Pema Khandu says SC hearing was ‘one-sided’, explains summons to Arunachal CS, Home Secretary

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said the Supreme Court's decision to summon the state's Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) over alleged non-cooperation with the CBI was the result of a "one-sided hearing", claiming that the state's standing counsel was not present to place its position before the court.

Speaking to the media, Khandu said members of the Standing Counsel representing Arunachal Pradesh had missed the hearing, leaving the state unable to present its response or explain the steps taken to cooperate with the CBI.

According to the chief minister, the absence of the state's representatives meant that the Supreme Court heard only the CBI's submissions, including allegations regarding non-availability of government records and documents.

Khandu said the state's position, including details of records and data already handed over to the CBI, could not be presented before the court during the hearing.

"The standing counsel members from Arunachal Pradesh missed the hearing. Because of their absence, it became a one-sided hearing, and the state could neither represent its position nor place before the court the cooperation extended to the CBI in terms of providing data and records," Khandu said.

He said the matter would be clarified at the next hearing scheduled for August 24, when the state's position is expected to be placed before the Supreme Court.

The clarification comes after the Supreme Court summoned the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Home) over allegations that the state government had failed to fully cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation in an ongoing probe linked to allegations against the chief minister.

A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued the direction after considering a status report submitted by the CBI. The agency reportedly told the court that it was facing difficulties in obtaining certain government records and documents despite earlier directions to the state authorities.

Taking note of the CBI's submissions, the court directed the two senior officials to appear personally on August 24 and explain the alleged non-compliance.

The case stems from a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Save Mon Region Federation, which has sought an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the award of government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh.

The petition has alleged that contracts worth several hundred crore rupees were awarded to firms allegedly linked to members of Khandu's family and close associates. It has raised allegations of conflict of interest, irregularities and possible violations of anti-corruption norms in the award of public works contracts.

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.

The court had also directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to extend full cooperation to the CBI, appoint a nodal officer to coordinate with the agency and preserve and provide all relevant official records.

The CBI's latest status report, however, alleged that it had not received the required level of cooperation from the state government, leading the Supreme Court to seek an explanation from the state's top bureaucrats.

Khandu's latest remarks suggest that the state intends to challenge or clarify the CBI's account at the August 24 hearing by placing before the court records of the cooperation extended to the investigating agency.