Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chandrababu Naidu has on Tuesday - October 31 conferred with a big relief after the state High Court granted him interim bail in the skill development case. With the bail, Naidu would walk free from the prison after fifty days. The arrest of Naidu had advanced the feudatory between his party and the Andhra Pradesh government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy. 

Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on September 9 for his alleged involvement in the Rs 371 crore-scam involving the state skill development corporation during his rule between 2014 to 2019. Naidu was booked under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also charged under the provisions of offences of criminal conspiracy, public servant disobeying law, public servant framing an incorrect document, cheating, forgery, causing disappearances of evidence and offering bribe to a public servant. 

After being taken into custody amid political tensions in the state, Chandrababu Naidu launched his legal battle to revoke the case against him and to get released from the prison. His petitions were heard by the Andhra Pradesh High Court and while the high court had earlier rejected Naidu's plea to revoke the corruption case, it has now offered an interim bail. 

On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh High Court granted interim bail to Chandrababu Naidu for four weeks on medical grounds. During the hearing, the advocates arguing for Naidu had informed the court that he has to undergo cataract surgery. After reserving its judgment on Monday on his bail plea on grounds of deteriorating health, the High Court awarded Naidu an interim bail until November 28. 

In its verdict, the High Court bench led by Justice T Mallikarjun Rao ordered Naidu to surrender before the Superintendent of the central prison in Rajamahendravaram on or before November 28. The court has also directed Naidu not to participate in any other activity except to seek treatment at a hospital and the court had ordered Naidu not to use or talk on the phone and not to participate in any political activity or speak to the media. 

The High Court pronounced the verdict of an interim bail to Naidu based on medical reports presented by the jail and government doctors. In his order, Justice Rao said that the court believed that a patient in need of medical attention should be granted immediate, effective, and comprehensive treatment. 

The Indian Express quoted the judge saying, "Considering the painful and pressuring nature of the petitioner's reported health conditions, and without delving into the merits of the case, this Court is inclined to grant interim bail solely for the purpose of allowing the petitioner to undergo the necessary medical examination. The medical report clearly indicates that the petitioner requires cataract surgery on his right eye. Therefore, it is a reasonable proposition to permit him to seek treatment at the same hospital where he had the surgery for his left eye." 

Justice Rao further said, "With a humanitarian perspective in mind and considering the petitioner's health condition, this court is inclined to grant temporary bail on health grounds to the petitioner, enabling him to undergo the required surgery on his right eye. The court put five conditions for the interim bail, including a bail bond for Rs 1,00,000 with two sureties of the amount to the satisfaction of the trial court." 

Naidu has also been directed to provide details about the treatment and details about the hospital to the Jail Superintendent of the Central Prison, Rajamahendravaram at the time of his surrender. In what has become an event of growing trouble, the Andhra Pradesh CID has on Monday filed yet another case against Chandrababu Naidu alleging that he and his administration gave permissions illegally to liquor companies. The former Chief Minister has been named accused number three in the FIR that was filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act.