SC Gives Split Verdict On Chandrababu Naidu's Plea To Quash FIR In Skill Development Case

Further, Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India.

Naidu was taken in custody on September 9 by the state crime investigation department and remained in custody till he was directed to be released on bail in November.

Source : PTI

The Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in a plea filed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash FIR and criminal proceedings against him in Skill Development scam case. Further, Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi referred the matter to the Chief Justice of India.

According to ANI, Supreme Court’s two-judge bench delivered split verdict in a plea filed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash FIR and criminal proceedings against him in the Skill Development scam case. Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi disagree and refer the matter to the Chief Justice of India.

 

Supreme Court’s two-judge bench delivers split verdict in a plea filed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash FIR and criminal proceedings against him in the Skill Development scam case.

Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi disagree and… pic.twitter.com/vz4yFzKwao

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2024

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered its verdict on Telugu Desam Party supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's petition challenging the criminal proceedings initiated against him in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam case.

According to the causelist published on the Supreme Court's website, a special bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi will pronounce the judgment in the matter on January 16. The verdict is likely to be out at 1 PM.

The bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma completed hearing both sides (Naidu and State of Andhra Pradesh) in petition challenging FIR and enquiry against the former CM in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam case on October 17, 2023.

Naidu was taken in custody on September 9 by the state crime investigation department and remained in custody till he was directed to be released on bail in November.

Naidu moved the top court against the initiation of the enquiry and the registration of the FIR against him on grounds that both are non est (non-existent in law) as both have been initiated without a mandatory approval under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

In September 2023, Naidu’s petition to quash the FIR against him and to set aside his judicial remand were set aside by a single judge bench of Justice S. Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

In November 2023, Naidu was ordered to be released on regular bail on the bail bond already furnished by him by a bench in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Andhra government challenged the order in the Supreme Court questioning the decision of the High Court.

The Andhra CID has undertaken before the top court that it will not arrest Naidu till January 17 in the FiberNet case.

According to an IANS report, Senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for Andhra government, contended that the provision of the law requiring prior sanction would not apply as enquiry against Naidu was initiated in 2018.

The court will pronounce judgment on Tuesday.