The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s detention was extended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada on Friday for an additional two days. On Friday, September 22, the court’s decision was made as the previously imposed remand came to an end. The bail petition submitted by Naidu’s legal team was postponed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday until September 21. The TDP leader was virtually represented in court by Siddarth Luthra, his top attorney.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada sentenced Chandrababu Naidu to judicial custody on September 10 for 14 days, or until September 23, in relation to an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam. At an earlier all-party meeting on September 17, the TDP brought up Naidu’s arrest as a concern for the Andhra Pradesh government. According to sources, the discussion, however, sparked a contentious argument between TDP and YSR Congress leaders.
According to sources, TDP leader Ram Mohan Naidu has demanded that the federal government get involved in Chandrababu’s arrest, claiming that the state’s democracy was in danger under chief minister Jagan Reddy’s administration. On Monday, TDP lawmakers demonstrated against the arrest of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and party leader N Chandrababu Naidu near the Gandhi statue on the grounds of Parliament.