AP HC to Pronounce Verdict Today on Naidu's Interim Bail Plea in Skill Scam Case

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has completed its hearing on Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s interim bail plea in the AP Skill Development Corporation scam case and would pronounce its verdict on Tuesday.

A single judge bench of Justice Mallikharjuna Rao heard the plea here on Monday and said that the hearing on the main bail plea would be based on the decision of interim bail plea.

Naidu’s counsels Siddartha Luthra and Dammalapati Srinivas argued that their client was suffering from multiple health issues and sought interim bail. They argued that the state government resorted to abuse of power by foisting several cases on Naidu.

They submitted that Naidu was kept at the Central Jail for the past 52 days. With elections round the corner, Naidu was arrested and sent to jail as part of a conspiracy to weaken the opposition Telugu Desam, they argued.

They said, “The APCID has completed its questioning in the AP skill scam. Hence, there is no need for keeping Naidu in jail anymore. The CID did not raise any strong charges against Naidu in its remand report. Naidu lost five kg of weight during his stay in the jail and was in need of an emergency surgery for his right eye.”

They maintained that the petitioner was having the basic right to get treatment from a doctor of his choice, and for grant of interim bail.

AP CID’s counsels and additional advocate general Sudhakar Reddy, special PP Naga Vivekananda and additional public prosecutor Dushyanth Reddy asked for sanction of more time to submit their arguments in the bail plea case. The court asked them to submit their arguments on the interim bail plea.

Accordingly, they said there was no truth in the complaint that Naidu was losing weight. Rather, he gained 1.5 kg weight while in jail. “The government was ready to conduct all tests on Naidu in the jail itself but there was no urgency for him to undergo surgery for his right eye as was confirmed by the doctors.”

They argued that Naidu was suffering from age- related ailments that “are common to all.” But, Naidu’s counsels were presenting Naidu’s ill health as a pretext to take him out of jail. There is no need for sanction of interim bail to Naidu.”

The judge said he would pronounce the verdict on Naidu’s interim bail plea on Tuesday.