Mohan Babu admitted to hospital; journalist injured after clash with press Amid conflict with son

Yesterday, the Manchu family quarrel took a dramatic twist as guards prevented Tollywood star Manchu Manoj from accessing the family residence in Jalapalli, Hyderabad. Mohan Babu, a seasoned actor and family patriarch, allegedly directed the security to refuse entry. Manoj and his wife, Mounika, showed up at the premises, aiming to see their daughter inside. Videos shared online displayed a visibly distressed Manoj requesting the gate to open, yet his appeals went unheeded.

When things got messy, the experienced actor Mohan Babu dropped an audio message accusing his son Manchu Manoj of causing tension within the family.

Manoj tried to enter Mohan's home in Jalpally on Tuesday evening, December 10, saying his child was inside. Despite his claims, he was denied entry. Journalists were present to report on the situation. Security later pushed Manoj out, but the situation escalated at about 7:50 pm when Mohan reportedly assaulted a journalist.

ANI reported that the police FIR stated that the complainant mentioned Manoj had invited them and other journalists into the house. While covering the incident, Mohan aggressively confronted the complainant, taking their microphone and phone, using abusive language, and physically assaulting them. The journalist suffered a severe head injury with significant bleeding as a result of the attack. The journalist filed a complaint against Mohan at the Pahadi Shareef police station. PTI mentioned that the journalist received medical treatment at Trident Hospital in Shamshabad.

The Film Critics Association and the Telugu Film Journalists Association have criticized Mohan for the reported assault on the journalist. They have called for Mohan's removal from the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) and for Vishnu Manchu to step down as president.

A health bulletin released by Continental Hospitals in Hyderabad states, “Noted film personality and former member of the Rajya Sabha Dr Manchu Mohan Babu was brought into the Emergency Department of Continental Hospitals, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, at 8:30 pm on 10th December 2024 with complaints of diffuse body pains, anxiety and history of loss of consciousness.”

The bulletin also states, “He was given immediate and necessary medical care by the specialists in the Emergency Department, and following a thorough examination, he was found to be having a blunt injury below the left eye and was found with high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and excessive heart rate fluctuations.”

On Wednesday, Manoj addressed the media and apologized to the press on behalf of his father, Mohan. He wiped away tears as he expressed his remorse, “I never thought a day like this would come. I want to apologise to the media on behalf of me and my father. Please think of me as your own and forgive me; I am sorry. I did not like that you were there to support me when this happened to you. I do not like them dragging my wife’s name into this; we never asked them for money or property. I only returned home because my wife was pregnant, my brother (Vishnu) had moved to Dubai, and my parents were living alone. Was it my fault to marry the woman I loved?”

“I have asked my family multiple times to sit down and sort out issues with me, but they haven’t. They’re lying that my mother is hospitalised. I called 100 in the heat of the moment, and no one took me to the hospital after the altercation. 108 had to come to take me to the hospital; they had character assassinated me. I urge them again to give back the CCTV tapes they’ve taken. I am not a liar; my father is not the one you see today. Someone else is pulling the strings; he’s a god,” he said.

The ongoing feud has been simmering for years. Manoj has openly accused Mohan Babu of favoring his elder brother, Manchu Vishnu, in the division of family wealth. Vishnu, now residing in Dubai, has reportedly distanced himself from the turmoil. Adding to the tension, reports suggest that Mohan Babu disapproved of Manoj's marriage to Mounika. Despite his opposition, the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2023. This isn't the first public fallout within the family. Last year, Manoj shared a video accusing Vishnu of trespassing and assault, but the footage was later removed. The family's strained dynamics continue to capture public attention.