Chandrababu Naidu appeals to the Supreme Court the High Court’s refusal to grant anticipatory bail in the FiberNet scam case

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to appeal the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s refusal of anticipatory bail in the FiberNet corruption case. A work order for 330 crore under Phase 1 of the AP FiberNet Project was allegedly awarded to a preferred vendor via tender rigging. According to media sources, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) asserts that violations occurred from the award of tenders until the project’s completion, causing a large loss to the public exchequer.

The CID has charged Naidu with authorizing project budgets without doing a thorough market analysis and abusing his position to get M/s Terasoftware’s blacklist lifted. Other bidders reportedly objected when the business was given the deal.

Naidu recently suffered a defeat when the Andhra Pradesh High Court denied requests for anticipatory bail in three corruption cases, including the FiberNet, Inner Ring Road, and Angallu 307 cases. The Angallu case is connected to unrest that occurred on August 4 during a Naidu-led political rally.

In the AP FiberNet case, a special court has authorized the CID to issue a prisoner transportation warrant against Naidu. The court ordered that Naidu be brought before the CID on October 16 but said that any orders issued by the Supreme Court in the meantime would be enforceable.

Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi, who make up the Supreme Court bench, will hear Naidu’s appeal of the High Court’s rejection of anticipatory bail in the FiberNet fraud case today. The panel would also take into account Naidu’s request to overturn the FIR in the skill development fraud case.