Skill Development Scam: Ex-AP CM Chandrababu Naidu Faces CID Interrogation At SIT Office

The Andhra Pradesh CID began interrogation of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu following his arrest and designation as the "principal conspirator" in the Skill Development Corporation scam, allegedly resulting in a loss of Rs 300 crore to the state government. Naidu was transported from Nandyal, where he was apprehended, to Vijayawada, where the questioning is taking place at the CID office.

Naidu's arrest occurred after a pre-dawn police operation, with officers knocking on the caravan's door where he was sleeping. The arrest, conducted around 6 AM, transpired at a marriage hall in Gnanapuram, Nandyal, where Naidu's caravan was parked. Notably, this arrest took place while Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was abroad on a private visit.

The investigation implicates the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader as a beneficiary of fund misappropriation in connection with the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state, with an estimated project value of Rs 3,300 crore. This alleged fraud has reportedly caused a substantial loss of over Rs 300 crore to the Andhra Pradesh government.

Naidu, responding to his arrest on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his commitment to serving the people of Andhra Pradesh and safeguarding their interests, stating that "truth and dharma will triumph."

In response to the arrest, the Telugu Desam Party has decided to stage a mass hunger strike across the state to protest what they view as an "illegal" arrest of their party's leader.

Opposition parties in the state, including the BJP, CPI, and Janasena (a local ally of the BJP), have condemned the arrest, accusing the YSRC government of not adhering to due procedure.

The Skill Development Corporation Scam involves allegations of abuse of power, money laundering, and cheating, as highlighted by YSR Congress parliamentary party leader and MP V. Vijaysai Reddy.

Protests have erupted in various parts of the state, with TDP supporters denouncing the arrest.

The CID official has emphasized that Naidu is considered the "principal conspirator" behind the scheme, orchestrating the transfer of public funds to private entities through shell companies, leading to losses for the public treasury and gains for private interests. Naidu's knowledge of transactions and his role in issuing government orders and MoUs make him a central figure in the investigation, requiring custodial interrogation.

The case revolves around the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE) clusters in Andhra Pradesh, with a project estimate of Rs 3,300 crore. However, the investigation has revealed that the funds were diverted to shell companies through fraudulent invoices, with no actual delivery of goods or services. A portion of the funds was used to create CoE clusters, while the rest was funneled to shell companies, contrary to official procedures.

The CID chief further noted that critical documents related to the case have gone missing, with suspicions pointing to Naidu and other individuals. The charges in the case carry penalties of up to 10 years of imprisonment, necessitating custodial interrogation to uncover all aspects of the financial fraud.

Naidu's influence over witnesses and other accused has also been noted, making his arrest essential to prevent interference with the investigation and potential tampering of evidence. Special teams will be dispatched to apprehend two accused individuals who have reportedly fled to Dubai and the USA.

Furthermore, the role of TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh and his associate Kilaru Rajesh will be thoroughly examined in cases related to irregularities in AP Fibrenet, the Skill Development scam, and Amaravati inner ring road.

Naidu, under Z-Plus category protection, was transported to the CID office in Vijayawada after a nine-hour road journey from Nandyal. During his transit, TDP supporters gathered along the route, chanting slogans and attempting to block the convoy, although they were eventually cleared by the police. Despite the offer of a helicopter, Naidu chose to travel by road, with authorities ensuring his safety and comfort.