Sand Scam Case: Andhra HC Begins Hearing on CBN’s Pre-arrest Bail

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh high court began hearing on the anticipatory bail plea filed by TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu in the free sand policy scam case on Wednesday. The case pertains to the free sand policy adopted by the former TDP government. 

The counsel representing Naidu told the court that the TDP regime adopted the free sand policy to encourage the construction industry and it should not be seen as a loss to the state exchequer. The lawyer contended that the free sand policy was not illegal. He also told the court that the opposition leader will cooperate with the investigating agency in the probe. 

Earlier this month, the CID had filed a case against Naidu after receiving a complaint from the Director, Mines and Geology VG Venkat Reddy claiming the state exchequer suffered Rs 1,300 crore loss in the implementation of free sand policy during the previous TDP regime. The FIR stated that the free sand policy was implemented by the Naidu government without following due procedure. It is alleged that the Green Tribunal regulations were violated and cabinet approval were also not sought while implementing the free sand policy. 

The probe agency registered a case against Naidu, the then Mines and Geology Minister Peethala Sujatha, and former MLAs Chintamaneni Prabhakar and Devineni Umamaheswara Rao. While Sujatha is named as accused number 1, Naidu, Prabhakar and Uma Maheswara Rao are mentioned as A2, A3, and A4 respectively. Naidu, his then Cabinet colleague and MLAs from the specific sand reach areas significantly benefited out of the free sand policy.  

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