Bail does not exonerate Naidu from charges: Sajjala

YSRCP general secretary and Government Advisor (Public Affairs), Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, addressed the media on Monday, shedding light on the recent bail granted to Chandrababu Naidu by the AP High Court in connection with the Skill Scam case. Contrary to celebrations by TDP leaders, Sajjala clarified that Naidu’s regular bail does not imply exoneration from the charges; rather, the case will continue.
Sajjala accused TDP leaders of spreading misinformation by implying that the court had declared Naidu innocent. He said that the evidence regarding Naidu’s involvement in the Skill Scam is substantial, and the CID advocate has already presented the case before the court. According to Sajjala, Naidu’s pursuit of public sympathy is driven by political motives.
Highlighting the gravity of the allegations, Sajjala claimed that, under Naidu’s direction, public funds amounting to Rs 241 crore was misappropriated. Notices have been issued to individuals such as Kilaru Rajesh and Pendyala Srinivas, revealing the intricate web of connections involved in the scam.
Sajjala refuted claims by Naidu’s advocates that focused solely on arrest procedures, emphasising the evidence supporting the occurrence of the Skill Scam.
Sajjala asserted that Chandrababu Naidu’s involvement in the scam is not determined by his legal status (in custody or on bail) and stressed the importance of Naidu being accountable for his actions during his tenure as CM from 2014 to 2019. Sajjala expressed confidence that Naidu would be convicted in the Skill Scam case based on the clear evidence presented.
Moreover, Sajjala accused the previous government, under Naidu’s guidance, of being involved in various other scams. He urged Naidu to disclose his actions during the specified period.
Sajjala accused Naidu of attempting to influence the outcome in favour of the Congress party in the Telangana elections. He cited Naidu’s IT meetings and other programmes as evidence of these attempts and called for transparency in Naidu’s political activities.