Kadambari Jethwani Case Twist: AP CID Names Mumbai-Based Actress Main Accused in INR 1.32 Crore Extortion Case

In a major turnaround in a high-profile legal dispute, the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) has named Mumbai-based actor Kadambari Jethwani as accused No. 1 in a revised chargesheet filed before the IV Additional Judicial Magistrate Court in Vijayawada. State investigators state that Jethwani carried out a years-long extortion scheme targeting Vijayawada businessman Kukkala Venkata Rama Vidyasagar through threats of false criminal complaints, intimidation, and deception. The development marks a full reversal in a case that previously led to the suspension of three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and disciplinary action against several state police personnel. Actress Kadambari Jethwani Seeks Legal Action Against Producer KVR Vidyasagar for ‘False Cases’ Against Her, Says ‘I Was Dragged Into This’.

Actress Kadambari Jethwani Case Twist

The case stems from a February 2024 complaint filed by Vidyasagar alleging extortion over several years. During the subsequent investigation, Jethwani alleged that Andhra Pradesh police personnel had illegally detained and harassed her. Those claims triggered political controversy and led to administrative action against multiple senior officials.

However, after the probe was transferred to the CID following a change in the state government in 2024, investigators concluded that physical, digital, and financial evidence supported Vidyasagar's original allegations. Scrutiny of financial records revealed a documented trail of approximately INR 1.32 crore in withdrawals and transfers tied to Jethwani's demands, with no corresponding loan agreements or commercial contracts to explain the transactions.

Timeline of Alleged Extortion Demands

According to the chargesheet, Vidyasagar first met Jethwani at a social gathering in Hyderabad in November 2009, where she allegedly introduced herself as "Natasha," claimed to be a beauty pageant winner, and stated she was an aspiring doctor. Between 2009 and 2012, Vidyasagar paid for her personal and educational expenses, including ₹80,000 paid in Mumbai in March 2012.

The CID states that explicit coercion began in May 2013 inside a Mumbai hotel room, where Jethwani allegedly demanded INR 10 lakh, threatening to circulate intimate photographs and file a false rape case if he refused. When Vidyasagar threatened to inform her parents, her mother, Asha Jethwani, an employee of the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai, allegedly suggested settling the matter for a negotiated amount. Her father, Narendra Kumar Jethwani, allegedly suggested receiving the money in instalments through family bank accounts. Vidyasagar subsequently transferred INR 1 lakh on May 14, 2013.

Investigative findings detail further extortion attempts over subsequent years:

February 2015: Jethwani's brother, Ambarish, allegedly transferred INR 1.26 lakh to Vidyasagar's account, asking him to withdraw and return the amount in cash.

March 2015: Jethwani demanded INR 10 lakh under threat of a false rape complaint; Vidyasagar paid approximately INR 4.2 lakh in cash instalments.

June 2016 – January 2017: Vidyasagar transferred INR 3.48 lakh in multiple instalments to a joint account held by Jethwani and her mother.

2018: Jethwani allegedly visited Vidyasagar's home in Andhra Pradesh to demand INR 2 lakh, threatening public rape allegations. He reportedly paid INR 1 lakh in cash.

Escalation and Threat of Underworld Connections

After Vidyasagar blocked her phone numbers, Jethwani re-established contact in September 2023, demanding INR 1 crore allegedly to establish an art gallery.

During a Zoom video call around the same period, Jethwani allegedly claimed her brother had become a Dubai-based real estate businessman with connections to the criminal underworld, threatening that he could have Vidyasagar killed if payments were stopped. Vidyasagar filed his formal police complaint months later in February 2024.

Evidentiary Findings and Scope of Charges

The CID informed the court that its chargesheet relies on bank account statements, cheque records, hotel booking logs, call detail records (CDRs), SMS exchanges, and witness testimonies. Kadambari Jethwani Case: Former Andhra Pradesh Intelligence Chief PSR Anjaneyulu Arrested for Wrongful Detention and Harassment of Actress.

While the court filing details the presence and actions of Jethwani's parents and brother during several incidents, the CID stated it currently lacks sufficient evidence to formally prosecute her family members. Consequently, only Kadambari Jethwani has been named as an accused in the present filing. Investigators noted that a supplementary chargesheet may be submitted if additional evidence emerges.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 10:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).