Telugu Desam Party leaders and cadre might be jubilant following the Andhra Pradesh high court granting four-week interim bail to party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on health grounds in the alleged skill development corporation scam.
They are making preparations for big celebrations and are also planning to take out a rally from Rajahmundry central jail to the airport after Naidu’s release in the evening, when he will be flown to Hyderabad in a special flight for treatment in a corporate hospital.
But high court judge T Mallikarjun Rao imposed strict conditions on Naidu while granting him interim bail on medical grounds.
Apart from furnishing personal bail bond for Rs 1 lakh along with two sureties of the same amount, Naidu shall not appear in public or speak to media or make any political statement.
“The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat, or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or any other authority,” the judge said.
Justice Rao further said Naidu shall get himself examined and treated at a hospital of his choice at his expenses and provide the details about the treatment given to him and the hospital where he got treated, in a sealed cover, to the Superintendent, Central Prison, Rajamahendravaram, at the time of his surrender.
The jail superintendent, in turn, shall forward the sealed cover intact to the trial court.
“The petitioner shall surrender himself before the Superintendent, Central Prison, Rajamahendravaram, on or before 28.11.2023 at 5 pm,” the judge said.
Stating that the present interim bail is being granted strictly on health grounds, the high court judge said it would not come in the way of his pursuit of a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court to challenge the FIR against him.
The judge said irrespective of the gravity of the alleged crime committed by Naidu, the health and well-being of an individual as the foremost consideration.
“It's important to recognize that custody during the investigative phase should not be perceived as punitive,” he said.
The judge also dismissed the arguments of the CID that Naidu might run away from the country or influence the witnesses if he is granted bail. There is no remote possibility that the petitioner would evade the judicial process or pose a flight risk, he said.
“The petitioner has strong ties within society and is a respected figure, having previously served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and currently holding the position of Opposition Leader and sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly. He cannot run away from the case when he is on health bail,” the judge said.
