According to reliable sources, a personal assistant of the former minister, Ramakrishna, approached Sri Lakshmi Balaji Crusher unit and asked its partners to meet the minister in September, 2020
Published Dec 11, 2024 | 7:50 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2024 | 7:50 PM
Is the noose tightening around former YSRCP Minister Rajini for alleged Rs. 2 crore extortion from stone crushers (@VidadalaRajini on X)
The noose is tightening around former YSRCP minister Vidadala Rajini in the wake of the Vigilance and Enforcement department submitting a report to the Andhra Pradesh state government. It is alleged that she had collected about Rs. 2 crore from the owners of a stone crushing unit in Yedlapadu in Palnadu district by threatening to close their business.
According to reliable sources, a personal assistant of the former minister, Ramakrishna, approached Sri Lakshmi Balaji Crusher unit and asked its partners to meet the minister in September, 2020.
When one of the partners went to her, she demanded a payment of Rs.5 crore if he and his partners wanted to continue their stone crushing business.
When they refused to pay up, the minister got angry and asked regional vigilance and enforcement officer, Palle Joshua to conduct searches at the office of the stone crushing unit.
The officials raised a demand for Rs.50 crore as fine for violation of several rules in conducting their business. They threatened compliance with the former minister’s demand or face the prospect of the unit being sealed.
Later Joshua asked the partners of the stone crushing unit to settle their issue with the former minister as early as possible.
The partners of the unit, afraid that the unit might be sealed, had paid Rs.2 crore to Rajini, Rs. 10 lakh to her PA and another Rs.10 lakh to Joshua.
The minister is understood to have told them that if they leaked the information, they would be prosecuted for various violations in running their company.
The vigilance officials in their report to the state government concluded that the former minister had misused her official position to extort money and recommended action against her and officer Joshua, in accordance with law.
The former minister is accused of extorting bribes from individuals whose land was acquired for the Jagananna Colony project in Pasumarru, Chilakaluripet mandal, Palnadu district.
There are allegations against her that she had demanded a cut in the amount payable to the land owners.
Municipal Councillor Jaladi Subba Rao and farmer Gadipudi Dasradha Ramiah filed a complaint with the police, claiming that 150 out of 190 acres of land were acquired during Rajini’s tenure as minister.
They allege that Rajini extorted Rs. 2.5 lakh from each of the 32 farmers who contributed 50 acres, totaling Rs. 1.16 crore. The Vigilance and Enforcement Department may also investigate these allegations.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
