Primary evidence gathered against Naidu in ‘skill development scam’ case, says CID official

Thirteen signatures of former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu have been found in various documents, CID Additional Director General Sanjay says, and gives clean chit to former IAS officers Prema Chandra Reddy and Ajeya Kallam in the case as they ‘opposed the violations’ in the laid down procedures

The A.P. Crime Investigation Department (CID) has claimed that it has found 13 signatures of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in various documents pertaining to the “skill development scam,” wherein he had “violated the rules in the process of releasing ₹371-crore funds to DesignTech.”

Addressing the media here on September 13 (Wednesday), N. Sanjay, CID Additional Director General, said that “investigation is in progress” and that they had “primary evidence” against Mr. Naidu.

Mr. Naidu is currently lodged in the Rajahmundry Central Prison following his judicial remand by the ACB Court in Vijayawada on September 10.

“A few individuals are misleading the facts. Mr. Naidu has become an accused only during the course of investigation. We have gathered primary evidences against him,” Mr. Sanjay said.

Referring to the role of former IAS officers L. Prema Chandra Reddy and Ajeya Kallam Reddy in the scam, Mr. Sanjay said that they had not committed any crime. They had, in fact, opposed the “violations” in the procedure adopted by the former Chief Minister in giving approval for the release of funds.

We found them in the note files of Government Orders and other documents, he said, and added that the two officials worked “under pressure.”

Mr. Sanjay reiterated that the A.P. Skill Development Corporation had been constituted and money transferred to private companies without following the procedure.