Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 9 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, N Chandrababu Naidu, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday early morning, party leaders claimed. An arrest warrant was served to TDP Chief in connection to an alleged corruption case in the early hours of Saturday. 

High drama was witnessed at Nandyal as a team of police officials reached the area to take the TDP leader in custody in the early hours of Saturday.  As per the party, the police will take Chandrababu to Vijayawada by flight from Orvakal Airport.  However, Chandrababu strongly objected to the arrest as it was initiated without showing ‘evidence for allegations’. 

Chandrababu said that he would cooperate with the law only if evidence is presented.  Before arresting Naidu, the CID took him for a medical check-up where high blood pressure and diabetes were detected, the counsel for Naidu said.  “We are approaching the High Court for bail,” he added.  Meanwhile, a minor scuffle also took place between TDP workers and police personnel.

The State Police detained TDP leader and party chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh in East Godavari district as a preventive action to maintain the law and order situation in the state. TDP leaders criticized the police for the late-night action against the senior leader. Reportedly, some of the party workers were detained by the police. 

According to the officials, a heavy police force has been deployed in the area under the command of DIG Raghurama Reddy.  However, the police have not responded to the party leaders’ questions saying that the remand report contains everything.  “We have evidence. We gave it to the High Court. The remand report contains all the contents. We will give a remand report before taking him to Vijayawada,” the CID officials could be heard saying during the scuffle. (ANI)

It feels like part of my body has been removed: Chandrababu Naidu’s wife worried about his safety in jail

East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh ) [India], September 12 (ANI): Nara Bhuvaneshwari, wife of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, on Tuesday said she was concerned about her husband’s safety at Rajahmundry Central Jail where he is lodged after a court in Vijayawada sent him to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with ‘skill development scam’ case.

Speaking to reporters after visiting her husband in jail on Tuesday, Nara Bhuvaneshwari alleged that Naidu was being denied basic facilities behind bars. 

“I am deeply concerned about Chandrababu’s safety at the jail. He is not even being provided with basic facilities. I never imagined that he would be in this situation. He should be provided with better facilities. He is being made to take his showers under cold water,” Bhuvaneshwari said. 

Claiming that her husband has been a leader, who has always stood up and fought for people’s rights, she urged party supporters and people to rally in his support. “Chandrababu often says that people are more important to him than his family. He is now being confined in the jail that was built by him. It is very unfortunate,” she said.

“The TDP was founded by NTR (Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao). It will never go away and no one can do anything to break the party. I was deeply sad and disturbed after meeting him. It feels like a part of my body has been removed. It hurts to see him in this state,” she added. 

Naidu was arrested by a team of CID sleuths in the early morning of September 9 in Nandyal in connection with the case. The allegation against him was that he along with 36 others, during his tenure as chief minister of the state from 2014 to 2019, swindled funds worth Rs 371 crores belonging to Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation.

Meanwhile, the legal cell of the TDP on Tuesday filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court challenging Naidu’s arrest.  In its petition, the TDP‘s legal cell questioned the applicability of Section 409 by the CID in the FIR.

“Chandrababu Naidu more safe in jail”: Andhra court dismisses TDP chief’s house custody plea

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 13 (ANI): A local court in Andhra Pradesh has dismissed the petition by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu for house custody stating that he is safer in jail. The court was hearing the plea filed by Chandrababu’s side for granting him house custody.

Advocate General Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy said “The court dismissed the petition for house custody. The court felt that he would be more safe in the Rajamundary Jail. It’s a more secure place for him.” TDP legal cell on Tuesday, also filed a petition in Andhra Pradesh High Court challenging the arrest of party supremo former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu by the CID.

In its petition, the TDP‘s legal cell questioned the applicability of Section 409 by the CID in the FIR.
Andhra Pradesh High Court accepted the petition challenging Naidu’s arrest while directing the state government to file its response to the plea through an affidavit.

The hearing on the petition filed by the TDP‘s legal cell has been scheduled for September 13. TDP general secretary and son of the former Andhra chief minister, Nara Lokesh, on Monday, said “corruption is not in his father’s blood and the state government is merely trying to malign his image”.
“Corruption is not in Chandrababu’s blood. He is a well-known personality in the country. Jagan (Andhra Pradesh CM) put former CM Chandrababu in jail intentionally, on false charges. All other political leaders called me up and extended their support to me,” Nara Lokesh told media persons at Rajamundry.

Naidu was sent to judicial custody on Sunday for 14 days, till September 23, by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada in connection with an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam.
Meanwhile, Naidu reached Rajahmundry Central jail after being remanded to judicial custody in a corruption case in the earlier hours of Monday.

According to the police, the former CM has been allotted an upper block in Sneha Wing of the jail to reside until further procedure alongside prisoner number 7691. The case pertains to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crore, as per the officials. (ANI)