---
title: "Supreme Court Summons Arunachal Leadership Over Alleged CBI Probe Obstruction"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-summons-arunachal-leadership-over-alleged-cbi-probe-obstruction-l5kkp
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-03T18:28:34.000Z
modified: 2026-08-03T21:00:48.783Z
language: en-IN
---

# Supreme Court Summons Arunachal Leadership Over Alleged CBI Probe Obstruction

The Supreme Court has ordered top Arunachal Pradesh officials to appear in person following claims that the state government is withholding records. The investigation centers on allegations that Chief Minister Pema Khandu steered lucrative contracts toward family-controlled firms.

## Key takeaways

- Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh must appear before the Supreme Court on August 24, 2026.
- The CBI alleges the state government is withholding documents related to public contracts awarded between 2015 and 2025.
- Justice Sandeep Mehta questioned the CBI's delay in filing an FIR despite evidence of oral work orders and missing approval records.
- The probe investigates whether Chief Minister Pema Khandu bypassed open tender processes to favor family-linked businesses.
- State officials defend the contract awards by citing a 2015 law meant to generate employment for local contractors through smaller work orders.

## Judicial Intervention Amidst Transparency Concerns

The Supreme Court of India intervened in a high-profile corruption inquiry on August 3, 2026, summoning the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) of Arunachal Pradesh. The Bench, consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, acted after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reported a lack of cooperation from the state administration. The probe examines accusations that Chief Minister Pema Khandu awarded public works contracts to family-linked entities over a ten-year period ending in late 2025.

Justice Mehta expressed skepticism regarding the CBI's pace, questioning why a First Information Report (FIR) had not been filed despite the agency's findings of procedural lapses. The court’s status report indicated that procurement manuals were ignored, work orders were issued orally, and approval records were nonexistent. Justice Mehta remarked that the agency appeared to be giving the state leadership a "long rope" despite having sufficient evidence of discrepancies.

## Allegations of Systemic Favouritism

The legal battle stems from a public interest litigation initiated by the Voluntary Arunachal Sena and the Save Mon Region Federation. The petitioners argue that development projects in Tawang district were systematically diverted to specific firms without competitive bidding. Representing the petitioners, Advocate Prashant Bhushan maintained that the CBI’s preliminary findings already provide ample grounds for criminal registration and coercive action.

The investigation covers the period between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2025. The CBI is tasked with scrutinizing:
- The omission of open tenders for high-value development works.
- The ultimate beneficial ownership of firms associated with the Chief Minister's family.
- The adherence to the General Financial Rules of 2017 and standard procurement manuals.
- Financial flows and payment structures within the awarded contracts.

## State Defense and Regulatory Conflict

Defending its practices, the Arunachal Pradesh government cited a 2015 state law that permits the issuance of "work orders" for projects under ₹50 lakh without technical prerequisites. Officials claim this method was designed to stimulate the local economy and provide jobs to village contractors. However, the petitioners, backed by observations from the Comptroller and Auditor General, argue that this practice bypassed necessary safeguards regarding conflicts of interest and transparency.

Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, representing the CBI, stated that the state has yet to provide the full catalog of documents requested. Consequently, the court has mandated that the two senior-most officials be present on August 24, 2026, to explain the failure to comply with previous judicial directions.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-summons-arunachal-leadership-over-alleged-cbi-probe-obstruction-l5kkp
Reported from: The Hindu — National