Vijayawada ACB Court extended judicial custody of former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam till November 1 on Thursday. Naidu was produced before the judge virtually from Rajahmundry Central Jail. The former CM's judicial custody was about to end but the court extended it by two weeks.
According to IANS, Naidu said that he has doubts regarding the security in the jail. The judge also asked the ex-CM to submit in writing. The judge ordered the jail officials to forward the letter of Naidu to the court.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president also informed the judge about Naidu's health issues. The judge also sought jail officials to provide Chandrababu Naidu's medical report.
On September 9, Naidu was arrested in the alleged scam that took place when he served as a CM. Later, Vijayawada ACB sent him to judicial custody and lodged him in Rajahmundry Central Prison.
The court initially ordered judicial custody till September 22 and extended it till September 24. It also sent him to two-day CID custody. The court extended judicial remand multiple times since then.
The case relates to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crore when Naidu was the chief minister, as per the IANS report.
Earlier, Chandrababu Naidu's wife Nara Bhuvaneswari said, "I am deeply concerned for my husband's well-being, as the Govt of Andhra Pradesh has failed to provide him with the timely medical care he urgently needs while he remains in prison."
She stated that Chandrababu Naidu lost 5 kg in prison and that any more weight loss could have serious effects on his kidneys.