In a shocking turn of events, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, was taken into custody by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Nandyal earlier this morning. This unexpected development has sent ripples through the state’s political landscape and raised several questions about the future of Andhra Pradesh politics. The reports says that Chandrababu Naidu is being taken into custody in a case related to irregularities in Skill Development Corporation.
The arrest of Chandrababu Naidu comes as a significant and dramatic twist in the ongoing political saga of Andhra Pradesh. The former Chief Minister was reportedly detained in connection with a case related to allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure as the head of the state. The AP CID, acting on a complaint filed by a political rival, initiated an investigation, which ultimately led to Naidu’s arrest.
AP State Skill Development Corporation Scandal
The roots of this scandal extend back to 2014 when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government in Andhra Pradesh inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) valued at Rs 3,300 Crores. The agreement involved a consortium consisting of Siemens Industry Software India Ltd and Design Tech Systems Pvt Ltd. This consortium was primarily engaged in offering training programs in partnership with various state governments. Additionally, a Government Order (GO) was issued, stipulating that Siemens would establish six centers of excellence for skill development, an initiative valued at Rs 3,300 Crores.
How Did the Scandal Come to light?
The scandal came to light in 2017 by tax investigation wing of GST-Intelligence Pune. Their investigation uncovered a web of financial irregularities involving crores of rupees. The GST investigators meticulously scrutinized the invoices of DesignTech Systems Private Limited and Skillar Enterprises India Private Limited, which eventually led them to the public funds of the AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) in Vijayawada.