New Delhi: TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was being shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail from Vijayawada by highway on Sunday night time after a metropolis courtroom despatched him to 14 days judicial custody within the alleged talent improvement rip-off. Amid tight safety, the convoy of police automobiles left Vijayawada Court docket Complicated after 10 p.m. Police had made safety preparations to stop any protest by the Telugu Desam Social gathering (TDP) alongside the 200-km route.
TDP employees had staged protests at a number of locations on Saturday when the 73-year-old chief was being delivered to Vijayawada from Nandyal, the place he was arrested by the CID and police have been taking all precautions to foil any such protests through the journey to Rajahmundry. As a precautionary measure, police have imposed part 144 of CrPC throughout the state.
The ACB courtroom remanded Naidu to judicial custody within the night, after prolonged arguments and day-long suspense. The courtroom order got here as a giant setback to TDP, whose leaders have been anticipating a beneficial judgment. Naidu’s counsel later pleaded that he be saved underneath home arrest in view of Z plus class safety loved by him however the courtroom rejected the request.
It, nonetheless, directed the jail authorities to make particular preparations conserving in view his age and well being situation. Instantly after the courtroom order, the CID filed a petition searching for custody of Naidu for questioning within the case. The petition will come up for listening to on Monday. Naidu’s attorneys stated they may file a bail petition within the Excessive Court docket on Monday.
Earlier, the arguments, which started round 6 a.m., continued for almost six hours. Whereas the prosecution sought 15 day judicial custody of Naidu, the TDP chief’s counsel opposed the identical.
The TDP chief himself had made submissions earlier than the choose. He known as his arrest unlawful and an act of political vendetta by the YSR Congress Social gathering authorities. Naidu alleged that there is no such thing as a rule of regulation within the state as the federal government is violating the elemental rights of the residents.
He additionally submitted to the courtroom that the funds for talent improvement tasks have been offered within the state price range for 2015-16 and argued that the price range handed by the Meeting can’t be known as a legal act.
Showing for Naidu, senior Supreme Court docket lawyer Sidharth Luthra argued that the CID didn’t take permission from the Governor earlier than arresting the Chief of the Opposition.
Extra Advocate Basic P. Sudhakar Reddy, who appeared for the CID, submitted that there’s prima facie proof towards Naidu and that there is no such thing as a want for prior permission from the Governor.
The courtroom additionally didn’t agree with the argument of Naidu’s counsel that IPC’s Part 409 (Legal breach of belief by public servant) doesn’t apply on this case.
Luthra argued that Naidu was falsely implicated for political positive factors for the alleged offences underneath a number of IPC sections learn with a piece of thbe Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CID in its remand report knowledgeable the courtroom that although Naidu was arrayed within the FIR as 37th accused, he’s the chief architect and conspirator of the offence. It known as it a case of legal conspiracy with a typical object and intent for legal breach of belief and dishonest and or fraudulent misappropriation of public funds.
In the course of the course of investigation, 141 witnesses have been examined to date and their statements have been recorded. On verification of the paperwork and analyzing the witnesses, investigation disclosed that Naidu orchestrated the deep-rooted conspiracy by enjoying a key position at numerous levels in collusion with different accused, with a preconceived plan geared toward siphoning off of the funds launched from the general public exchequer in the direction of the undertaking, the CID stated.
In line with the CID, the Rs 371 crore rip-off happened between 2014 and 2018 when Naidu was Chief Minister.