Veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu, who is facing charges of attempted murder following an assault on TV9 video journalist Muppidi Ranjith Kumar, visited the journalist in the hospital on Sunday to personally apologise for the incident. The assault, which took place at the actor’s Jalpally residence on December 10, left Kumar with fractures to his zygomatic bone. Kumar is currently undergoing treatment at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad.
In his visit, Mohan Babu expressed regret over the incident, apologising to Kumar, his family, and the journalist community for the harm caused. “He (Mr Babu) offered an apology to me, my family and the entire journalist fraternity,” Kumar told PTI. The actor also promised to visit Kumar’s home once he recovers and is discharged from the hospital.
The incident occurred when Kumar and other journalists visited Mohan Babu’s residence to cover an ongoing family dispute between the actor and his younger son Manoj. According to Kumar’s complaint, Mohan Babu confronted the journalists aggressively, grabbed the microphone, and used abusive language. The actor allegedly struck Kumar with the microphone, causing a head injury.
The assault led to protests from journalist associations in Hyderabad, who demanded stricter measures to protect media personnel. In response, Mohan Babu issued a public apology on December 13, acknowledging the harm caused by the altercation.
“I am writing this letter to formally address the unfortunate incident that occurred recently and to express my deep regret over the events that transpired,” Mohan Babu said in his statement. He explained that the altercation was a result of a personal family dispute, which escalated when a group of 30 to 50 individuals, described as “anti-social elements,” forcibly entered his home. The actor alleged that these individuals intended to harm him and that the media was unintentionally caught up in the chaos.
Mr Babu expressed deep remorse over the injury sustained by Kumar, saying, “This was a deeply regrettable outcome, and I deeply regret the pain and inconvenience caused to him, his family, and the TV9 community.”
As the case continues, the incident has sparked wider conversations about the safety and security of journalists in the country, with many calling for more accountability and protections for media personnel.
Sources By Agencies
