Soon after the arrest of Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the multi-crore skill development corporation scam, the police took several TDP leaders into custody to prevent them from staging protest demonstrations across the state.
In Visakhapatnam, former minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and his son were arrested on the charges of formation of AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) in 2014, in association with Naidu against the rules.
At Podalada Yuva Galam camp in Konaseema district, the police stopped Naidu’s son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh from going to Nandyal to see his father, who was arrested by the police.
Lokesh argued with the police and wondered why he was being obstructed from seeing his father. He asked under what sections he was being prevented from moving further. He squatted on the road to stage a protest dharna.
Several other TDP leaders like Kuna Ravi Kumar in Srikakulam, Viskahapatnam (West) MLA Gana Babu, Bendalam Ashok in Ichapuram and former minister Devineni Uma in Vijayawada were kept under house arrest.
Similarly, former minister Kala Venkat Rao and senior leader Venigandla Ramu in Gudivada were also arrested, when they tried to stage demonstrations in protest against the arrest of Naidu.
Meanwhile, the AP State Road Transport Corporation cancelled bus services in several places in the state in view of the possible protests by the TDP leaders in several places and the possibility of they indulging in violence.
