Andhra Court Extends N Chandrababu Naidu's Custody Till October 5

The judicial custody of TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu over an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam has been extended till October 5 by the Vijayawada ACB Court.

Earlier the TDP Chief was questioned by the CID officials inside the jail. The officials requested the court for an extension of Naidu's custody for further interrogation. Judge Hima Bindu extended the custody by 11 days after the CID officials submitted a petition.

Naidu's bail hearing is scheduled for Monday. Naidu was arrested on September 9 on suspicion of a scam during his time as Chief Minister and was put in judicial custody until September 22 in Rajahmundry Central Jail. On Friday, the court extended his custody to September 24.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected Naidu's appeal to dismiss the FIR against him. The case involves the establishment of Centers of Excellence clusters in Andhra Pradesh, estimated at Rs 3300 crore during Naidu's term as Chief Minister.

The CID alleges a scam resulting in a Rs.371 crore loss to the state government, citing that the full 10 per cent government commitment for the project was advanced prior to any outlay by private entities. The CID claims most of this money was funnelled to shell companies via fake invoices, with no actual delivery of goods or services.

The remand report by the CID stated that the total expenditure by private entities on six skill development clusters was sourced entirely from the government and Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Centre's funds amounting to Rs 371 crore.