Supreme Court grants relief to Mohan Babu booked for attacking journalist, breaking his jaw

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted interim protection to Telugu actor Mohan Babu from any coercive action in a case involving allegations that he attacked a news reporter..The Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Prashant Kumar Mishra passed the order after hearing Babu’s plea challenging the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by the Telangana High Court.“No coercive measures till next date. File reply. List after four weeks,” the Court ordered. .According to the complaint against the actor, the victim - a journalist with TV9 - had gone to Babu’s house on a request made by the actor’s son Manchu Manoj. When questioned, the veteran actor is alleged to have heatedly grabbed the journalist’s mic and beat him with it.Last month, the High Court made a prima facie finding that there were serious allegations against the actor and that he has been trying to interfere with the probe by asking the complainant to withdraw the case. Babu then moved the top court for protection against arrest..Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Babu, said that it was not a case which required the actor's custodial interrogation. The actor also denied threatening the reporter to withdraw the case. “I am 76 years old, I am a film actor. I have an estranged son. He barged into my home. I have a dispute with him...he came with 40-50 members,” Rohatgi said. Opposing the bail plea, the counsel representing the journalist referred to the injuries suffered by him.“I had a fractured jaw, I took food through pipe. He is 76 but he attacked me, a 35 year old,” he said. .Rohatagi said the injuries were not in dispute and that the actor was willing to apologise to the journalist and compensate him.“[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.When Rohatgi said it was a case of trespass as around thirty or forty persons had to come to the actor's house, the Court replied,“That does not mean you hit them.”.While granting interim relief to the actor, the Court also asked counsel representing the journalist to see if he wanted compensation.“I will speak with my friend [opposing counsel] and see what can be done,” Rohatgi submitted..Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi was briefed by Singhania & Co. through Rohit Jain, Managing Partner, Mahika Varma, Partner and Kheyali Singh, Associate Partner.