Chandrababu Naidu arrested in AP Skill Development Scam: 10 points

Vijayawada: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development scam in Nandyal on Saturday.

Here are 10 points about the arrest:

1. Nara Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in Nandyal on September 9 at 6 am by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (APCID).

2. Chandrababu Naidu allegedly played a key role in Rs 371 crore Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Scam, where he was named the principal decision-maker in releasing funds, said CID Addl DG N Sanjay.

3. The scam is rooted in the formation of the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) in 2014, aimed at training unemployed youth and fostering ties with educational institutes near industries like Kia Motors in the Anantapur district.

4. N Sanjay said, Naidu possesses ‘exclusive knowledge’ of the transactions leading to the issuance of government orders and memoranda of understanding (MoU), making him a central figure in the investigation

5. The Andhra Pradesh government under NBN violated established norms by releasing Rs 371 crore without a tendering process, from which Rs 241 crore was allegedly diverted to various shell companies, through fake invoices, with no actual delivery or sale of the items mentioned in the invoices.

6. Senior Supreme Court Advocate Sidharth Luthra was appointed by the TDP on Saturday to represent its leader N Chandrababu Naidu in the case. Previously, Sidharth Luthra represented Naidu in 2016 in the vote-for-note scam. He is also appearing for YS Sunitha Reddy in her father YS Vivekananda Reddy's murder case against YSRCP MP and her cousin YS Avinash Reddy.

6. Pawan Kalyan, president of Jana Sena party termed Naidu’s arrest as ‘political vendetta'. Pawan Kalyan, who has echoed support for the 2014 alliance once again, has decided to join. He started from Hyderabad and is expected to arrive at Vijayawada Airport by 7 pm.

7. Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneswari visited Goddess Durga temple in Vijayawada, praying to protect her husband, who is ‘fighting for the people of the state’.

8. Naidu is being brought to Vijayawada by road. He will be taken to the SIT office of the AP Crime Investigation Department first and later to the ACB court.

9. CID is now focusing on locating the misappropriated funds.

10. TDP cadres staged protests condemning the arrest of their leader and raised slogans against the ruling YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu’s ongoing poll convoy was stopped at Chilakaluripet constituency after the cadre came out in large numbers and blocked the road, protesting against their leader’s arrest.

Inputs from Bhaskar Basava.