Andhra Pradesh High Court Declines to Stay Proceedings Against Actor Mohan Babu
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday refused to grant a stay on all further proceedings, including potential arrest, in a case registered against prominent actor and university chancellor Manchu Mohan Babu. The case involves serious allegations of assault and kidnap of student union leaders, stemming from a complaint about alleged excess fee collection at Mohan Babu University.
Legal Arguments Presented in Court
Mohan Babu had approached the high court seeking to quash the case, with his legal team, led by senior counsels K S Murthy and N Aswani Kumar, arguing that he was not present in Tirupati on the day of the alleged incident. They provided evidence, including boarding passes, to support his claim that he traveled from Hyderabad to Tirupati only the following day, asserting he had no connection to the events.
However, assistant public prosecutor Sandeep countered these arguments, stating that substantial material suggests Mohan Babu's involvement. He highlighted phone calls and message exchanges between Mohan Babu and the university's Public Relations Officer, who is also a main accused, around the time of the incident. Sandeep emphasized that forensic analysis of this call data is pending and noted that Mohan Babu's son, Manchu Vishnu, another accused, failed to respond to police notices under section 179 of the BNSS for appearance before the investigating officer.
Victim's Counsel and Court's Observations
Nalluri Madhavara Rao, representing the victim Reddy Kumar, argued that the vehicles used in the kidnap belonged to the university and were operated under Mohan Babu's instructions. After considering all arguments, Justice Venkata Jyothirmayee Prathapa observed that the available evidence indicates the petitioner communicated with other accused before and after the incident.
The court noted that since a forensic report is awaited, interim protection could not be granted at this stage. Consequently, Justice Jyothirmayee dismissed the interlocutory application seeking a stay on proceedings, including arrest. The matter has been scheduled for a detailed hearing on the quash petition on March 3, allowing for further examination of the evidence and legal points involved.
This case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny in Andhra Pradesh, involving high-profile figures and serious allegations related to student welfare and university governance. The court's decision underscores the importance of thorough investigation before granting any protective measures in such sensitive matters.
