Andhra Pradesh high court grants relief from arrest to former minister Vidadala Rajini in alleged extortion case

Vijayawada: In a relief to former minister Vidadala Rajini in an alleged extortion case, the high court directed the anti corruption bureau (ACB) to follow Supreme Court guidelines in the Arnesh Kumar case and issue notices under 41A CrPC or section 35(3) of the BNS. The high court verdict essentially means that Rajini gets relief from arrest in the case.
Rajini and her PA, Ramakrishna, moved the high court seeking an anticipatory bail petition in the case registered by the ACB following a complaint from a stone crusher owner. It was alleged that Rajini, along with her relatives and employees, extorted money from the complainant by threatening him with inspections and a vigilance inquiry. He stated that Rajini, along with others, extorted Rs 2.2 crore from him.
While the petitions were pending for adjudication, the ACB arrested Rajini's relative, Gopi, who also filed a petition for anticipatory bail. Declaring his petition as infructuous, the high court granted relief from arrest to Rajini and Ramakrishna by directing the ACB to follow 41A CrPC guidelines. The high court directed Rajini and Ramakrishna to cooperate with the investigation and to inform their addresses and contact details to the investigation officer. The high court further directed both of them not to make any public statements about the case.