A special court dealing with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases in Vijayawada has dropped all proceedings against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the much-discussed AP FiberNet case, delivering a significant legal reprieve to the veteran leader.

In its order passed on Saturday, the court quashed the case registered by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), ruling out further prosecution over alleged irregularities in the Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Corporation during the Telugu Desam Party government between 2014 and 2019. The decision brings a formal closure to the corruption allegations linked to the broadband infrastructure project.

Naidu, who was serving as Leader of the Opposition when the case was initiated under the YSR Congress Party regime, had been listed as Accused No. 25. The court’s ruling also extended relief to all other individuals and entities named in the case.

The CID probe stemmed from a complaint lodged by former FiberNet managing director Madhusudan Reddy, who had accused senior officials and political leaders of manipulating the tendering process. The complaint alleged that contracts were selectively awarded to specific technology firms, leading to a projected financial loss of around ₹114 crore to the state.

Several former officials and private entities were implicated alongside Naidu, including ex-FiberNet chairman Vemuri Harikrishna, former managing director K Sambasiva Rao, Terrasoft director Tummala Gopalakrishna, and multiple software companies operating out of Mumbai and Delhi, along with their executives.

In February 2024, the CID had submitted a chargesheet before the ACB court, portraying the case as a large-scale scam tied to Phase One of the FiberNet project, which had an estimated cost of ₹330 crore. The agency alleged that the bidding process was skewed to benefit a chosen group of companies.

Investigators had further claimed that Naidu, who at the time held key portfolios including infrastructure and investment, played a direct role in approving the project and influencing administrative decisions. Allegations included approval of cost estimates without adequate market assessment, interference in tender committees, and facilitating the removal of a blacklisted firm.

The CID had also alleged that illicit funds were routed through multiple firms using fabricated billing mechanisms.

With the ACB court rejecting the case in its entirety, all charges against Chandrababu Naidu in the FiberNet matter now stand nullified, marking a decisive end to one of the most high-profile cases filed against him in recent years.