Chandrababu Naidu's Petition To Quash FIR - Live Updates From Supreme Court

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3 Oct 2023 5:20 AM GMT

  • Chandrababu Naidus 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.

    Follow this page for live updates :

    Live Updates

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:32 AM GMT

      Justice Trivedi : 17A applies to offences under PC Act. What about IPC offences?

      Salve : 17A says "any offence". It is wider.

      Singhvi also emphasises "any offence".

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:28 AM GMT

      Justice Bose : In this case (Yashwant Sinha case, which relates to Rafale deal), what is the date of the alleged commission of offence?

      Sr Adv Siddharth Luthra (for Naidu) : 2015-16 are the alleged transaction (in Rafale case).

      Luthra saying this to contend that SC has held that 17A is applicable with respect to offences committed prior to the amendment.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:21 AM GMT

      Justice Trivedi : How many senior advocates are arguing?

      Salve(in lighter vein) : Four of us cannot match up to Mr.Rohatgi (Mukul Rohatgi appearing for AP).

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:21 AM GMT

      Salve : There are judgments. This matter needs to be considered.

      Senior Adv AM Singhvi (for Naidu) refers to judgment in Yashwant Sinha.


    • 3 Oct 2023 7:18 AM GMT

      Salve : Could this inquiry be held without the Governor's approval as per Section 17A?

      Justice Bose : According to you the date when the investigation starts is the relevant date.

      Sale : Yes. This is done to prevent the abuse of process of law. I don't say so. The people who introduced the law says so.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:17 AM GMT

      Salve (appearing virtually) : Now see what are the allegations (refers to the remand report). Allegations are that APSDC was formed without cabinet sanction...then appointed so and so as ex-officio...then on Naidu's instructions some one did...everything is alleged to be based on his instructions or recommendations.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:14 AM GMT

      Salve : The date of offence does not matter. This(17A) is a protection given.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:11 AM GMT

      Salve : Learned HC judge says Sec 17A cannot be applied to offences committed before July 2018. That is simply not correct.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:11 AM GMT

      Salve : This is pure procedure. You have to obtain sanction. It has nothing to do with the date of the offence, it has to do with the date of the inquiry.

    • 3 Oct 2023 7:10 AM GMT

      Justice Trivedi : But the offence relates to 2015-16, before the 2018 amendment which introduced 17A.

      Salve : Yes, but the inquiry was after the amendment.

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