Security to Chiranjeevi's daughter, son-in-law extended

The Delhi High Court on Monday extended the police protection to the daughter and son-in-law of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi in the capital for further two weeks in the wake of delay in getting security for them in Hyderabad.

Justice S N Dhingra passed the order after the couple informed the court that they were planning to go to Hyderabad and have been assured by the police there that they would provide security to them within a week.

The Court had, on October 22, directed the police to provide protection to the actor's newly-wed daughter Srija (19) and son-in-law Sirish Bhardwaj (22) after the couple alleged threat to their lives from the bride's family.

The couple had alleged that they faced threats since they married against the wishes of their families. Advocate, Pinky Anand, appearing for the couple, submitted that the duo is trying to get in touch with the actor's family but has not been able to speak to them as their phones are not responding.

They also sought direction to the family to receive them at the airport when they reach Hyderabad. The Bench, however, rejected their plea and asked, "Why force the family to receive? You are adult, go wherever you want to go. How can you compel your parents to accept you?"

Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the film star, refuted all the allegations about threat to the couple made against Chiranjeevi and family.

Singh also placed before the court a copy of letter sent by the star to the petitioners' lawyer in which he had categorically denied the allegations.

Justice Dhingra, however, asked, "why writing letters to the lawyer and not to the couple?" The actor's counsel, then, clarified that since they were living with the lawyer that is why letter was sent to her. The court, after hearing contentions from both the sides, said, "Police protection will continue for another two weeks after which the protection will automatically exhaust."

Justice Dhingra refused to keep the petition pending and disposed it off, giving liberty to the couple to approach the court in case of any difficulty in future. "I don't want to keep it pending," the court said while dismissing the couple's contention that their petition should not be disposed of.

The film star's daughter Srija, studying chartered accountancy, married Bharadwaj, her lover of four years, against the wishes of her family at a secret ceremony at an Arya Samaj temple in Hyderabad on October 17.