Balakrishna remanded in 14 days' judicial custody

Hyderabad, June 7 (IANS): A court here Monday remanded Telugu film actor Balakrishna to judicial custody for 14 days but sent him to a government-run hospital for medical examination and treatment, if necessary.

The actor, who is charged with attempting to murder two film producers, was produced before the fifth metropolitan magistrate M. Gandhi, who sent him to judicial custody till June 21 and directed that he be taken to a government

hospital.

The court rejected the actor's plea that he be sent back to Care Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for the last four days.

With the private hospital facing allegations of giving a favouring medical opinion and police recommending an official inquiry against it, the court ordered that the actor be sent to the government-run Nizam's Institute of

Medical Sciences (NIMS).

He was brought to court Monday morning by police on a wheelchair. The actor told the magistrate that he was not well and was not in a position to speak.

His advocate Ravinder Kumar pleaded before the court that he be sent back to Care Hospital as he was under its treatment ever since he met an accident during a film shooting few months ago.

Public prosecutor A. Chandrasekhar told journalists that the accused was remanded to judicial custody on the basis of statements from the victims. He said the magistrate felt there was prima facie evidence against the accused.

He said a team of government doctors would examine him at NIMS. Only if the hospital authorities felt that they lacked facilities to provide the required treatment would he would be sent back to Care Hospital.

"If the doctors come to the conclusion that the accused is in good condition and does not require hospitalisation he will be sent to jail," the public prosecutor said.

The magistrate directed the police to submit a detailed report on the case. The police sought more time to record the statements of the victims and four eye witnesses who are still at large.

Meanwhile, the actor's advocate said a bail petition would be moved before the court later in the day.

Earlier, the son of late former chief minister and film star N.T. Rama Rao was taken to court in an ambulance accompanied by a team of doctors and

other medical staff amid tight security.

The Care Hospital building in the city's posh Banjara Hills was virtually turned into a fortress with dozens of policemen throwing a security cordon around the building to keep the actor's fans at bay.

Fans from different parts of the state had descended on the state capital on Sunday and had threatened to prevent police from arresting the actor.

Despite the tight security, there was chaos outside the hospital as Balakrishna's fans tried to advance towards the hospital.

Sripat Rajeswar, former Telugu Desam Party legislator and president of the NTR Fans' Association and some other fans were arrested. Police also used force to disperse the actor's supporters.

There was similar chaos at the criminal court complex at Nampally area. Police officials took control of the entire premises and restricted the

movement of visitors and general public.

Balakrishna 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 the hospital to escape arrest.

The injured producers were admitted to another private hospital Apollo.

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

Balakrishna was arrested from the hospital early Sunday and produced before the magistrate at the latter's residence. He was re-admitted to the hospital within an hour on directions from the court.

The actor has minor injuries on his finger and leg. He told police that he opened fire in self-defence after being attacked by the producers with a knife.