The CID argued that more than the recovery of the amount involved in the scam, it was more important to unravel the players involved in the conspiracy.
Published Sep 20, 2023 | 8:28 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 20, 2023 | 8:28 PM
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. (File photo/Supplied)
An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court on Wednesday, 20 September, deferred to Thursday its judgement on a Crime Investigation Department (CID) petition seeking five-day custody of TDP chief and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the alleged skill development scam.
The CID filed the petition for Naidu’s custody to interrogate him further to “unravel the conspiracy” and to know the money trail in the ₹371 crore scam.
During the day-long high-voltage legal battle, Naidu’s counsels — Sidharth Luthra and Sidharth Agarwal — argued that the petitioner cannot seek their client’s custody, by referring to the same allegations levelled in the past, based on which he was arrested.
Counsels for the CID had not sought custody on the day he was produced in the court but filed a memo the following day seeking custody. Why did the CID change its stand in a matter of 24 hours, the counsels asked.
Naidu was arrested on 9 September.
They recalled the CID officials keeping Naidu in their custody for hours in the name of investigation on the day of his arrest and said that they had obtained all the information they needed from him.
Naidu’s counsels questioned the need for the CID to seek his custody once again. They also wanted to know why CID officials were holding media conferences frequently.
Additional Advocate General Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy, appearing for the CID, said that Naidu was arrested after obtaining incontrovertible evidence of his involvement in the case. The CID has to question all those who were involved in the case further to uncover the conspiracy and identify the beneficiaries of the proceeds of the crime.
They also pointed out that more than the recovery of the amount involved in the scam, it was important to unravel the players involved in the conspiracy.
The CID would be able to know more about the details of the scam only by interrogating Naidu further. The CID should get full details of the scam to bring charges against all those involved in it.
After hearing the arguments of both sides, the court adjourned its verdict to 11.30 am on Thursday.
