Chandrababu Naidu is accused No 1 in AP Skill Development scam: CID Chief

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh CID Additional Director General N Sanjay has said that former Chief Minister and TDP National President N Chandrababu Naidu is the accused number one in the multi-crore Skill Development scam.

He said that MoUs was signed with Siemens company to establish six excellence centres across the state at a cost of Rs 3000 crore.

Sanjay said that software was purchased at a cost of Rs 58 crore for the excellence centres. “Though the required software was purchased at a cost of Rs 58 crore, later it was hiked several times in which huge money was swindled.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the CID chief said that the then Naidu headed TDP government had released Rs 371 crore to DesignTech company as its share disregarding the objections of the finance department.

The state Cabinet did not approve the project either, he added.

He said that the investigation began with the head of Skill Development Corporation and accused companies as prime accused. The investigation revealed that the prime conspirator behind the entire scheme and who orchestrated transfer of public funds from the government to private companies through the shell companies was Chandrababu Naidu, the CID Chief informed.

Sanjay also said that two of the accused in the skill development scam Manoj Pardasani of DesignTech company and another Pendyala Srinivas, who was the PA of Naidu then, fled to a foreign countries “We are making efforts to bring them with the help of Interpol”, he said, adding that important documents in the scam found missing.

He said that the money was transferred from Design Tech to PVSP, ACI, and Elite which were shell companies through fake invoices. The money was transferred through shell companies and finally the accused received the money through various channels.

“The entire Skill Development scam took place under the direction of TDP National President. His arrest is necessitated to ensure that witnesses are not intimidated,” the CID Additional DG said.

The CID chief said that the police wanted to bring Naidu after his arrest in an helicopter but the former Chief Minister refused to fly.

After conducting a medical examination he would be produced before the court this evening, he said.

The role of Naidu’s son and former Minister Nara Lokesh is being investigated in the fiber net scam and Inner Ring road scam, Sanjay said.