The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu in the Inner Ring Road (IRR) case, excise policy case and sand mining case. On Wednesday, Justice T Mallikarjun passed the order.
While granting the anticipatory bail, the High Court directed the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to refrain from making any comments that could interfere with or influence the investigation. The Andhra Pradesh High Court also directed the TDF supremo to cooperate with the investigation of the cases.
Appearing for Chandrababu Naidu, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra said that a false case had been registered against Chandrababu Naidu in the three cases. Former Minister Kollu Ravindra and retired IAS Srinaresh were also granted anticipatory bail in the excise policy cases. The Andhra Pradesh CID had lodged three cases against Chandrababu Naidu for alleged irregularities in Inner Ring Road, sand mining and excise policy.
Earlier, the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister was granted bail in the skill development case in November last year. TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the skill development case on September 9 last year. He was lodged in the Rajahmundry Central jail from September 10 to October 31.
The skill development case pertains to the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), to a loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state government. In the matter, Chandrababu Naidu has maintained that he has never been associated with any wrongdoing and alleged political vendetta over the cases registered against him.
In October, the Andhra Pradesh High Court also granted anticipatory bail to Chandrababu Naidu in the Angallu violence case. Following the violence, the Mudivedu Police filed cases against Naidu and several other TDP workers under various sections including attempt to murder.