High Court grants interim bail to Naidu in skill scam up to November 28

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh High Court has sanctioned interim bail to Telugu Desam president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on medical grounds for four weeks up to Nov. 28 in AP skill development corporation scam of Rs 371 crore, here on Tuesday.

Justice T. Mallikarjuna Rao while delivering the verdict observed that considering the painful and pressing nature of the petitioner's reported health conditions and without delving into the merits of the case, the court was inclined to grant interim bail solely for the purpose of allowing the petitioner to undergo the necessary medical examination as the medical report clearly indicated that the petitioner required cataract surgery on his right eye.

The court opined that therefore it was a reasonable proposition to permit him to seek treatment at the same hospital where he had the surgery for his left eye.

The court observed that with a humanitarian perspective in mind and considering the petitioner’s health condition, the court was inclined to grant temporary bail on health grounds to the petitioner/A-37, enabling him to undergo the required surgery on his right eye.

However, the court imposed certain conditions on the petitioner saying that he shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquitted with the facts of the case to dissuade him from disclosing facts tot he court or any other authority and directed the petitioner to surrender himself before the superintendent of Central Prison, Rajamahendravaram on or before November 28, 2023 at 5.00 pm.

It may be mentioned that Naidu was arrested by the AP CID sleuths on September 9 at Nandyal on charges of his involvement in embezzlement of Rs 371 crore in AP Skill Development Corporation scam and since then he was lodged in Central Prison in Rajamahendravaram as the trial court of ACB was extending his judicial remand from time to time.