Veteran Tollywood Star Mohan Babu Charged with Attempted Murder

Hyderabad, Dec 12 (NationPress) Police have filed an attempt to murder charge against the esteemed Tollywood star Mohan Babu for allegedly assaulting a television journalist at his residence recently.

The Rachakonda Police, which had previously registered a case under Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 118 (1) (causing harm with dangerous weapons or substances), has now included Section 109 (attempt to murder) in the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Pahadi Shareef Police Station.

Authorities indicated that after consulting legal experts, they added Section 109 to the FIR based on a complaint lodged by M. Satyanarayana, a reporter from the Telangana news channel TV9.

Mohan Babu reportedly assaulted the TV reporter when he visited the actor's residence in Jalpally to report on an ongoing dispute between the actor and his son, Manchu Manoj.

Journalists organized protests on Wednesday, insisting that police file an attempt to murder case and calling for an apology from Mohan Babu, who is also a former Member of Parliament.

In the meantime, Mohan Babu has been hospitalized. He was admitted on Tuesday night due to high blood pressure and anxiety.

He could not meet the Rachakonda Police Commissioner, who had issued notices to him and his two sons. The veteran actor sought relief from the Telangana High Court, which granted him exemption from appearing until December 24.

Mohan Babu’s elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu described the attack on the journalist as unfortunate, claiming it was unintentional. He stated that their father had greeted the media with a ‘namskar’, but when a microphone was thrust close to him, he reacted impulsively. Vishnu assured the injured journalist's family of their support.

Meanwhile, Manchu Manoj, who is currently embroiled in a conflict with his father, apologized to the media on his father's behalf, stating that the media had come under attack while supporting him.

The injured reporter reported in his complaint that when he, along with other journalists, entered the house on Manchu Manoj's invitation, Mohan Babu confronted them in an aggressive manner, used abusive language, seized the microphone, and attacked him with it, leading to a severe head injury.

The altercation occurred when Manchu Manoj forcibly opened the gate to enter the house following a dispute with the bouncers stationed there. Accompanied by his private security and some journalists, he entered the premises.

When the TV9 reporter posed a question to Mohan Babu regarding the conflict with his son, the actor became furious, snatched the microphone, and struck the reporter, causing him to collapse. The bouncers subsequently expelled all journalists from the house.

The injured reporter was taken to a hospital in Shamshabad, where doctors reported that he suffered three fractures in his zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and requires plastic surgery.