13 times: Naidu signed on AP Skill development budget docs, sans cabinet approval: AP CID

Amaravati: Handwritten signatures of Chandrababu Naidu are present in 13 places, including on forms signing off the release of funds, budget approval, and council meetings related to the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation. It is also revealed that the skill development corporation was established without Cabinet approval during Naidu’s regime, said AP Crime Investigation Department (APCID) Addl DG N Sanjay.

“One TDP member J Venkateshwaralu, was appointed as a chartered accountant, with a signature confirming his appointment. Chandrababu’s signature is also found on the appointment of deputy CEO Aparna. The minutes of the council meeting also bear CBN’s signature,” said the CID official.

On Wednesday, Sanjay held a press meeting disclosing details of the skill development scam in which former chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested. Investigation revealed that the formation of the corporation disregarded many regulatory procedures. One among them is Ganta Subbarao, a private individual, assigned three responsibilities of the corporation. Other issues include the transfer of Rs 241 crore to private accounts in a short amount of time and even before six skill centres were established.

Hawala routes used for setting up Siemens centres

Sanjay said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was not created for the establishment of Siemens-operated skill centres. This point has far-reaching implications, which suggest that the agreement was made with malicious intent. “Funds were illicitly redirected through hawala via the corporation, with Siemens and Design Tech firms serving as conduits,” said Sanjay.

Earlier, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Suman Bose, former MD of the Siemens company. Vikas Kanvelkar, the MD of Design Tech, was arrested and was under judicial custody for two months before being released.

“In a mail sent by the Siemens company, it is revealed that the company had only offered in-kind grant (discounted) but not in-kind contribution. Siemens clarified that Suman Bose was involved in the scam through shell companies The Siemens global team, which came to India to investigate the issue, also concluded the same,” said the CID team.

The CID also found that there are messages in electronic devices that revealed that Suman Bose delivered unknown sums of money by hawala to Pune and Hyderabad. It matches the DGGI investigation in terms of siphoning of funds.

The ED also attached Rs 32 crore in assets. Under the shell company PVSP (later changed to Skiller Enterprises), Mukul Agarwal, the head of the company, pocketed Rs 241 crore from the funds allocated.

“Following Naidu’s remand in the skill development corporation scam, false propaganda is being disseminated, and a comprehensive response is necessary,” he added. The APCID chief said that the entire scheme was initiated by Naidu and the notion that A37 is designated as A1 is absurd.

It may be noted that Naidu was arrested in the Rs 371 crore Skill Development Corporation scam case following a pre-dawn operation on Saturday at Nandyala, which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping. He was arrested by the CID around 6 am on Saturday from a marriage hall outside which his caravan was parked. He was sent to 14 days remand to Rajamahendravaram Central Jail.

On Wednesday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court stayed the proceedings in a petition filed by the state CID seeking the custody of Chandrababu Naidu till September 18.

The court, which was hearing a petition filed by Naidu requesting quashing of the FIR registered against him in the case, was posted for further hearing on September 19. The court also directed the APCID to file its reply.