The Bench Noted CBI's July 17 Status Report Reflected Non-cooperation, and Questioned Why a Case Hadn't Been Registered

The Supreme Court on Monday summoned Arunachal Pradesh's chief secretary and principal secretary (home), expressing displeasure over the state's non-cooperation with a court-monitored CBI probe into allegations that Chief Minister Pema Khandu favored family-linked firms in government contracts. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered both officers to appear personally on August 24 and explain the failure to cooperate despite April directions. The bench noted CBI's July 17 status report reflected non-cooperation, and questioned why a case hadn't been registered.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj said the agency was awaiting crucial records from the state. Petitioner's advocate Prashant Bhushan argued a regular case should have been filed. The probe stems from an April 6 judgment directing a preliminary enquiry into contracts awarded to firms linked to Khandu, his wife, brother, and relatives between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. The court had ordered the chief secretary to appoint a nodal officer and barred destruction of records.

The case arose from a PIL by the Save Mon Region Federation alleging contracts worth thousands of crores were awarded to Khandu's family firms, particularly in Tawang district. The court rejected the state's defense that the contracts were a small fraction, saying "a low percentage cannot become a licence" for nepotism. HT couldn't get a response from the chief minister's office.