Amaravati, November 20: In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted regular bail to former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu today in the AP State Skill Development Corporation scam case.
The single-judge Bench made the interim bail, granted to Naidu on October 31 on medical grounds, ‘absolute.’ This decision comes as a substantial relief to Naidu, who was initially on a four-week interim bail and was directed to report to Rajahmundry Jail on November 28.
Justice T. Mallikarjuna Rao ordered Naidu’s release on regular bail based on the bail bond already furnished by him. Furthermore, the judge specified that the conditions imposed on Naidu, particularly those related to participating in public rallies and meetings, would be relaxed starting November 29.
The leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has been instructed to submit medical reports regarding his treatment before the Special Court in Vijayawada on or before November 28.
The judge, who had reserved his orders on a regular bail petition on November 17, pronounced the same on Monday.
Senior lawyer Siddarth Luthra represented Naidu, while the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) was represented by Additional Advocate General P. Sudhakar Reddy.
The arguments revolved around the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, invoked by the CID, and the extent of Naidu’s involvement in the alleged scam.
Naidu, aged 73, had been released from jail after 52 days on October 31 following the court’s decision to grant him interim bail. The CID had arrested Naidu on September 9 in connection with the Skill Development scam, which allegedly occurred during his tenure as Chief Minister.
The Vijayawada ACB Court had previously dismissed his bail petition on October 9. Subsequently, the TDP supremo challenged the order in the High Court. Later, his counsels filed a petition for interim bail, citing his deteriorating health conditions in jail.
