CID team grills Naidu on skill development scam in Central prison

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigating the multi-crore skill development scam began questioning former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu at the conference hall of the Rajamahendravaram Central Prison on Saturday. The questioning is videographed, to be submitted along with the report to the Court in a sealed cover.

The ACB Special Court on Friday gave two-day custody of Naidu to the CID and allowed it to elicit more information from the former CM about the Rs 371 crore skill development scam, inside the jail. It gave directions on how the CID should question the septuagenarian political leader.

The questioning began at 9:30 am and would go up to 5 pm. Before the interrogation, Naidu underwent a medical examination. The team allowed inside the Jail included Naidu’s counsel Dammalapati Srinivas, nine CID officers, one videographer, and two mediators. The team was constituted as per the guidelines given by the ACB judge who gave strict instructions to the CID not to use any third-degree interrogative methods during the nine-hour-long questioning.

However, the counsel for the accused would be barred from interfering with the process of questioning. The accused would be allowed to consult his counsel only during breaks.

Keeping the age of the accused the Court also directed the CID to provide medical aid if needed and also to give ample rest in between the sessions. There would be a lunch break of one hour from 1 pm to 2 pm in addition to small tea breaks.

Naidu questioned for six hours

The CID, which has prepared a questionnaire containing 120 questions for Naidu to answer, could complete 50 questions on day one. Nine CID officers completed the task in two shifts, giving the former CM enough time to rest and an hour-long lunch break.

The CID recorded the statement of Chandrababu Naidu in the presence of his lawyers, Dammalapati Srinivas and Ginjupalli Subbarao. CID DSP Dhanunjayudu supervised the questioning process. Chandrababu Naidu was given a thorough medical test after the completion of the interrogation. However, TDP leaders later alleged that the questioning started at 11 am instead of 9.30 am much to the inconvenience of the TDP president.