AP high court declines to stay further proceedings, including arrest, in Mohan Babu case

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday declined to stay all further proceedings, including arrest, in the case registered against actor Manchu Mohan Babu, who is also the chancellor of Mohan Babu University. Tiruchanuru police in Tirupati district charged him with assault and kidnap of student union leaders after they lodged a complaint over alleged collection of excess fees from students.Mohan Babu moved the high court seeking to quash the case, arguing that he was not present in Tirupati on the day of the alleged offence. Senior counsel K S Murthy and N Aswani Kumar argued on his behalf and stated that he was in no way connected with the incident and travelled to Tirupati from Hyderabad the next day. They also presented boarding passes issued in the name of Mohan Babu.Countering the arguments, assistant public prosecutor Sandeep told the court that enough material was available suggesting the involvement of the petitioner in the alleged offence. He said Mohan Babu made phone calls to the university PRO, who is also the main accused in the case, and exchanged messages at the time of the incident. Noting that forensic analysis of call data and exchange of messages needs to be done, he stated that Mohan Babu's son, Manchu Vishnu, who is also an accused in the case, did not respond to notices issued by the police under section 179 of BNSS for appearance before the investigating officer.Nalluri Madhavara Rao, arguing on behalf of the victim Reddy Kumar, said the vehicles used to kidnap the victims belonged to the university and it was done at the behest of Mohan Babu.Considering the arguments on all sides, Justice Venkata Jyothirmayee Prathapa observed that the material on record suggested that the petitioner spoke with other accused before and after the incident. As the forensic report is awaited, interim protection could not be granted at this stage, said Justice Jyothirmayee while dismissing the interlocutory application seeking stay of all further proceedings, including arrest. The court posted the matter for a detailed hearing on the quash petition to March 3.