Supreme Court Summons Arunachal Chief Secretary, Home Secretary Over Alleged Non-Cooperation in CBI Probe Into Contract Award Case
The Supreme Court has taken a serious view of the alleged lack of cooperation extended by the Arunachal Pradesh government to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) during a court-monitored preliminary enquiry into the award of public works contracts allegedly linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Acting on a status report submitted by the CBI, the apex court has directed the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) of Arunachal Pradesh to file detailed responses and remain personally present before the court on August 24, 2026.
The Bench indicated that the investigating agency had reported difficulties in securing official records and documents required to carry out the enquiry ordered by the court earlier this year.
At the same time, the Supreme Court made an important clarification. It stressed that the preliminary enquiry is still in progress and that no findings have been recorded against Chief Minister Pema Khandu or any other individual at this stage.
The court underlined that the proceedings currently concern the conduct of the enquiry and the alleged lack of cooperation from the state administration, not the merits of the allegations themselves.
CBI‘s Status Report Triggers Supreme Court’s Intervention
The latest development unfolded during a hearing before a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. During the proceedings, the CBI submitted a status report informing the court that it had encountered significant hurdles while attempting to collect official records necessary for the preliminary enquiry.
According to the agency, officials responsible for conducting the enquiry were unable to obtain several documents required to verify the allegations relating to the award of government contracts.
The Bench carefully examined the report and observed that the contents indicated an apparent lack of cooperation from the state administration. Considering the seriousness of the issue, the court decided to summon the state’s two senior-most bureaucrats responsible for administrative coordination.
The Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) have now been asked to explain the circumstances that allegedly led to the difficulties faced by the CBI.
Top Bureaucrats Directed to Appear Personally
The Supreme Court’s order requires both officers to remain personally present during the next hearing scheduled for August 24. Apart from their personal appearance, the court has also directed them to submit responses addressing the issues highlighted in the CBI’s status report.
Personal appearance of senior bureaucrats before the Supreme Court is generally ordered when the court seeks accountability regarding compliance with its earlier directions or requires clarification on matters involving government administration.
The latest direction reflects the court’s intention to ensure that the preliminary enquiry proceeds without unnecessary administrative obstacles.
Court Clarifies No Adverse Findings Yet
One of the most significant aspects of Monday’s proceedings was the Bench’s clear clarification regarding the status of the enquiry.
The Supreme Court expressly noted that the CBI’s preliminary enquiry remains underway and that no conclusions have been reached regarding the allegations made against Chief Minister Pema Khandu or any other individual.
This observation assumes importance because the proceedings currently focus on whether the investigating agency has been receiving adequate cooperation from the state government in carrying out the enquiry directed by the court. The Bench did not express any opinion on the truthfulness of the allegations or on the culpability of any person named in the petition.
Background of the Case
The present proceedings trace their origin to an order passed by the Supreme Court on April 6, 2026. At that time, the court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to initiate a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into allegations that several public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh had been awarded to firms allegedly owned by or associated with relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The court considered the allegations serious enough to warrant an independent examination by the country’s premier investigating agency.
While issuing that direction, the Bench had observed that government contracts funded through public resources must be awarded in a transparent, fair and accountable manner. Public money, the court remarked, cannot be distributed according to the discretion or preferences of political or administrative authorities. Those observations formed the basis for directing the CBI to independently verify the allegations through a preliminary enquiry.
Ten Years of Government Contracts Under Examination
The scope of the enquiry ordered by the Supreme Court is extensive. The CBI has been authorised to examine government contracts and work orders issued over a ten-year period, covering the period from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025.
The preliminary enquiry includes scrutiny of the process through which public works contracts were awarded, their execution and the supporting official records connected with those projects.
The investigating agency has also been permitted to examine documents and other materials already placed before the Supreme Court during the course of the proceedings. Depending on what emerges from this preliminary exercise, the CBI may decide whether a more detailed criminal investigation is required.
Petition Filed by Civil Society Organisations
The matter reached the Supreme Court through a petition filed by two civil society organisations – Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena.
The petitioners alleged that several public works contracts had been awarded in a preferential manner to firms allegedly connected with relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Seeking an independent investigation, they requested the Supreme Court either to direct a CBI probe or constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the allegations. After considering the submissions and the material placed before it, the Supreme Court opted to direct a preliminary enquiry by the CBI.
That enquiry continues to remain under the court’s supervision.
Issue Before the Court Now Is Administrative Cooperation
The focus of Monday’s hearing was not the allegations concerning government contracts themselves. Instead, the proceedings centred on the CBI’s complaint that it had faced difficulties in accessing official records required to complete the enquiry.
According to the agency, the absence of necessary documents and administrative cooperation has affected the progress of the court-directed exercise. It is this allegation of non-cooperation that prompted the Supreme Court to summon the state’s senior administrative officers.
The court now expects the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) to clarify the state’s position and explain whether there were any reasons behind the alleged delay in making records available.
Importance of Preliminary Enquiry
A preliminary enquiry differs significantly from a regular criminal investigation. Its purpose is to examine available material, verify allegations and determine whether sufficient grounds exist for registering a formal case.
The exercise does not automatically imply guilt, nor does it amount to a finding against any individual. The Supreme Court itself reiterated this distinction during Monday’s hearing by making it clear that no conclusions have been reached regarding the allegations against the Chief Minister or anyone else. The outcome of the preliminary enquiry will determine the future course of action.
Matter Listed for August 24
The case will now return before the Supreme Court on August 24, 2026. On that date, the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) of Arunachal Pradesh are expected to appear before the Bench and respond to the issues raised in the CBI’s status report.
The court is likely to examine whether adequate cooperation is being extended to the investigating agency and whether any further directions are required to facilitate completion of the preliminary enquiry.
Until then, the CBI will continue its examination of documents relating to public works contracts awarded over the past decade. With the Supreme Court closely monitoring the proceedings and insisting on administrative accountability, the next hearing is expected to play a crucial role in determining how the preliminary enquiry progresses.
At this stage, however, the court has consciously maintained that the enquiry remains at a preliminary stage and that no findings have been recorded on the merits of the allegations against Chief Minister Pema Khandu or any other individual.
