Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh:

A local court here on Saturday allowed air-conditioning facility for TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in the Rajamahendravaram central prison where is lodged for his alleged involvement in the Skill Development Corporation Scam case.

A team of lawyers representing Chandrababu Naidu filed a petition for air-conditioning facility for the TDP supremo on Saturday in the Vijayawada ACB Court.

“In view of the report of the team of doctors of Government General Hospital, Rajamahendravaram it is utmost necessary that the petitioner be provided with air-conditioning in his room at the earliest, in order prevent rapid aggravation of his skin condition,” said the petition filed by the 73-year-old former Chief Minister’s lawyers.

They appealed that if Chandrababu Naidu is not immediately provided with a cooler environment he will be subjected to irreparable loss and hardship.

A team of doctors which examined Chandrababu Naidu in the Rajamahendravaram central prison on Saturday said he is in a stable condition and there is no need to shift him to a hospital but recommended a cooler environment.

More than a month after his detention, the court allowed air-conditioning facility to Chandrababu Naidu.

Chandrababu Naidu is under judicial remand in the Rajamahendravaram central prison for allegedly misappropriating funds from the Skill Development Corporation, which resulted in a purported loss of over Rs 300 crore to the state exchequer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

An ugly war of words has broken out between the ruling YSRCP and the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with the family members of former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu claiming that he has lost five kg in the last one month in jail, whereas the government claims he has in fact gained one kg, from 66 kg to 67 kg.

Chandrababu Naidu, 73, has been in Rajamahendravaram Central Jail as remand prisoner 7691, since September 10, when he was sent to judicial custody after being named as an accused in the alleged Rs 371 crore skill development scam.

Chandrababu Naidu’s son Lokesh, wife Bhuvaneswari and daughter-in-law Brahmani have all tweeted expressing grave concern over the health of Mr Naidu.

There is an undeniable and immediate threat to CBN’s life. He is being deliberately harmed. His safety is unquestionably at risk.

CBN is facing a dire situation, dealing with mosquitoes, contaminated water, weight loss, infections, and allergies, all without access to timely…

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) October 13, 2023

Nara Bhuvaneswari has said she is worried that if Mr Naidu loses weight by another 2 kg, it could lead to kidney complications. Son Lokesh has said his father has been given steroids that he did not want to take as it could complicate his health condition.

I am deeply concerned for my husband’s well-being, as the Govt of Andhra Pradesh has failed to provide him with the timely medical care he urgently needs while he remains in prison. He has already lost 5 kg weight, and any further weight loss could have severe consequences for…

— Nara Bhuvaneswari (@ManagingTrustee) October 13, 2023

Daughter-in-law Brahmani has said inadequate and unsanitary prison conditions pose a considerable risk to his health and that they are deeply worried about him.

The family had earlier spoken about Mr Naidu suffering a skin allergy and threat of dengue from mosquitoes in the prison.

YSRCP rebel MP Raghurama Krishnamaraju has written a letter to governor Abdul Nazir alleging that there is a threat to Mr Naidu’s life.

TDP spokesperson Pattabhi asked why a health assessment panel had not been formed for Mr Naidu who is an NSG protectee, to take a call on his medical condition. He said they would seek treatment at a private hospital or a well-equipped government hospital for their leader.

In response, the jail authorities today released a health bulletin that suggested that his health parameters were normal. They also said dermatologists had gone in to see him and prescribe medication.

YSRCP spokesperson Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy dismissed the concerns being raised about Mr Naidu’s health as highly exaggerated. “If someone is critical and on the death bed, then health bulletins are released. Not when they are fit and healthy.”

Mr Reddy said Mr Naidu had been provided a separate barrack because of security concerns, he gets food and water from home and to expect that he would be provided with an air conditioner inside jail is too much.

“It is not his mother-in-law’s house that he will be provided with comforts like an air conditioner. There are thousands of prisoners inside the jail and he is also a remand prisoner who will be treated in a similar manner,” he said.

Amravati:

Telugu Desam Party General Secretary Nara Lokesh on Friday said that there is an immediate threat to the life of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu.

Claiming that timely medical assistance is not being provided to Chandrababu Naidu by the Andhra Pradesh government in Rajahmundry central prison, the son of the TDP chief, Lokesh said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Reddy would be responsible for the further deterioration of his father’s health.

In a post on X (former Twitter), Nara Lokesh said, “There is an undeniable and immediate threat to Chandrababu Naidu’s life. He is being deliberately harmed. His safety is unquestionably at risk. CBN is facing a dire situation, dealing with mosquitoes, contaminated water, weight loss, infections, and allergies, all without access to timely medical assistance.”

“The GoAP is trying to administer steroids to him. What is it that the Government doctors and administration are trying to hide? If any harm befalls Chandrababu Naidu garu, Jagan Reddy will be responsible,” he added.

Nara Bhuvaneswari, wife of Chandrababu Naidu also expressed concerns about her husband’s well-being and stated that current circumstances made by the state government can pose an immediate threat to the former Chief Minister’s life.

“I am deeply concerned for my husband’s well-being, as the Govt of Andhra Pradesh has failed to provide him with the timely medical care he urgently needs while he remains in prison. He has already lost 5 kg weight, and any further weight loss could have severe consequences for his kidneys. The overhead water tanks are unsanitary and pose a serious health risk. These dire circumstances create a clear and immediate threat to my husband’s life,” Nara Bhuvaneswar posted on X .

Telugu Desam party spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi said that Chandrababu Naidu is suffering from severe dehydration and his current condition is not good.

“We all know that he is suffering from severe dehydration. If this dehydration continues there is a chance of kidney problems. Yesterday we came to know that the doctor team have moved to prison to take care of Naidu’s health. Our party leaders met him and his condition is not okay,” TDP spokesperson said.

Adding that the party is thinking of filing a petition to move Chandrababu Naidu to a super speciality hospital, he said, “We are not sure what kind of medicine is he getting and he has a separate doctors team outside in his day-to-day life. But we are very much worried about his condition. We do not know what sort of medicine is he getting. We are going to file a plea at court to shift him to a private super speciality for further medication and or else to provide his regular doctor for his treatment.”

Earlier a team of dermatologists on Monday examined former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Rajahmundry Central Jail after he complained to the jail authorities about his skin allergy. One associate professor of dermatology and one assistant professor of dermatology have been deputed at Rajamundhry Central Prison to take care of former CM Chandrababu Naidu.

Naidu was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) last month for his alleged involvement in a multi-crore skill development ‘scam’ case. CID said that TDP chief Naidu is the prime conspirator in this case.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)