ACB court extends judicial remand of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu till October 5

VIJAYAWADA: The ACB court on Sunday extended the judicial remand of former chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu till October 5.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) produced Naidu before the ACB court magistrate through video conference from Rajahmundry central jail, after completion of police custody on Sunday evening.

Naidu was arrested by the CID in alleged skill development scam case on September 9. The ACB court initially sent him to judicial remand till September 22 and granted two days police custody which ended on Sunday.

ACB court judge B Hima Bindu asked Naidu whether he was troubled by the CID officers. Naidu told the magistrate that he has cooperated with the investigation and answered all the relevant questions. Naidu once again told the magistrate that he has been put in jail without any fault. The magistrate told Naidu that the court has to follow procedure and added that it was only an allegation as of now and judicial custody does not mean punishment.
Naidu faces 120 posers on second day of CID grilling
The CID did not ask for extension of police custody and the court extended the judicial remand till October 5. Senior counsel Posani Venkateswarlu said that the CID did not produce any details against Naidu so far and they have not asked for police custody. As all other accused in the alleged skill development scam case were out on bail, there is no need for sending Naidu to judicial remand again. The magistrate said when the bail petition is not heard yet, there is no other option to send the accused other the judicial remand. On the other hand, the CID grilled Naidu for second day on Sunday. The CID team led by DSP M Dhanunjayudu posed more than 120 questions to Naidu, according to sources. The CID has been alleging that the formation of Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) itself was with an ill motive to swindle money. The CID is suspecting that the modus operandi was to route the money through shell companies so that it will reach Naidu in cash. According to sources, so far, the CID did not establish any link to Naidu on money trail. The CID is harping on the Income Tax (IT) notices given to Naidu over alleged undisclosed income from the contractors who executed projects in capital Amaravati. The CID is suspecting that similar modus operandi might have been employed in this case also. Sources said that the CID officials concentrated on money trail to establish a link to Naidu during the second day police custody which went for about six hours. The CID questioned Naidu for 12 hours in two days of police custody and produced him before the court on Sunday