Interim Bail Is Converted To Regular Bail For Chandrababu Naidu

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has granted regular bail to Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu in connection with the alleged 371 crore Skill Development Corporation scandal.

The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, who was arrested over two months ago, is already out of jail; he was granted interim medical release for four weeks last month to have cataract surgery on his right eye.

Mr Naidu will no longer be required to return to prison on November 28, as originally directed.

Significantly, Mr Naidu was also allowed permission to engage in political activity. The approval comes too late for the poll this weekend in nearby Telangana, which votes on November 30.

Mr Naidu, on the other hand, is expected to issue a statement on his detention, which was widely condemned by his party's cadre, followers, and family, as well as on his opponents, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi.

When he was released, he said, "I was in trouble." This is something I will never forget... not only in Andhra Pradesh but also in Telangana and around the world."

The TDP opted out of the Telangana election last month since Mr Naidu was still imprisoned at the time.

According to a senior party source, the decision was made following a meeting between the TDP's state chairman, Kasani Gnaneswar, and Mr Naidu, who was then being held in the Rajahmundry Central Jail.

The TDP chief allegedly stated that with him behind bars, the leadership may not be able to campaign in Telangana, and hence Mr Gnaneswar must explain these facts to the cadre.

The TDP enjoys some support in Telangana, where it won 15 seats in the 2014 Assembly election and two in 2018. However, the elected MLAs later switched their allegiance to the ruling party.

Mr Naidu's supporters in Telangana are furious with the BRS because it did not condemn his detention and because they were not permitted to conduct a protest in his favour in the Hitech City region.

Following Mr. Naidu's detention last month, there were violent altercations and political unrest. Party chiefs denounced the government of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy for engaging in a "witch hunt".