New Delhi, Jan 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court will pronounce on Tuesday its judgment on the plea of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President N Chandrababu Naidu to quash an FIR in the Skill Development Scam Case.

A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, which reserved the judgment on October 17 last year, will pronounce its judgment tomorrow at 1 pm.

Allegations against Naidu are of embezzlement of Rs 371 crore from the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation through fictitious companies during the TDP's rule between 2014 and 2019.

The TDP Chief was arrested on September 9, 2023, and remained in Judicial custody till October 31

The Andhra Pradesh High Court granted him interim bail on medical grounds. Later on November 20, the High Court granted him regular bail, observing that there was no prima facie case was made out against him.

Senior Advocates Harish Salve and Siddharth Luthra appearing for Naidu before the Apex court had argued that the police should have obtained the sanction under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act before filing a case against him.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatagi appearing on behalf of the State, however, argued that the offence was committed before the insertion of Section 17A in the PC Act through the 2018 amendment, the mandate of prior sanction was not applicable in the case at that time.

The Top Court after hearing the arguments from both sides, the prosecution and the defense had on October 17 last reserved its judgment to be pronounced on January 16, 2024.

UNI SNG CS1557