SC to hear Andhra’s plea against bail to TDP chief Naidu in Skill development corporation case on 7 May

“In view of the above, the Registry is directed to do the needful. List the IA and the special leave petition on May 7, 2024,” the bench said in its order.

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AP government approaches SC

The state government has approached the apex court challenging the 20 November last year order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court which granted regular bail to Naidu.

On 28 November last year, the top court sought a response from Naidu on the state’s plea against the high court order.

The top court had also relaxed the bail conditions of the 73-year-old former chief minister and allowed him to participate in public rallies and meetings till 8 December last year, the next date of hearing.

It had, however, said other bail conditions, including him not making public statements or speaking to media about the case, will remain in force.

The high court had converted Naidu’s four-week interim medical bail, granted on October 31, 2023, into absolute bail on November 20 last year and ordered his release considering his age, age-related ailments, non-flight risk and other reasons.

Naidu was arrested on 9 September last year for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation when he was the chief minister in 2015, causing a purported loss of over ₹300 crore to the state exchequer. Naidu has denied the allegations.

During the hearing in the matter before the apex court on 26 February, the Andhra Pradesh government had requested the top court to cancel the bail granted to Naidu, claiming his family members have made statements to “intimidate” public servants to hamper the probe.

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