Former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s Anticipatory Bail Pleas Dismissed

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions of former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in three separate cases. These cases include the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam, the AP FibreNet scandal, and the Angallu violence case in the Annamayya district. Naidu is presently in judicial custody in connection with the Skill Development Scam, and the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is seeking his custody for questioning in the Inner Ring Road and FibreNet cases.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court had reserved its orders on Naidu’s anticipatory bail petition in the Angallu violence case, in which Naidu and other leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were booked for attempted murder. The charges stem from violent incidents that occurred in Angallu village in the Annamaya district during Naidu’s visit to assess the status of irrigation projects.

During the hearing, Naidu’s lawyer, P. Venkateshwarlu, argued that false cases were filed against him and that leaders of the ruling YSR Congress party had attacked TDP members during Naidu’s visit. Venkateshwarlu also pointed out that NSG commandos had protected Naidu during the stone-pelting incidents by ruling party leaders.

The court’s decision to reject Naidu’s anticipatory bail petitions is seen as a setback to both him and the Telugu Desam Party. It is noted that the High Court had previously granted bail to 79 TDP leaders in the Punganur and Angallu violence cases. Another 30 TDP leaders, including Naidu, had filed anticipatory bail petitions in these two cases. The court cited various reasons, including the advanced stage of investigation in the FibreNet scam, for the rejection of the bail pleas.