Ex-Andhra CM Chandrababu arrested for alleged graft in skill development corporation

New Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on Saturday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team, in connection with alleged corruption during his tenure as CM.

The TDP chief was lifted by CID team this morning, from RK Function Hall in Nandyala town, after high mid-night dream. The CID team swooped down to arrest him at 3 AM in morning and this saw angry & strong protests from his supporters & party workers.

The TDP chief is facing charges of ‘facilitating’ Rs 317 crore scam in Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation while he was the chief minister of state. The corporation was established during his government to provide skill training to the youth.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: Criminal Investigation Department (CID) serves arrest warrant to TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu.

(Video Source: TDP) pic.twitter.com/9AE4Xrdorm

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2023

Chandrababu Naidu, while speaking to reporters after the arrest, called the step ‘murder of democracy’. He refused charges of wrongdoings & graft under his watch and also appealed to party workers to exercise restraint.
Meanwhile, his counsel said that they are approaching high court for seeking bail in the ‘illegal’ arrest.

Stir over Naidu’s arrest

The detailed charges under which Naidu was arrested is yet to be known. However, senior TDP leaders called it a ‘political conspiracy’ by the ruling dispensation to silence the Opposition, ahead of elections. TDP spokesperson claimed that the police came ‘knocking’ at the bus while Naidu was resting in it.

“Police didn’t have any basis to arrest him. Naidu’s name is not in the FIR and when they enquired about him from police, the latter claimed that the former CM was one of the accused in case,” a TDP office bearer said.

Meanwhile, Naidu’s arrest sparked off demonstration & protest at many places. Reports said that people raised slogans in Annapurna Sarukulu centre in Tirupati and also resorted to sporadic incidents of tyre burning at some places.

#WATCH | Telugu Desam Party leaders and activists stage a protest against the arrest of former Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu at the Annapurna Sarukulu centre in Tirupati. pic.twitter.com/oBc1wmVYnP

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2023

Naidu anticipated arrest

Chandrababu’s arrests comes just days after he anticipated similar action by the state cops, days ago. Speaking at a public rally in Anantpur district, the TDP chief had said, “Today or tomorrow they could arrest me. They may even attack me. Not one, they will do many atrocities.”