Justice K Sreenivasa Reddy further ordered that Naidu must continue to be held in judicial custody and that the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) cannot take custody of him till September 18.
In connection with the scam surrounding the Andhra Pradesh skill development program, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday postponed all trial court proceedings against former State Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu until September 18.
Additionally, Justice K Sreenivasa Reddy mandated that Naidu cannot be taken into prison by the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) until September 18. Naidu will continue to be held by authorities. On September 19, the High Court will rehear the matter.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court order remanding him to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the skill development program scam case was the subject of Naidu’s appeal before the court, which was listening to his argument.
The plan that allegedly siphoned government funds meant for a skill development initiative into multiple shell businesses through false invoicing that did not correspond with the performance of services is the focus of the investigation against Naidu.
On September 10, he was detained and eventually committed to judicial custody in connection with the situation.
The remand order is being contested; it was issued by a special court in Vijayawada that was hearing cases investigated by the ACB.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court order remanding him to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the skill development program scam case was the subject of Naidu’s appeal before the court, which was listening to his argument.
A scam that reportedly used false invoices to transfer government cash meant for a talent development initiative into several shell businesses, which did not match with the execution of services, is the focus of the investigation into Naidu.
On September 10, he was detained and eventually committed to judicial custody in connection with the situation.
The remand order in question was issued by a special court in Vijayawada that was hearing cases investigated by the ACB.
In his plea before the special court, Naidu argued that he had been wrongly accused of being involved in the case and contested the CID’s remand report against him.
Additionally, he asserted that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act had been flagrantly violated. Section 17A addresses the requirement for prior sanction before conducting an investigation into the conduct of public employees while performing their official duties.
Naidu had additionally contended that the State Governor would serve as the sanctioning authority because he was the Chief Minister.
The present plea was prompted by his placement in judicial detention.
However, Special Judge BSV Himabindu had found that the evidence on file prima facie supported a case against Naidu for violations of both the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Therefore, it had remanded him into detention, which is what prompted the High Court to hear the current argument.
Name : Pallavi Sethi intern under legal vidhiya.
