AP skill development scam: SC judge recuses from hearing Chandrababu Naidu's quash plea

The Supreme Court has refused to hear TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu's plea seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in the alleged Skill Development Scam. 

The bench headed by Justice SVN Bhatti and Sanjiv Khanna recused themselves from the hearing and listed the case to another bench next week. "My brother has little difficulty in hearing this matter. We are directing it to be listed before another bench next week," Justice Khanna said. 

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Naidu, sought permission to mention the plea before a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for urgent hearing. "You may do so. Should we pass over this matter to be taken up later?" Justice Khanna said. 

Senior Advocate Harish Salve, who is also representing Naidu, however, said that if the bench is not hearing the matter, then passing it over may not help, and the court may direct listing it next week. Justice Khanna said the bench cannot direct listing it on a specific date but may order listing next week.

Naidu approached the top court on September 23 challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order which dismissed his petition for quashing the FIR against him in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam case. 

Trouble mounts for Chandrababu Naidu

Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by Andhra's Crime Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation while serving as Chief Minister in 2015, causing an estimated loss of more than Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.

On September 19, the former Andhra CM was booked in a second corruption case pertaining to the Andhra Pradesh Fibernet Project meant to provide Internet and telephone services to every household in the state. Designated as the Accused A1 in the Fibernet case, Naidu is accused of manipulating "the tender process to allot the work order for the Phase-1 of the A.P. fibrenet Project of Rs 330 crore," per the CID.