Chandrababu Naidu Main Accused In Fibernet Scam Case, Andhra Pradesh CID Files Charge Sheet

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been named the main accused in the Rs 114 crore AP Fibernet scam case.

The charge sheet was filed by the Crime Investigation Department of Andhra Pradesh Police in the Vijayawada ACB Court on Friday (16 February).

Besides Naidu, the managing director of Hyderabad-based Net India, V Hari Krishna Prasad, and IRTS officer K Sambasiva Rao are also named as accused.

The CID highlights that Naidu himself recommended the execution of the fiber net project when he held the portfolio of the energy, infrastructure and investment department as CM.

It is alleged that the tendering process was manipulated to favour a company during the allotment of a work order of Phase – 1 of the AP Fibernet Project of Rs 330 crore.

Nor market survey was done for the prices of the items before the allotment, neither the standards were followed for approving the cost of the project, charge sheet said.

After tender allotment, there were several irregularities till completion of the project which caused loss to the exchequer. This happened when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power between 2014 and 2019.

It is alleged that senior government officials were pressurised by Naidu to commit various irregularities for the selection of Terasoftware Pvt Ltd.

The misappropriated funds were then channelised through a web of companies allegedly belonging to the accused's associates using fake invoices.