TNI Bureau: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a fresh chargesheet in the AP Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) Siemens project case, exonerating Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The agency said government funds were diverted by some accused, but no role of Naidu was found in laundering the proceeds of crime, and he has not been named as an accused.

Naidu was arrested in September 2023 by the previous YSRCP government over alleged irregularities causing a Rs 300 crore loss to the state. He spent over 50 days in jail before being granted bail on October 31, 2023. A Vijayawada court has also accepted a closure report filed by the State CID and closed the case against him.

The ED case, based on the CID FIR, relates to a Rs 3,300 crore project to set up Centres of Excellence. The fresh chargesheet names Designtech Systems Pvt Ltd, its MD Vikas Khanvelkar, former Siemens India MD Soumyadri Sekhar Bose alias Suman Bose, and their associates Mukul Chandra Agarwal, Suresh Goyal and others.

The ED alleged the accused diverted funds through shell companies and bogus invoices. Assets worth Rs 54.74 crore have been attached. Officials said this is the final chargesheet unless new evidence emerges.

After the closure, YSRCP leader K. Kannababu accused the TDP-led NDA government of influencing agencies to close cases against Naidu.