Actor Mohan Babu Apologizes After Assaulting Journalist

Veteran Telugu actor Mohan Babu visited TV9 journalist Muppidi Ranjith Kumar in a Hyderabad hospital to personally apologize for an assault that occurred on December 10. The journalist suffered a fractured cheekbone during the incident at the actor's Jalpally residence, where a dispute between Mr. Babu and his son Manoj was being covered.

According to the journalist’s complaint, Mr. Babu aggressively confronted reporters, grabbed a microphone, used abusive language, and attacked him, causing head injuries. Following the attack, the journalist was hospitalized and continues to receive treatment.

The incident sparked protests from journalist associations in Hyderabad, demanding stronger measures to protect media workers. On December 13, Mr. Babu issued a formal apology, expressing deep regret. He explained that his actions were driven by the chaotic situation at his home, where he claimed that a group of 30 to 50 "anti-social elements" had barged in to harm him. Amid the chaos, the journalist unintentionally became a victim.

In his statement, the actor said, “What began as a personal family dispute escalated unexpectedly, causing distress to the journalist and his family. I deeply regret my actions and the pain they caused to the TV9 community.”

Based on the journalist’s account, police registered a case against Mr. Babu under the charge of attempt to murder. The incident has drawn widespread attention, with calls for accountability and justice for the injured journalist.