The News Minute | 31 October 2023
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu walked out of the Rajamundhry prison after 50 days after the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted him interim bail in the Skill development case on Tuesday, October 31. The court has granted him four weeks bail on medical grounds and restricted him from taking part in public meetings.
Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneshwari and his son and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) general secretary Nara Lokesh met him in prison after the bail was granted. Several supporters, and leaders including Hindupur MLA N Balakrishna, Rajahmundry Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, TDP spokesperson, K Pattabhi, TDP Politburo member Atchannaidu gathered at Rajahmundry jail premises to welcome their party chief.
Naidu, who is the leader of opposition TDP, was shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail after the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada sent him to 14-day judicial custody on September 11. The CID arrested Naidu in the Rs 371 crore Skill Development Corporation scam, which allegedly happened when he was the chief minister. According to the CID, public funds were released and diverted to shell companies. It alleged that Naidu and TDP were the ultimate beneficiaries.
During his remand in jail, Naidu alleged that his safety had been compromised and that certain left-wing extremists were attempting to assassinate him in jail and sought Z+ security.
TDP supporters had staged several protests in different parts of the country alleging Naidu’s arrest was an act of political vengeance by the ruling YSR Congress Party. His family members- wife, Nara Bhuvaneshwari and daughter-in-law Brahmani also led rallies and marches condemning the arrest.
Following his remand, the CID named Naidu as an accused in five cases within fifty days.
On October 30, Naidu was named A-3 in alleged illegal liquor licence case filed by the CID. The others are the skill development corporation scam case, the FiberNet scam case, the Amaravati Inner Ring Road alignment case and the Angallu riot case.
Meanwhile, the arguments related to Naidu’s quash petition at Supreme Court were completed on October 18, and the apex court is yet to pronounce its verdict.
