No relief for Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra court rejects plea for house arrest

The Vijayawada ACB Court on Tuesday rejected the plea put in by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu seeking house arrest. The Andhra Pradesh Police Crime Investigation Department (CID) has requested the court for a 15-day custody of the former CM, who is in judicial custody in connection with the alleged Skill Development scam. Naidu’s lawyer Sidharth Luthra sought orders for his ‘house custody’ on the ground that he is a Z-plus category protectee and faces threat in jail. The court called the apprehensions raised by Naidu’s legal team about security unfounded. “No laxity in security cover,” the court said. Ahead of the judgment, the Andhra Pradesh police put all 21 MLAs of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) under house arrest, a day earlier. These legislators were also prohibited from meeting other party colleagues or relatives, in an effort to prevent any law and order situation in the state. As a preventative measure, police also detained some key TDP leaders in view of the shutdown called by the party on Monday, which proved ineffective as minimal impact of the bandh was seen in most parts of the state. Naidu is presently under 14 days of judicial custody in a multi-crore scam case. Naidu’s counsel Luthra expressed doubts over the measures taken for his security in the jail. He pointed out that convicts in serious crimes are lodged in the jail. Luthra cited Supreme Court judgments for house custody in six cases in support of his arguments. Naidu’s team has moved the High Court for his bail petition. A hearing on the bail plea will take place tomorrow.