Fibernet Scam case: Supreme Court seeks State of Andhra Pradesh response in Chandrababu Naidu anticipatory bail plea

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Andhra Pradesh government in the anticipatory bail plea filed by former Chief Minister (CM) Nara Chandrababu Naidu in connection with the Fibernet scam case. (Nara Chandrababu Naidu v. State of Andhra Pradesh).A Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi listed the case for hearing on Tuesday..The Andhra Pradesh High Court had on Monday rejected three bail petitions filed by the former CM in three separate cases filed against him by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police.This included the Fibernet scam case, where the High Court had rejected the argument that the case was a motivated one.Given the gravity of the offence, which allegedly resulted in the loss of ₹114 crore to the State exchequer, as well as the fact that the money trail was yet to be investigated, the Court had rejected the former CM's anticipatory bail plea..The Bench is also seized of the TDP leader's plea to quash the first information report (FIR) against him in the Andhra Pradesh skill development scam case. The High Court had earlier rejected Naidu's plea leading to an appeal before the Supreme Court.A battery of senior lawyers are representing Naidu before the apex court in that the matter..The bail plea and the FIR quashing cases were heard together today. The Bench remarked that both the cases overlapped as to the aspect of application of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.Section 17A of the Act provides for prior sanction before prosecution of a public servant for actions part of discharge of their official duties.The Supreme Court had on October 9 expressed its reservations about liberal interpretation of the provision, saying it should not frustrate the objective of the Act..Counsel for Naidu had sought a stay on production warrants and arrest till the top court next hears the Fibernet scam case. Counsel for the State government then assured the State that it would ask the trial court to adjourn the matter to Wednesday..Senior Advocates Harish Salve and Sidharth Luthra appeared for Naidu before the top court today.Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the Andhra Pradesh government.