The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday granted former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu temporary release for a period of four weeks due to health concerns in relation to the skill development case.

The former chief minister needs cataract surgery, according to Naidu’s lawyer. Additionally, the judge set November 10 as his usual bail date, as per reports.

In relation to the purported Rs 3,300 crore Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) scandal, which is said to have occurred during Naidu’s tenure as Andhra chief minister, he was detained on September 9.

The police showed up at Naidu’s house that day at around three in the morning. Due to the massive protests from his party members, they were unable to arrest him. After about three hours, he was taken into custody.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Andhra Pradesh Police has opened an investigation into the case in March of this year. Based on the declarations of an accused turned approver and the depositions of three IAS officers, the investigation was launched in response to letters served to former Indian Railway Traffic Service officer Arja Srikanth, who held the position of chief executive officer (CEO) of the APSSDC in 2016.

Established in 2016, the APSSDC aims to empower jobless youngsters and improve their employability by offering skill training.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project valued at Rs 3,300 crore was inked by the Chandrababu Naidu government at the time, according to the CID investigation. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, Siemens Industry Software India Ltd. and Design Tech Systems Pvt Ltd.

Six centres of excellence for talent development were to be established by Siemens Industry Software India Ltd. About ten percent of the project’s overall expenditure was expected to come from the Andhra government. The remaining cash would be given as grants-in-aid by the two firms.

The TDP chief and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s judicial remand in the Skill Development Corporation scam case was extended by a local court here on Thursday by a week until October 19. After the second extension of Naidu’s arrest ended on Thursday, the Anti-Corruption Bureau Court extended his remand for a third time today.

Additionally, the court set Friday for the hearings on Naidu’s bail request and the Andhra Pradesh Police CID’s demand for his custody.

According to reports, the Vijayawada ACB Court gave its decision on Thursday amidst ongoing heated arguments between the CID’s lawyers, Additional Advocate General P Sudhakar Reddy and Special Public Prosecutor Y N Vivekananda, and Supreme Court attorney Pramod Dubey, who was representing the former chief minister.

Since Naidu reportedly refused to comply with the investigators during the initial two-day police custody questioning on September 23 and 24, the CID is requesting an additional five days of police custody to interview him further.

The TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh’s anticipatory bail petition was set for hearing on Wednesday by the high court, but the CID asked for an extension till October 12 to file its response.

TDP members have been demonstrating their outrage by calling for Chandrababu Naidu’s release at rallies and candle marches all throughout the nation.

Earlier, Chandrababu’s wife Bhuvaneshwari prayed specifically for the TDP leader’s release at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Jampet, Rajahmundry.

Additionally, individuals gathered inside the chapel holding banners denouncing Naidu’s detention.

On September 9, Naidu was detained for allegedly stealing money from the Skill Development Corporation, which cost the state exchequer about Rs 300 crore.

Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan has previously declared Janasena’s exit from the NDA in favour of Chandrababu Naidu.

Pawan Kalyan, the actor-turned-politician, said on Thursday that his Janasena Party will join forces with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly election next year.

Pawan Kalyan was speaking to supporters outside Rajamahendravaram Central Prison, where he had visited with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu is currently incarcerated for his suspected role in a multi-crore skill development company scam.

Pawan Kalyan said, he has been thinking all this while whether TDP and Janasena must come together ahead of elections. He said he is in NDA. It is my prayer that to fight against the atrocities of the YSRCP, NDA, Janasena, and TDP must come together in the upcoming elections, Pawan Kalyan said.

The politician added, that Andhra Pradesh cannot afford the rule of the YSRCP.

Pawan Kalyan said that he has taken the decision today. While announcing the TDP and JSP alliance he said that they came together to end CM Jagan’s alleged misrule. The Jana Sena Party and the TDP will contend together in the elections. This is not about our futures as individuals, but about the future of Andhra Pradesh, said the politician.

Pawan Kalyan, who condemned Naidu’s detention, said,  he would not simply depart by criticising the arrest and expressing his position.

The Janasena chief visited Chandrababu Naidu in jail, as did the TDP chief’s son Nara Lokesh, and his brother-in-law Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Meanwhile, the TDP and JSP have been showing hints of lighting their previous partnership in recent months. In fact, Pawan Kalyan surprised Naidu in 2018 when he openly criticised the then-TDP governance at a public conference. The TDP, JSP, and BJP terminated their alliance and ran separately in the 2019 state and general elections. It ended disastrously, with Naidu’s party winning only 23 of the 175 Assembly seats and the JSP winning only one. With 151 MPs, the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) swept to power.