SC Flags CBI Probe Hurdles in Arunachal
A two-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed both officers to remain present before it on August 24 along with their responses to the CBI’s status report and explain the alleged non-cooperation.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from Arunachal Pradesh’s chief secretary and principal secretary (Home) over the CBI’s allegation of “non-cooperation” by the state government in its inquiry into contracts allegedly awarded to firms linked to the kin of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A two-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed both officers to remain present before it on August 24 along with their responses to the CBI’s status report and explain the alleged non-cooperation.
The direction came after the apex court perused the status report filed by the CBI. Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the CBI, sought more time to complete the preliminary enquiry and submitted that state authorities were not cooperating.
“We will call the chief secretary,” the apex court observed, questioning why a “long rope” was given if there was non-cooperation.
Referring to the CBI’s status report, the apex court noted that the probe agency had flagged discrepancies and asked, “Why do you need anything more for registering a RC (regular case).”
The apex court said the agency had sought certain details from the state authorities which had not been provided. “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...,” it said.
Issuing notice, the bench directed that “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 matter has been posted for further hearing on August 24.
On April 6, the apex court had directed the CBI to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks into allegations of preferential allotment of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or linked to family members of Chief Minister Khandu.
It had also directed the Arunachal Pradesh government and its departments to fully cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In its earlier order, the apex court had observed that the state and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits based on the “whims of any political or administrative functionary”, and said an “independent investigation” was required.
“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.