In a statement to the media, Rajini denied any involvement in the bribe collection or ever contacting the complainant, dismissing the charges as fabricated.
Published Apr 24, 2025 | 1:57 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 24, 2025 | 1:57 PM
ACB filed case of extortion against former YSRCP Minister Vidadala Rajini and three others (@YSRCParty on X)
Synopsis: Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSRCP leader Vidadala Rajini’s brother-in-law, Vidadala Gopinath, was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on corruption charges. Rajani is named the primary accused in the case.
Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSRCP leader Vidadala Rajini’s brother-in-law, Vidadala Gopinath, was arrested on the night of Wednesday, 23 April, by Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials in Hyderabad, Telangana, and was taken to Andhra Pradesh for questioning.
The ACB, which filed the case under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), named Rajini as the primary accused (A1), alongside retired IPS officer and former regional vigilance and enforcement officer (RVEO) Palle Joshua (A2), Rajini’s brother-in-law Vidadala Gopinath (A3), and her personal assistant D Ramakrishna (A4).
The group allegedly collected ₹2.2 crore from Sri Lakshmi Balaji Stone Crushers, located in Yadlapadu of the Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the anticipatory bail applications filed by Rajini and Gopinath are pending before the Andhra Pradesh High Court, while Joshua filed a quash petition. The petitions have not yet been disposed of.
The case was filed based on a complaint by Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao, the managing partner of the stone crusher company, which prompted an investigation by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department. Rao claimed that Rajini, Gopinath, Ramakrishna, and Joshua pressured him into paying the sum, with Rajini personally receiving ₹2 crore, and Gopinath and Joshua each taking ₹10 lakh.
According to sources, on 4 September 2020, Ramakrishna allegedly told the stone crusher management to meet Rajini, then a minister, to avoid raids.
During the meeting, Rajini reportedly demanded payment, warning of consequences if they refused, and instructed them to coordinate with Ramakrishna, who initially sought ₹5 crore.
Shortly after, Joshua, allegedly acting on Rajini’s orders, raided the stone crusher facility without a formal complaint or approval from his superiors. He demanded a ₹50 crore fine for supposed violations, threatening to shut down operations if the company didn’t comply.
Joshua failed to report his intention to raid to his head office, which made his actions suspicious. About a month later, he summoned the company’s management again, repeating the ₹50 crore demand and the threat of closure unless they met Rajini.
Fearing consequences, the company owners — Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao and Namburi Srinivasa Rao — met Rajini, who referred them back to Ramakrishna.
He asked them to pay ₹5 crore. On 4 April 2021, they settled the issue by paying ₹2 crore to Gopinath and ₹10 lakh each to Joshua and Ramakrishna, as directed by Rajini.
She allegedly cautioned them against revealing the payments, threatening legal action over supposed business violations if they spoke out.
The Vigilance and Enforcement Department’s report stated that Rajini abused her authority in collecting the bribe, recommending legal action against her and Joshua.
Rajini, however, denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated by the present NDA coalition government. She specifically pointed to TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, accusing him of orchestrating the case due to a personal grudge.
In a statement to the media, Rajini denied any involvement in the bribe collection or ever contacting the complainant, dismissing the charges as fabricated. She further claimed that the Vigilance and Enforcement investigation, which prompted the ACB case, was biased.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
