In a development in an ongoing corruption investigation, the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Vidadala Gopinath, the brother-in-law of former minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Vidadala Rajini, on the night of 23 April.
The arrest took place in Hyderabad, Telangana, after which Gopinath was brought to Andhra Pradesh for questioning.
The arrest is linked to a major bribery case in which Rajini has been named the primary accused.
According to the ACB, Gopinath is one of four individuals accused of extorting ₹2.2 crore from Sri Lakshmi Balaji Stone Crushers in the Palnadu district. The case has been filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case implicates four persons—Rajini, retired IPS officer and former regional vigilance and enforcement officer Palle Joshua, Gopinath, and Rajini’s personal assistant D. Ramakrishna.
Sources in the investigating agency stated that the accused collectively extorted ₹2.2 crore from the company, based in Yadlapadu, Palnadu district. The complaint was lodged by the company’s managing partner, Nallapaneni Chalapathi Rao, who alleged that the group coerced the payment to avoid regulatory action.
The sequence of events dates back to 4 September 2020, when Ramakrishna allegedly warned the company of possible raids and directed them to meet the then-minister Rajini. During the meeting, Rajini reportedly demanded payment to prevent action against the company and referred the owners back to Ramakrishna, who initially sought ₹5 crore.
Following this, a raid was conducted without formal authorisation, and ₹50 crore was demanded as a penalty for alleged violations. This demand was later reiterated in another meeting with threats of closure.
“Ultimately, the company settled the matter by paying ₹2 crore to Gopinath and ₹10 lakh each to Joshua and Ramakrishna on 4 April 2021, as instructed by Rajini. She warned them not to disclose the transaction, threatening legal consequences if they did,” said an ACB officer.
The Vigilance and Enforcement Department’s inquiry concluded that Rajini had misused her official position and recommended action against both her and Joshua. The ACB proceeded with legal proceedings based on this report.
Rajini has strongly denied all allegations, branding the case as a politically motivated attack orchestrated by the ruling NDA government. She accused TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu of using the probe to settle personal scores.
“I never met the complainant nor asked for any money. The charges are completely fabricated,” Rajini stated, further claiming that the vigilance investigation was biased.
Meanwhile, anticipatory bail pleas by both Rajini and Gopinath are currently pending before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Joshua has filed a petition seeking to quash the charges. All petitions are yet to be resolved.
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