VIJAYAWADA: The Anti-Corruption Bureau court on Thursday extended the judicial remand of Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu by 14 days. The former chief minister is thus expected to remain within the confines of Rajahmundry Central Jail up to October 19.
Incidentally, this is for the third time that the ACB court has extended the judicial remand of Naidu. The earlier extension of remand concluded on Thursday.
However, the AP-CID filed a memo in the court seeking extension of judicial remand of Naidu. Accordingly, the Central Prison authorities in Rajahmundry produced Naidu before the ACB court judge virtually. The ACB judge then announced extension of judicial remand.
The ACB court had been scheduled to hear the bail plea of the former chief minister in the AP skill development corporation scam case on Thursday. On the day, the AP CID has also sought further custody of Naidu, saying the department has to further conduct some inquiries.
The ACB court judge heard arguments of both the parties.
Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy, additional advocate general representing the AP-CID, argued that several irregularities have taken place in the case. Naidu is responsible for them and hence he needs further interrogation. The counsel said they need to find details of financial transactions.
Naidu’s counsel Pramod Kumar Dube argued that funds had been released for the skill development project by Naidu in his capacity as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. As per the agreement, 40 skill centres had been set up. Naidu’s counsel maintained that all procedures had taken place in a transparent manner. There was no chance of any scam, leave alone Naidu playing a role in it, he stated.
Dube underlined that no evidence has been presented showing Naidu’s involvement in the corruption. He maintained that the case has been booked against his client only out of political vendetta.
After hearing both the parties, the ACB judge announced that hearings in the case will resume on Friday afternoon.
