The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim relief from coercive action to Telugu actor and former Rajya Sabha member Mohan Babu in the case involving allegations of assaulting a news reporter, according to Bar and Bench.
“No coercive measures till next date. File reply. List after four weeks,” a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra ordered. The bench was hearing Babu’s plea challenging Telangana’s High Court dismissal of his anticipatory bail.
In December last year, the veteran actor had allegedly beaten up a TV9 journalist who had gone to his house with other reporters and Babu’s son Manchu Manoj. Babu had allegedly grabbed the journalist’s mic and beaten him with it.
Referring to the injuries, the journalist’s counsel told the court that the complainant’s jaw was fractured and was fed food through a pipe.
Appearing for Babu, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the court that his client was ready to offer a public apology and pay compensation to the victim. “[It] happened in the spur of the moment. I am willing to apologise and even tender public apology...and even pay compensation. It was a case of hurt...now they added attempt to murder,” he said.
Rohatgi also said that the case did not require the actor’s custodial interrogation.
Last month, while rejecting Babu’s anticipatory bail plea, the Telangana High Court had observed that there were serious allegations against the actor and that he has been trying to influence the investigation by asking the complainant to withdraw the case. The actor, however, denied the allegations and moved the top court for protection against arrest.
While granting interim protection to Babu, the court asked the journalist’s counsel if he wanted compensation.
In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work.
Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.
