Vijayawada ACB court on Sunday sent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the alleged skill development scam. The court further reserved an order on the plea seeking house arrest of the TDP chief.
The order on house arrest will be pronounced by the ACB court tomorrow. A judge had earlier dismissed Naidu’s bail plea calling the non-bailable section as untenable.
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Skill Development Corporation scam on Saturday.
Naidu will be taken to the SIT office in Vijayawada first and moved to Rajahmundry jail early Monday morning. Section 144 has been imposed in Mangalagiri and Rajahmundry till September 12.
Naidu’s legal team is likely to move to the High Court challenging the ACB court’s order alleging illegal arrest.
Earlier today, the legal team said a copy of the judgment copy is awaited and if allowed today then they will move for his bail in the ACB court today itself.
Reacting to the judgement, YSRCP General Secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said “this 14-day remand for Chandrababu Naidu is proof that the CID produced clinching evidence in the Skill Development Scam."
“The TDP chief will have to face due procedure as per law. This is routine for anyone who is accused of a crime related to corruption. Had Naidu, his son Lokesh and his politically adopted son Pawan Kalyan not done so much drama, the issue would not have become so sensational. However, we are sure that given the strength of the evidence, all charges will be proved in due course," he added.
While talking to CNN-News18 ahead of the judgement, the TDP chief’s legal team claimed that there was no non-bailable warrant against N Chandrababu Naidu. The arrest was illegal, his team further alleged.
Several cases have been registered against Naidu under sections 120(b), 166, 167, 418, 420, 465, 468, 201, and 109, along with 34 and 37 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 have also been invoked against him.
TDP Calls for State-wide Bandh Tomorrow
TDP has called for a statewide bandh on September 11 to protest against the arrest of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu in connection with a misappropriation of government funds case.
“The Telugu Desam Party has called for a statewide bandh tomorrow, Monday (September 11) in protest against the illegal arrest of Nara Chandrababu Naidu, atrocities on the party cadre, and vengeful politics," a press release from the party said.
