Journalists protested on Wednesday.
Hyderabad:
Police have registered an attempt to murder case against veteran Tollywood actor Mohan Babu for attacking a television journalist at his residence recently.
The Rachakonda police, which had earlier registered a case under Section 118 (1) of Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (hurting by dangerous weapons or substances), has added Section 109 (attempt to murder).
Police said that after seeking legal opinion, they added Section 109 to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Pahadi Shareef police station.
The FIR was registered based on a complaint by M. Satyanarayana, a reporter with Telangana news channel TV9.
Mohan Babu attacked the TV reporter when he had gone to his residence in Jalpally to report on the ongoing dispute between him and his actor son Manchu Manoj.
On Wednesday, journalists protested and called on the police to document an attempted murder. They had also demanded an apology from Mohan Babu, who is also a former MP.
Meanwhile, Mohan Babu remained in the hospital. He was admitted on Tuesday evening with high blood pressure and anxiety.
He could not appear before the Rachakonda police commissioner who had served notices on him and his two sons. The senior actor approached the Telangana High Court, which exempted him from appearing till December 24.
Mohan Babu's elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu on Wednesday termed Tuesday night's attack on the journalist as unfortunate. He claimed the crime was not premeditated. He said that her father appeared before the media by doing 'Namskar' but when a microphone was placed close to his mouth, he impulsively attacked. He assured the family of the injured journalist of all help.
Manchu Manoj, who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with his father, said he has apologized to the media on his father's behalf. He said the media persons were attacked while supporting him.
The injured reporter stated in his complaint that when Manchu Manoj and other journalists entered the house on Manchu Manoj's invitation, Mohan Babu aggressively confronted them, used abusive and foul language, grabbed the microphone and attacked him with the microphone. This resulted in serious head injuries.
The incident took place when Manchu Manoj broke the gate of the house after an argument with the bouncers deployed there. Along with Manoj and his private security guards, a few journalists also entered the house.
When TV 9 reporter Mohan Babu asked a question about the argument with his son, he got angry, grabbed the microphone and attacked the reporter with the microphone. The journalist collapsed on the ground. The bouncers drove all the journalists out of the house.
The injured reporter was admitted to a hospital in Shamshabad. According to doctors, he suffered three fractures in his cheekbone (cheekbone) and needs plastic surgery.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
