New Delhi, Aug 3 The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Arunachal Pradesh's chief secretary and principal secretary (Home) after the CBI's claim about "non-cooperation" by the state government in its inquiry into contracts awarded to firms allegedly related to the kin of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said both these officers would remain present before it on August 24 along with their responses to the CBI's status report and also explain why there was non-cooperation.
On April 6, the apex court had directed the CBI to register within two weeks a preliminary enquiry into the allegations of preferential allotment of contracts for public works in Arunachal Pradesh to firms allegedly owned or related to the family members of Chief Minister Khandu.
The top court had directed the Arunachal Pradesh government and all its concerned departments, authorities and instrumentalities to cooperate fully with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On Monday, the bench perused the status report filed by the CBI.
Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the CBI, said the probe agency has sought more time to complete the enquiry and the state authorities were not cooperating with it.
"We will call the chief secretary," the bench observed, and said if there was non-cooperation then why a "long rope" was given.
Referring to the CBI's status report, the bench observed the probe agency has flagged certain discrepancies.
"Why do you need anything more for registering a RC (regular case)," the bench asked the law officer.
It said the agency had sought some details from the state authorities which they have not 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...," the bench said.
It issued notice to the chief secretary and principal secretary (Home) of Arunachal Pradesh seeking their responses.
"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 bench said, while posting the matter for August 24.
In its April 6 verdict, the top court had observed that the state and its instrumentalities cannot confer benefits according to the "whims of any political or administrative functionary".
It had said it was a fit case where an "independent investigation" was necessary.
"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.
The top court had delivered its verdict on a plea filed by NGOs Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the matter.
During the hearing in the matter, the apex court was told that government contracts and work orders worth around Rs 1,270 crore were awarded in the last 10 years in Arunachal Pradesh to four firms allegedly related to the family members of Khandu.
In its verdict, the top court had said the preliminary enquiry and consequential investigation, if any, shall cover the award and execution of public works contracts and work orders in Arunachal Pradesh from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2025, including the works and compilations placed on record in the proceedings before it.
