Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Chandrababu Naidu is reeling under incessant pressure as his rival Jagan Mohan Reddy-led ruling government is gripping its hold against him with legal troubles. Two days after Naidu acquired an interim bail and stepped out of prison after over 50 days, the Andhra Pradesh Police have now filed a fresh case against the former Chief Minister. 

The developments have fueled the feudatory between Naidu and his successor Reddy and a fresh case was registered against Naidu and three others. It was registered by Andhra Pradesh Police's CID (Crime Investigation Department) and the fresh case pertains to free sand policy enacted when Naidu was in power. According to Naidu, this is the fifth case to be filed by the CID since it arrested Naidu on September 9. 

Along with Naidu, then Mines and Geology Minister Peethala Sujatha, former MLAs Chintamaneni Prabhakar and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao were also named in this free sand policy case. Based on a complaint from VG Venkat Reddy, the Director of Mines and Geology, a case was filed against Naidu and others under Sections 120(B), 409 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. 

It has been alleged that Naidu, the then Mines minister, and MLAs from the specific sand reach areas and others significantly benefited out of the free sand policy. In the FIR, the CID said that the free sand policy was implemented by the then government, led by Chandrababu Naidu, without adhering to due procedures. While Peethala Sujatha was named as accused number 1, Naidu, Prabhakar, and Uma Maheswara Rao are mentioned as A2, A3, and A4 respectively. 

The CID has noted that between the years 2016 and 2019, the number of illegal sand mining cases registered in the state was more than 1,000 and the value of the penalty collected was to the extent of Rs 40 crore. By alleging that the free sand policy was pursued hastily, the CID claimed that the financial implications arising out of it weren't discussed. 

It is pertinent to note that it is the second case that's filed against Naidu this week as on October 30, a case was filed against Naidu with regard to the allegations of granting illegal permissions to liquor companies in the state when he was the Chief Minister. In this case, Naidu was named as the accused number 3 and it was filed under the sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. 

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Police's CID had arrested Naidu on September 9 in the skill development scam case and he served incarceration for 52 days. Naidu and others were accused of causing a loss to the tune of Rs 300 crore to the state treasury in the name of setting up skill development centres. On October 31, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had granted interim bail to Naidu for four weeks on medical grounds. 

During the bail hearing, the advocates arguing for Naidu had informed the court that he has to undergo cataract surgery. In its verdict, the High Court bench led by Justice T Mallikarjun Rao granted an interim bail for four weeks and 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. 

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 judge said, "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.