Andhra HC grants bail to Chandrababu Naidu in Skill Development scam case

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday granted regular bail to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the Skill Development Corporation scam case.

The court converted Naidu’s four-week interim medical bail into absolute bail and ordered the release of the former prime minister on regular bail.

“The anticipatory bail granted to A37 (Naidu) on October 31 is declared absolute and the petitioner (Naidu) is ordered to be released on regular bail on the basis of the bail already furnished by him,” the court said in its verdict.

However, the interim bail conditions, such as not making public comments regarding the Skill Development Corporation scam case or organizing or participating in public meetings and gatherings, will remain in force until November 28.

The Supreme Court said these conditions will be relaxed from November 29.

The court further directed Naidu to submit his medical reports to the Special Court in Vijayawada on or before November 28, instead of submitting them to the Superintendent of Rajamahendravaram Central Jail.

Earlier on November 16, after lengthy arguments in the case by Additional Advocate General (AAG) P. Sudhakar Reddy for the Andhra Pradesh Police Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Supreme Court advocate Siddarth Luthra on behalf of Naidu, the court delivered its judgment arrested.

Naidu recently underwent cataract surgery at LV Prasad Hospital in Hyderabad.

He was arrested on September 9 and released on interim medical bail on October 31, which is now common practice.

Naidu was arrested for allegedly embezzling funds from the Skill Development Corporation, resulting in an alleged loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.