The political landscape of Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a significant legal tussle involving former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The state government has escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road case. This move comes after the Andhra Pradesh High Court, on January 10, granted Naidu anticipatory bail in three cases, including the Inner Ring Road case, an excise policy case, and a sand mining case.
The Amaravati Inner Ring Road Case: Background
This controversy of the Amaravati Inner Ring Road case, revolves around alleged corrupt and illegal activities between 2014 and 2019. During this period, Naidu, as the Chief Minister, along with other government officials, is accused of manipulating the master plan for the capital city area and the alignment of the Inner Ring Road and its connected arterial roads. The allegations suggest that these actions were taken to provide wrongful gain to specific individuals and entities closely connected to decision-making authorities, resulting in a corresponding wrongful loss to the public.
The CID’s Allegations and Naidu’s Judicial Custody
The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) has been actively pursuing this case. On September 11, the CID filed a Prisoner in Transit petition in the Vijayawada ACB Court seeking custody of Naidu. The FIR, registered in May 2022, implicates Naidu, former Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ponguru Narayana, and others for alleged irregularities in the construction of the Inner Ring Road in Amaravati. The CID alleges that the alignment of the Inner Ring Road was manipulated to benefit the Narayana Group of Institutions, Heritage Foods (founded by Naidu), and a few other private firms, at a cost to the public exchequer.
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Specific Allegations and Impact on Farmers
The CID’s investigation points to a series of quid pro quo arrangements and manipulations. It is alleged that Naidu and Narayana, as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), directed the design of the Inner Ring Road to pass adjacent to properties owned by the accused. This manipulation reportedly led to the depreciation in the value of land for many farmers, who suffered losses due to restrictions on construction and loan acquisition.
Naidu’s Response and Legal Proceedings
Naidu, a prominent figure in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), was arrested on September 9 in connection with a skill development scam and was lodged in Rajahmundry Central Jail from September 10 to October 31. His legal team has been actively working on his defense, including filing a petition for house custody considering his Z plus category protection status.
CONCLUSION
The Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to move the Supreme Court against Naidu’s bail highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the political implications of the case. As the legal proceedings continue, the Amaravati Inner Ring Road case remains a focal point of political and legal discourse in Andhra Pradesh.
