Former Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Arrested

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by Nandyal police in the early hours of Saturday.

A large group of police officers led by Nandyal range DIG Raghurami Reddy and the CID (Crime Investigation Department) reached a hall in town around 3 a.m. to arrest him as he was inside his caravan. However, party cadre and SPG forces resisted his arrest, and the security forces told the police that Mr. Naidu could not be arrested until 5:30 a.m. as per rules.

Later, the police arrested Mr. Naidu around 6 a.m. Videos are viral on social media in which Naidu is seen arguing with the police demanding the details of his arrest.

The DIG informed the former chief minister that he was being taken into custody in the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation scam, in which Mr. Naidu is accused number 1.

TDP has accused the police of highhandedness in the events leading to the arrest of Mr Naidu.

“TDP National President Chandrababu Naidu was illegally arrested at Nandyal by violating all the rules while resting in a bus. After that medical tests were done. Chandrababu Naidu insisted that he would stay here and asked him to show the reasons for his arrest and the documents as per the rules, but the police were stubborn and took him into custody. Lawyers and TDP leaders demanded copies of the FIR and regulations to be followed, but the police did not care and illegally arrested Chandrababu Naidu, former chief minister and leader of the Opposition of AP, who was under Z Plus category security,” a social media post by the party said.