The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in connection with the alleged fraud after a pre-dawn police operation which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping.
The Andhra Pradesh CID began interrogation of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu who was on Saturday arrested in the Skill Development Corporation scam, causing an alleged loss of Rs 300 crore to the state government. He earlier was named the 'principal conspirator' of the case
According to media reports, after Naidu was taken by road to Vijayawada from Nandyal where he was arrested, the questioning was underway at the CID office on Saturday.
The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Naidu was arrested earlier Saturday in connection with the alleged fraud after a pre-dawn police operation which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping. As per media reports, Naidu was officially taken into custody by the CID police around 6 AM from a marriage hall (outside which his caravan was parked) at Gnanapuram in Nandyal.
The arrest came when AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was abroad on a private visit.
Addressing reporters after Naidu's arrest, AP CID chief N Sanjay said the investigation implicated the former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP supremo as beneficiaries of misappropriation of funds.
"… 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 3,300 crore.
The alleged fraud has caused huge loss to the Government of Andhra Pradesh in excess of Rs 300 crore," noted Sanjay, addressing a press conference at the CID office in Mangalagiri.
Reacting to his arrest, Naidu in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, "For the past 45 years, I have selflessly served Telugu people. I am prepared to sacrifice my life to safeguard the interests of Telugu people. No force on earth can stop me from serving Telugu people, my #AndhraPradesh and my motherland."
"Finally, truth and dharma will triumph. Whatever they do to me, I will march forward for the people," he said.
At a recent meeting in Rayadurgam, Anantapur district, Naidu hinted that he could be attacked or arrested very soon.