HC grants relief to Mohan Babu, Vishnu

The Telangana high court on Wednesday granted relief to veteran actor and former Rajya Sabha member Manchu Mohan Babu and his son Manchu Vishnu, exempting them from appearing before the police for questioning in connection with the cases filed against them.

On Tuesday night, Rachakonda police commissioner P Sudhir Babu served a notice on Mohan Babu and his two sons – Manchu Vishnu and Manchu Manoj under Section 126 BNSS to appear before the police at 10.30 am for a "probable breach of peace.” 

The commissioner asked them to submit surety bond for Rs 1 lakh each and give an undertaking that they would not resort to any disputes for the next one year.

He also ordered the confiscation of two licensed firearms registered under Mohan Babu's name.

While Manoj promptly followed the orders and appeared before the police commissioner.

He gave an undertaking to that effect besides depositing Rs 1 lakh, Mohan Babu and Vishnu moved a lunch motion petition before the state high court, challenging the notices.

Mohan Babu's legal counsel argued that Manoj had brought bouncers to their residence, causing disturbances, and that private family matters were being unnecessarily publicized in the media. 

He also pointed out that a request for protection to Mohan Babu was rejected by the police commissioner.

Justice B Vijay Sen Reddy, who heard the arguments over the petition, stayed the notices issued by the Rachakonda police.

It granted Mohan Babu exemption from appearing before the police for inquiry until March 24. He asked the police authorities to monitor the situation until the next hearing.

The police authorities, however, refused to provide any protection at Mohan Babu’s residence.

They said the regular patrol vehicles would visit the area periodically to see that there is no law-and-order breakdown.