Andhra Pradesh: TDP supporters try to stop police vehicle carrying Chandrababu Naidu
Sep 09, 2023
Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], September 9 : Supporters of Telugu Desam Party on Saturday attempted to block the way of the police vehicle carrying their leader and former state Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu after arrest.
TDP supporters, here in Markapuram, attempted to stop the police's vehicle while Naidu was en route to Vijayawada from Nandyal.
Uniformed personnel resorted to lathi-charge, resulting in injuries to some TDP members.
Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested Naidu at around 6 a.m. from R K Function Hall at Gnanapuram in Nandyala town in connection with an alleged Skill Development Corporation scam, which took place when he was the chief minister.
CID has said that Chandrababu was the principal conspirator and "accused no 1" in the Rs 371 crore skill development scam.
The agency further said that the government order was issued under Naidu's instructions, intending to cause wrongful loss to the public exchequer and gain to private individuals.
According to CID, this case revolves around the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crores.
The agency also claimed that the alleged fraud has caused a huge loss to the Government of Andhra Pradesh in excess of 300 crores.
As per the CID, the investigation has revealed serious irregularities such as before any expenditure by private entities, the then state government provided an advance of Rs 371 crores, representing the entire 10 per cent commitment by the government.
Most of the money advanced by the government was diverted to shell companies through fake invoices, with no actual delivery or sale of the items mentioned in the invoices, CID said.
In its remand report, the CID has said that according to the investigation so far, the total amount spent by private entities on six skill development clusters is sourced exclusively from funds advanced by the Government of AP and AP Skill Development Center, totalling Rs 371 crores.
