Balakrishna attempted suicide after firing at producers: police

Hyderabad, June 8 (IANS): Telugu film actor Balakrishna attempted suicide after firing at two producers but survived since there was no bullet left in the revolver, the police said here Tuesday.

He is currently in judicial custody.

Police Commissioner R.P. Singh quoted one of the witnesses as saying the actor aimed the gun at his temple and pulled the trigger. But by that time, the revolver was empty as all the six bullets had been emptied.

"When I heard gunfire I rushed to the hall and saw Balakrishna aiming the revolver at his temple," Singh quoted Siva Reddy, one of the servants at the actor's house, as saying.

Balakrishna, son of former chief minister and film star N.T. Rama Rao, had shot at producer Bellakonda Suresh and his assistant Satyanarayana Chowdary at his residence Thursday night.

In true film style, the actor allegedly tried to wipe out the evidence and then admitted himself to a private hospital to escape arrest.

The actor was arrested from Care Hospital early Sunday with minor injuries on his finger and leg. He told police that he had opened fire in self-defence after being attacked by the producers with a knife.

The injured producers were admitted to the Apollo Hospital.

Both the hospitals are facing charges of not informing the police before admitting the accused and the victims.

Siva Reddy, Balakrishna's brother-in-law Ramakrishna, and two others were also arrested Monday. They were present at the house at the time of the incident but disappeared later.

Investigations have reportedly shown that the attack on Suresh was planned while Chowdary was shot when he tried to save the other producer.

Balakrishna's driver had bought for him 44 bullets from an arms shop in the city on May 3. The same night, the actor called Suresh to his house, where Chowdary and Ramakrishna were already present.

The commissioner quoted Chowdary as saying that within five minutes of Suresh's reaching the place, Balakrishna opened fire with his wife's

revolver.

The actor, who was suffering from acute depression, entered into an argument with the producer of his recent film "Lakshminarsimha" on sharing of profits and other matters.

"While pouring a drink he pulled out a revolver from the side rack and started firing. I tried to prevent him but I too was injured," said

Chowdary.

Suresh told police that after the firing, Balakrishna threatened him with dire consequences if he tried to reach a hospital. Both the injured disputed the actor's claim that he shot in self-defence.

Ramakrishna then called the actor's brothers Jayakrishna and Mohankrishna, who shifted the injured to the Apollo Hospital. Balakrishna's wife Vasundhara then got the servants to clean the bloodstains.

Physicians were called in from the Care Hospital and Balakrishna was shifted to the hospital.

The actor is charged with attempt to murder and doing away with evidence and also booked under two cases of the Arms Act. A magistrate Monday remanded him in judicial custody till June 21 and ordered that he be shifted from a private hospital to the government-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).

A team of government doctors who examined the actor will submit their report to the court late Tuesday. A decision would then be taken whether to send him to jail or allow him to be in hospital for treatment.

NIMS director Kakrla Subba Rao said the actor was being administered anti-depressants, suggesting that he might require a psychological examination. Rao, however, said the blood clots in the actor's body had dissolved, which physicians at the Apollo Hospital held could pose serious threat.

The police commissioner said even if the injured reach a compromise with the accused, the police would pursue the case. The weapon has been seized from the house, a case has been booked against Balakrishna's wife under the Arms Act and a show cause notice will be issued asking why the licence should not be cancelled.

The actor's bail petition will come up for hearing Wednesday.