Jairam Ramesh questions Pema Khandu’s continuance as SC-ordered Arunachal CBI probe advances

New Delhi, Sep 18 : Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh on Friday questioned the continuance of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu in office as a Supreme Court-ordered CBI inquiry into contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore in the state moves ahead.

In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh referred to the Supreme Court’s April 6, 2026 order directing a CBI inquiry into contracts awarded in Arunachal Pradesh between 2015 and 2025. He alleged that the order had “taken the Modi government by surprise” and questioned why Khandu had not resigned or been asked to step down.

Khandu was the state’s PWD Minister during part of the period under scrutiny. Ramesh alleged that contracts were awarded to members of the Chief Minister’s family and said Khandu should have immediately resigned or been asked to resign.

“The CM should have immediately resigned or asked to resign. But both the CM and his Supreme Leader, the PM, decided to brazen it out,” Ramesh said.

Ramesh also referred to subsequent Supreme Court proceedings on August 3 and August 24, alleging that the state government had not fully provided documents sought by the CBI.

During the August 3 hearing, the Supreme Court directed senior state government officials to appear and explain the alleged lack of cooperation after concerns were raised over access to records relevant to the inquiry.

At the August 24 hearing, the court took note of the state government’s response concerning documents supplied to the CBI. Ramesh alleged that instead of providing specific records sought by the investigating agency, the government had supplied a large volume of documents that, according to him, did not adequately address the CBI’s requirements.

The matter is scheduled to come up before the Supreme Court again on September 25.

Ramesh further alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was taken by surprise by what he described as the CBI’s “new-found courage” in pursuing the investigation and raising questions about the state government’s cooperation.

Questioning Khandu’s continued presence in office, Ramesh alleged that the episode reflected what he termed the “complete hypocrisy” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in dealing with corruption allegations.

The Supreme Court-ordered inquiry concerns contracts awarded in Arunachal Pradesh during the 2015-2025 period, with the CBI investigation proceeding under judicial oversight.

The allegations raised in the proceedings and by political parties remain subject to investigation and due process. The Supreme Court’s directions concerning the production of records and cooperation with the investigating agency do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability against Khandu, his relatives or any other individual.

The Congress has continued to raise questions over the Modi government’s handling of corruption allegations involving leaders associated with the ruling establishment.

With the Supreme Court set to hear the matter on September 25, focus is expected to remain on the progress of the CBI inquiry, the production of records sought by the agency and compliance with the court’s directions.