Guwahati: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home), directing them to appear before the court on August 24 over allegations of non-cooperation with a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into public works contracts allegedly linked to Chief Minister Pema Khandu‘s family members.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of a CBI status report submitted on July 17, which alleged that the state government had failed to provide records required for the court-monitored investigation.
“The status report… reflects that there is non-cooperation on behalf of the State government with respect to furnishing records,” the bench observed while directing both senior officials to remain personally present before the court with their responses. They have also been asked to explain the alleged non-compliance with the court’s earlier directions.
The case stems from an earlier Supreme Court order directing the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations that public works contracts awarded between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025, were allotted to firms linked to members of Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s family. The court had clarified that the agency could also examine transactions outside this period if required.
The apex court had further directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to fully cooperate with the investigation by making all relevant records available within four weeks. It also instructed the Chief Secretary to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the CBI and ensure that no official records or evidence were destroyed.
The investigation was ordered after a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Sena alleged that several public works contracts were awarded to firms owned by relatives of the chief minister, raising concerns over conflict of interest and favouritism.
The petition specifically named Rinchin Drema, the second wife of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, and Tsering Tashi, a nephew of Pema Khandu, as respondents. It alleged that firms linked to the chief minister’s family secured a significant number of government contracts.
The matter will next be heard on August 24, when the two senior state officials are scheduled to appear before the Supreme Court.