The Supreme Court has summoned Arunachal Pradesh’s top bureaucrats, and the Chief Minister has a very specific explanation for how it all went wrong.
On August 7, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stepped before the media not to deny the gravity of the Supreme Court’s action — but to explain it. The state’s Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) have been directed by the apex court to appear personally on August 24. The reason? Alleged non-cooperation with the Central Bureau of Investigation. Khandu’s defence: nobody from his government’s legal team was even in the room when the court heard the case.
‘The State Wasn’t There to Speak’
The Supreme Court’s decision to summon the two senior officials was triggered by a CBI status report alleging that the state government had failed to provide certain government records and documents despite earlier judicial directions. But Khandu insists the picture painted in court was incomplete. He said that Arunachal Pradesh’s Standing Counsel members missed the hearing entirely, which meant that the state’s position — including details of records and data already handed over to the CBI — could not be placed before the court. “It became a one-sided hearing,” he said plainly. It’s a damaging admission either way: either your lawyers dropped the ball, or the CBI’s version of events is the only one that landed.
What the CBI Is Actually Investigating
This case isn’t happening in a vacuum. It stems from a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation, which has alleged that contracts worth several hundred crore rupees were awarded to firms allegedly linked to members of Khandu’s family and close associates — raising serious questions about conflict of interest and possible violations of anti-corruption norms. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into government contracts and work orders issued between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025 — a full decade of deals now under the scanner. That’s not a minor procedural matter. That’s a sweeping investigation touching the very core of how public money was spent in the state.
A Bench That Isn’t Waiting
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the summons after considering the CBI’s submissions, directing the two senior officials to appear and explain the alleged non-compliance. The court had also previously directed the state to appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the CBI and preserve all relevant official records. The fact that the CBI still returned to court with complaints about non-cooperation suggests the ground-level reality may not match whatever assurances were given earlier.
What Happens on August 24
Khandu has said the state’s position — including a full account of the cooperation extended to the CBI — will be presented at the next hearing on August 24. That date will now be watched closely. If the state can convincingly demonstrate that it handed over records and the absence of counsel was a genuine procedural slip, the court may take a softer view. But if the CBI’s account holds, the consequences for Arunachal Pradesh’s top bureaucrats — and by extension, the government — could be significant.
The Supreme Court has been patient. August 24 will show just how much of that patience is left.
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