Today, On 19th July, The Supreme Court postponed the hearing on Andhra Pradesh’s plea challenging the bail granted to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the skill development scam case by two weeks. Initially filed during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s administration, this plea questions the legality of the bail given to Naidu.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court decided to delay by two weeks the hearing of a plea from the state of Andhra Pradesh, which challenges the bail granted to the current Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, in the ongoing skill development scam case.
This plea initially submitted while YS Jagan Mohan Reddy serving as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities and mismanagement of funds in a state-run skill development initiative, with the plea seeking to revoke Naidu’s bail on grounds of possible tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses.
Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest on September 9 rooted in accusations of misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation during his tenure as Chief Minister in 2015. This alleged mismanagement is said to have caused a significant loss of Rs. 371 crore to the state exchequer. Following his arrest, Naidu has been kept in judicial remand at Rajamahendravaram Central Prison.
The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a significant legal step by filing a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s decision to grant bail to former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the Skill Development Corporation scam case.
This move comes after the Andhra Pradesh High Court, on November 20, 2023, approved bail for Naidu, a decision that has now become a point of contention.
The High Court initially granted Naidu a four-week interim medical bail, which was later converted into absolute bail. This decision based on several factors, including Naidu’s age, his old age-related ailments, the perceived low risk of him fleeing, and other considerations. Naidu, who had recently undergone cataract surgery at L V Prasad Hospital in Hyderabad, arrested on September 9. He initially released on interim medical bail on October 31, which the High Court later made regular.
The charges against Naidu involve the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, leading to an estimated loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer. The Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court highlights the gravity of the allegations and the contentious nature of this high-profile case.
The Andhra Pradesh government, in its appeal to the Supreme Court, portrayed Naidu as an “influential person” and expressed concerns about his potential to affect the case’s outcome. The government highlighted that two of Naidu’s key associates, including a government servant, have already fled the country.
The government’s challenge to the bail decision highlights its commitment to pursuing this case and ensuring accountability in the alleged financial irregularities.