Hyderabad, Sept. 1 -- The Telangana High Court on Monday, August 31, refused to shield Sumanth, the former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to state minister Konda Surekha, from arrest in a case where he stands accused of assaulting a businessman and demanding Rs 10 crore from him.

Justice J Sreenivas Rao declined to pass any interim orders in the case, registered at the Jubilee Hills Police Station, after hearing submissions from the additional public prosecutor. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Tuesday, September 1.

Advocate P Vamsheedhar Reddy, appearing for Sumanth, told the court that other accused in the case had already been taken into custody and voiced apprehension that his client too could be arrested. He said Su...