary enquiry.
The court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations against Chief Minister Pema Khandu or any other individual.
The focus of Monday’s hearing remained limited to whether the investigating agency was receiving the cooperation necessary to carry out the enquiry ordered by the court.
The matter will now come up for further hearing on August 24, when the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) are expected to appear before the Supreme Court and explain the alleged lack of cooperation with the CBI.
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