Skill development scam case: Naidu suffers setback as A.P. High Court dismisses his plea to quash FIR registered by CID
The Hindu
TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu suffered major setbacks as AP High Court struck down his petition to quash FIR in skill development scam. ACB Court allowed CID to interrogate him in Rajamahendravaram Central Prison for two days. High Court said his actions not in good faith, no prior approval needed for inquiry. ACB Court extended his judicial remand & allowed CID to question him without harassment. Interim & regular bail pleas likely to be taken up on/after Sept 25.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu suffered major setbacks on September 22 (Friday) as the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down his petition for quashing the FIR registered by the CID in the skill development scam case and the consequential remand order of the Vijayawada ACB Court.
Following the High Court decision, the ACB Court permitted the CID to do his (Mr. Naidu) custodial interrogation for two days, i.e. on September 23 and 24, in the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison, where he had been lodged since September 10.
Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy of the High Court delivered his verdict on Mr. Naidu’s petition, wherein he was convinced that it was not proper on his part to meddle with the investigation at the FIR stage.
He said in his order that the investigating agency (CID) examined more than 140 witnesses and collected about 4,000 documents pursuant to the registration of the crime in the year 2021, and, therefore, the court was not inclined to interfere with the impugned proceedings when the investigation was on the fulcrum of attaining finality.
He observed that a mini-trial could not be conducted at this stage, and none of the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court with regard to the circumstances under which a High Court could interfere in such petitions was satisfied.
He pointed out that Mr. Naidu’s alleged actions could not be construed to be in good faith and in discharge of his official duties as the Chief Minister. Therefore, no prior approval from the competent authority (Governor of A.P.) was necessary under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for inquiring into his role.
Mr. Naidu is arrayed as A-37 in the case that pertains to the swindling of huge sums in the process of establishment of skill development institutions by the APSSDC in collaboration with Siemens Industry Software India Private Limited, DesignTech Systems Private Limited and some other companies.