Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu received major relief in the Skill Development case after the Enforcement Directorate gave him a clean chit. The agency found no evidence linking him to any financial irregularities. The decision brings closure to allegations filed during the previous YSR Congress Party government.
ED Finds No Role in Alleged Misuse of Funds
The Skill Development case dates back to Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2019. The previous government accused him of misusing funds allocated for skill development projects. Based on these claims, the CID registered a case and later involved the Enforcement Directorate.
After a detailed probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the ED stated that Chandrababu Naidu had no role in any proceeds of crime. The agency confirmed that it found no material to name him as an accused in the case.
Charge Sheets Rule Out Chandrababu’s Involvement
The Enforcement Directorate made its stand clear in both the original charge sheet filed on May 1, 2023, and the additional charge sheet submitted later before the PMLA court in Visakhapatnam. The ED noted that its investigation did not establish any involvement of Chandrababu Naidu in money laundering activities.
The agency also revealed that the AP CID informed it in April 2024 about naming Chandrababu as A-1 in a case filed in December 2021 before the Vijayawada ACB court. Despite this, the ED maintained that its independent probe found no evidence against him.
Vijayawada ACB Court Also Grants Relief
Chandrababu Naidu had earlier secured relief from the Vijayawada ACB court in the same case. The CID submitted a report stating that the allegations against him were a “mistake of fact.” The court accepted the report and passed orders in his favour on January 12.
With the court’s decision and the ED’s clean chit, Chandrababu Naidu now stands cleared of all accusations related to the Skill Development case.
Political Significance of the Clean Chit
The ED’s findings mark a major development in Andhra Pradesh politics. The clean chit strengthens Chandrababu Naidu’s position and weakens allegations made during the previous regime. The decision also puts an effective end to one of the most debated cases in the state’s recent political history.
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