Chandrababu Naidu's Petition To Quash FIR - Live Updates From Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will hear today the petition filed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desom Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash the FIR in relation to the alleged skill development scam.A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi will hear the matter. Last week, his petition got adjourned as Justice SVN Bhatti (who hails from Andhra...
The Supreme Court will hear today the petition filed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desom Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu seeking to quash the FIR in relation to the alleged skill development scam.
A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi will hear the matter. Last week, his petition got adjourned as Justice SVN Bhatti (who hails from Andhra Pradesh) recused from hearing it.
Naidu has approached the Supreme Court challenging the judgment dated 22.09.2023 of the Andhra Pradesh High Court which dismissed his petition to quash the FIR. Naidu was arrested on September 9 and has been under custody since then.
At the High Court, a bench of Justice K Sreenivas Reddy dismissed Naidu's petition by noting that the investigation in the FIR, which was registered in 2021, is almost in its final stages, with about 140 witnesses examined and 4000 documents collected. The bench therefore observed that it will be improper to interfere with the investigation at such an advanced stage. The High Court also rejected the legal argument raised by Naidu that the FIR is unsustainable for lack of sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The bench observed that allegations relating to fabrication of documents and misappropriation of funds cannot be regarded as part of official functions and hence the protection under Section 17A was not applicable.
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#BREAKING No immediate relief for Chandrababu Naidu from #SupremeCourt.
Supreme Court posts his quash petition to next Monday asking the State of AP to produce the entire compilation of documents which were there before the HC.
Bench dictates the order : List the matter next Monday. On that date, the caveator State shall file the entire compilation of documents which were there before the High Court.
Luthra : They are also seeking police custody. After 15 days, police custody can't be claimed. Tomorrow the bail is listed.
Justice Bose : This we are not considering. We are placing the matter next Monday, produce the documents...
Justice Bose : We are placing it on next Monday.
Luthra : The man is in custody, that is the difficulty.
Rohatgi : They are not pressing bail and are arguing the quash petition. The judge says argue bail.
Justice Bose : You fill all the compilations which were produced before the HC. File a compilation....
Rohatgi : We will.
Justice Bose : We are issuing notice...
Luthra : 17A was argued by me in the trial court in the first instance...
Judges discussing.
Rohatgi : The quash petition in the HC was filed within three days of arrest. And they dumped 2000 pages before the learned judge on day one...
Luthra : This is not factually correct.
Rohatgi : Pls wait, you will get your chance.
Rohatgi : The CM started the APSDC. The idea was to start training centres for youth. 90% by third party centres and 10% funding by state. It was found that the 10% was advanced by state even before the training started.
Rohatgi : Inquiry started even before this government came in. CBI was seized of it in 2017 and sent it to State,
Justice Bose : How do we know the nature of inquiry?
Rohatgi : I will show the documents.
Mukul Rohatgi (AP) : I will show how this petition should be rejected right away. 17A does not arise in this case. 17A came in July 2018. Though the FIR is of 2021, the inquiry arose prior to the insertion of 17A.