Supreme Court Summons Arunachal Secretaries Over CM Pema Khandu Probe

The Supreme Court of India has issued summons to the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, requiring their personal appearance. This judicial move follows formal complaints from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a total lack of cooperation from the state government. The investigative agency has alleged that state officials have consistently stalled the progress of an ongoing preliminary inquiry. The court's intervention highlights a significant tension between federal investigative authorities and the executive branch of the Arunachal Pradesh government, signaling a potential crisis in administrative accountability.

The underlying investigation centers on allegations of financial irregularities and the improper award of government contracts. Specifically, the CBI is probing the role of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu in the allocation of major infrastructure projects to entities allegedly linked to his family members. The inquiry was initiated following petitions claiming that the state’s tendering process was bypassed to benefit specific individuals. Despite several requests for relevant files and financial documents, the CBI claims it has been unable to access critical evidence due to systematic obstruction by the state’s top bureaucrats.

The apex court's decision to summon the highest-ranking civil servants in the state is a rare and stern measure. It underscores the judiciary's refusal to tolerate administrative hurdles in corruption probes involving high-ranking constitutional officials. If the secretaries fail to provide a satisfactory explanation for the delays, the court could pass further orders to ensure the CBI’s independent functioning within the state. This development is expected to have a significant impact on India’s legal precedent regarding state cooperation with federal agencies, potentially reshaping the power dynamics between the Centre and border states.