Anantapur, Jan 13: The closure of the Skill Development Scam case involving Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has triggered a sharp political and constitutional debate in Andhra Pradesh, with the YSR Congress Party calling it an unprecedented misuse of executive power.
YSRCP PAC member and former minister Sake Sailajanath, speaking to the media at the YSR Congress Party office in Anantapur, described the case closure as “unconstitutional, dangerous, and a direct assault on democratic institutions.”
“Power Used to Erase Criminal Liability”
Sailajanath alleged that since returning to office, Chandrababu Naidu has systematically moved to neutralise criminal cases registered against him. After the closure of the FiberNet and liquor-related cases, the shutting down of the Skill Development Scam case, he said, marked a new low.
“The Chief Minister was arrested, sent to judicial remand, and the case involved large-scale diversion of public funds. Declaring it a ‘mistake of fact’ now amounts to rewriting history using state power,” Sailajanath said.
Questions Over Investigative Credibility
Recalling the details of the case, Sailajanath stated that nearly ₹371 crore of public money was allegedly siphoned off through shell companies. He pointed out that central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, had registered cases, arrested accused individuals, and seized assets.
He further noted that Siemens had officially clarified it had no role in the Skill Development project, undermining the defence put forward earlier.
“If the CID collected evidence, the courts ordered remand, and the ED pursued parallel investigations, are we now being told all of them were wrong?” he asked. “This is not case closure; it is institutional erasure.”
A Precedent That Threatens the Constitution
The YSRCP leader warned that allowing a sitting Chief Minister to oversee the closure of cases against himself sets a dangerous precedent.
“This violates the basic principle of rule of law. Executive power cannot sit in judgment over criminal liability. If this is allowed, constitutional governance collapses into political convenience,” Sailajanath said.
He appealed to the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Governor to intervene and safeguard the autonomy of investigative institutions. He reiterated that YSRCP would pursue all available legal remedies against the decision.
Law and Order Allegations in Anantapur
Sailajanath also raised serious law-and-order concerns, demanding immediate action against Daggupati Venkateswara Prasad, the Anantapur Urban MLA. He alleged that the MLA’s associates and armed aides threatened and assaulted an exhibition organiser while demanding extortion money.
Despite a formal complaint submitted to the Superintendent of Police, Sailajanath claimed no action had been taken. “When complaints are ignored and intimidation goes unchecked, one must ask whether the Constitution and governance still exist in the state,” he said.
The Larger Question
Beyond partisan lines, the controversy raises a larger institutional question: can the criminal justice system remain credible when political power appears to determine investigative outcomes?
As legal challenges loom, the Skill Development case closure is no longer just about one file being shut, it has become a test of constitutional boundaries, institutional independence, and the idea that no one is above the law.