New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary, Home, after taking note of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) status report indicating that the state government was not cooperating with the court-monitored preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the award of public works contracts, including those allegedly linked to family members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed both senior officials to remain personally present before the apex court on August 24 along with their response to the CBI’s status report and explain the alleged non-cooperation and non-compliance with the top court’s earlier directions.
“We have perused the status report submitted on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) dated 17.07.2026. A perusal of the same reflects that there is no cooperation at the end of the state government in providing the necessary records as was directed vide judgment and order dated 06.04.2026,” the Justice Vikram Nath-led Bench observed.
“As such, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of Arunachal Pradesh,” it added.
The apex court further directed that both officers “shall remain present before this Court along with their response to the afore-mentioned report of the CBI and also explain as to why there is non-cooperation and non-compliance of the directions issued by this Court”.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 24.
The latest directions came in proceedings arising out of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena, alleging large-scale irregularities in the award of public contracts in the northeastern state.
In April, the Supreme Court had directed the CBI to register a preliminary inquiry into allegations relating to the award and execution of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh, including those allegedly linked to relatives of the Chief Minister. The apex court had directed the probe agency to examine the award and execution of public works contracts and work orders between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025, while clarifying that it would not be precluded from looking into transactions outside the period to trace “beneficial ownership, related party links, fund flows, or other connected circumstances”.
It had also directed the CBI to scrutinise procurement processes, tender approvals, reasons for dispensing with open tenders, compliance with statutory requirements, and records relating to payments, work orders and execution.
Further, the state government was directed to fully cooperate with the inquiry, with the Chief Secretary asked to designate a nodal officer to coordinate with the CBI and ensure that all relevant records, including tender documents, administrative approvals, agreements, bills and electronic procurement data, were furnished to the investigating agency.
The bench had also ordered preservation of all physical and electronic records connected with the matter and clarified that its observations were confined to determining whether an independent probe was warranted and should not be construed as findings on the merits of the allegations.
The PIL has alleged that public contracts worth around Rs 1,270 crore were awarded to firms linked to relatives of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, including his spouse and other family members, in violation of prescribed procedures.
(IANS)
