In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially stated that its investigation has found no evidence linking Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to alleged money laundering activities or handling of proceeds of crime connected to the controversial Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) Siemens Project.
Supplementary Chargesheet Filed in Visakhapatnam
The federal agency made this declaration while submitting a supplementary prosecution complaint before a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Visakhapatnam. The ED's detailed probe specifically concluded that there was no indication of Naidu's involvement in activities related to the proceeds of crime generated from the ambitious skill development initiative.
Background of the APSSDC Siemens Project
The project in question was established as a public-private partnership with the objective of setting up 40 skill development centers across Andhra Pradesh. These centers were designed to provide comprehensive technical training to enhance employability among the state's youth. However, the initiative became mired in controversy following allegations of substantial financial irregularities and mismanagement of funds.
Chief Minister Naidu had previously faced legal consequences related to this case when he was arrested during the tenure of the opposition YSR Congress Party government. He spent a total of 53 days in judicial custody during 2023 before eventually securing bail.
Contradictory Information from State Agencies
The case has seen conflicting inputs from different investigative bodies. In April 2024, the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) informed the ED that it had filed a chargesheet before a special judge in Vijayawada naming Naidu and several others as accused in the matter.
However, in a subsequent communication dated September 2025, the CID conveyed to the ED that the trial court had returned this chargesheet. The court cited the reason that investigations into the predicate offense were still ongoing and incomplete, thereby making the chargesheet premature.
Legal and Political Implications
This development carries substantial legal and political weight, particularly given Naidu's previous incarceration in connection with the same case. The ED's clear statement regarding the absence of evidence against the chief minister represents a notable shift in the narrative surrounding this high-profile investigation.
The supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED continues legal proceedings against other individuals named in the case, even as it specifically excludes the state's chief minister from allegations of financial misconduct related to the skill development project.
The APSSDC Siemens Project case has been closely watched across political and legal circles in Andhra Pradesh, with implications for governance, public-private partnerships, and accountability mechanisms in large-scale development initiatives.
