The Jubilee Hills police have taken a significant step in the ongoing investigation into an alleged kidnapping and extortion case, as they have included the name of Tollywood producer Naveen Yerneni, known for his involvement in the movie "Pushpa," in the FIR.

According to police reports, Naveen Yerneni has been implicated in the forced transfer of shares of Kria Healthcare, a company founded by Chennupati Venu Madhav, to four part-time directors of the firm. Allegedly, he also coerced Venu Madhav into resigning as director of the company.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint lodged by Venu Madhav, which led to the registration of kidnapping and extortion cases against former OSD to Task Force P Radha Kishan Rao, along with inspector Gattu Mallu, sub-inspector Mallikarjun, and the four part-time directors of Kria.

Further investigations revealed Naveen's involvement in facilitating the hostile takeover of the company, prompting the police to include his name in the FIR. Sources suggest that Naveen Yerneni had previously served as one of the part-time directors of Kria.

This development marks a significant turn in the case, with the police forming special teams to delve deeper into the matter.

Naveen Yerneni, along with two others, founded Mythri Movie Makers in 2015, and the production house quickly gained prominence after the blockbuster success of "Srimanthudu." Subsequently, they produced several other hit movies, including "Janatha Garage" in 2016, "Rangasthalam," "Savyasachi," and "Amar Akbar Anthony" in 2018. Their most recent venture, "Pushpa: The Rise," released in 2020, was a nationwide success.

However, this isn't the first time Naveen Yerneni's production house has faced scrutiny. In April 2023, Mythri Movie Makers came under the radar of the Income Tax department, signaling potential legal challenges for the acclaimed producer.