Former Minister Vidadala Rajini’s Brother-in-law Gopi Arrested

YCP leader and former minister Vidadala Rajini, along with her brother-in-law Gopi, was arrested by the police. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) took Gopi into custody in Hyderabad on Wednesday night, and they are being transferred from Hyderabad to Andhra Pradesh. Gopi was arrested for allegedly threatening the owner of a stone crusher in Yedlapadu, Palnadu district, and extorting Rs. 2.20 crore. The ACB has already registered a case concerning these allegations.

It is reported that a case has also been registered against Vidadala Rajini, Gopi, the then vigilance officer Joshua, and Rajini's personal assistant Ramakrishna. After the ACB registered the case, both Vidadala Rajini and Gopi sought anticipatory bail from the High Court, while vigilance officer Joshua filed a quash petition. The court, which conducted the investigation, has reserved its verdict.

Arguments were presented in the High Court regarding the petitions filed by YSRCP leader and former minister Vidadala Rajini and her husband Gopinath, who seek anticipatory bail in connection with the case registered by the ACB. Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas stated that the ACB has accused the defendants under Section 386 of the IPC (forcible collection through threats), which carries a maximum punishment of ten years. 

Senior advocate S. Sriram and advocate Maheshwara Reddy, representing the petitioners, argued that political motivations lie behind the case. They contended that Section 386 of the IPC was included without proper notice under Section 41(A) and that there is no mention in the complaint that the money was forcibly collected through threats to kill. They expressed their willingness to comply with any conditions imposed by the court. After hearing arguments from both sides, the High Court reserved its verdict.