Skill Development Case: No Interim Bail For Chandrababu Naidu

On September 9, Chandrababu Naidu was arrested for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi reserved its verdict after hearing both sides

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The Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the plea seeking interim bail for former AP CM Chandrababu Naidu in the AP Skill Development Scam case on Tuesday (October 17). The Apex Court was hearing a petition by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash FIR against him in the case. The court also heard another petition against Andhra Pradesh HC order denying anticipatory bail to him in FiberNet scam case.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi reserved its verdict after hearing both sides. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Naidu, made a submission while Mukul Rohatgi represented the state government.

On September 9, Chandrababu Naidu was arrested for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation while he served as the chief minister in 2015. The alleged scam reportedly caused a purported loss of Rs 371 crore to the state exchequer. The former CM is under judicial remand and lodged in the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison.

In its remand report, CID, as reported by PTI, alleged that Naidu "indulged in a criminal conspiracy with the intention of fraudulent misappropriation or otherwise conversion of government funds for his own use, disposal of property which was under the control of a public servant, besides engaging in cheating, forging documents and destroying evidence".

While rejecting his petition, the Andhra Pradesh High Court stated on September 22 that criminal proceedings should not be halted at the initial stage, and quashing an FIR should be exceptional rather than ordinary.

On Friday, TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh alleged there is an 'undeniable and immediate threat' to his father's life in jail. "CBN (Naidu) is facing a dire situation, dealing with mosquitoes, contaminated water, weight loss, infections, and allergies, all without access to timely medical assistance. The GoAP (Government of Andhra Pradesh) is trying to administer steroids to him," Lokesh alleged in a post on X.