Andhra Pradesh High Court Dismisses Former CM Chandrababu Naidu’s Bail Petitions In 3 Corruption Cases

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday dismissed a total of three petitions filed by the chief minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu seeking anticipatory bail in the Inner Ring Road, Fiber Net and Angallu 307 cases, reported Press Trust Of India (PTI).

His bail plea in the skill development case has been turned down on the ground of deemed custody. In the Inner Ring Road case, the High Court turned down his anticipatory bail plea saying that the probe was in an early stage. 

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on September 22 dismissed Naidu’s plea for quashing of the FIR. In his petition, he argued that the trial court’s order remanding him to custody did not consider that the CID had failed to obtain prior approval from the governor, as required by Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

However, a bench of Justice K Sreenivas Reddy ruled that prior sanction from the competent authority was unnecessary for the investigation since the use of public funds, allegedly for personal gain, did not constitute an act in the discharge of official duties. The court also agreed that given the seriousness of economic offences, the investigation should not be hindered, especially at this early stage.

Challenging this ruling, the TDP leader has approached the Supreme Court in a special leave petition. 

Hearing the matter on October 3, the Top Court raised questions about the applicability of Section 17A PC Act, when the offence was committed prior to the 2018 amendment which inserted 17A. The bench also asked if 17A is applicable when the FIR mentions not only the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act but also the offences under the Indian Penal Code.

The Supreme Court will shortly hear the matter again today. Follow live updates here: Chandrababu Naidu's Plea To Quash FIR : Live Updates From Supreme Court