Hyderabad: The sensational shooting case involving popular Telugu film star N Balakrishna, the youngest son of legendary hero and former Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao, today (June12, 2004) took a political turn with Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) accusing police of "transgressing their limits and trying to defame NTR's family".

As the June 3 incident, in which the actor had allegedly fired at a producer and his personal astrologer injuring them seriously, sent shock waves in the film industry, the TDP, in its first reaction to the incident, alleged that the police was intimidating the witnesses and extracting statements under duress.

"We have no objection to police investigating the case as long as it is within the purview of law. But police officials involved with the investigation are frequently airing their views before the media and issuing threats to witnesses," the TDP general secretary C Ramachandraiah said.

He alleged that the police officials were trying to 'prove more loyal than the King by defaming NTR's family'.

"One of the close relatives of Balakrishna and a lady cook in his house were taken to the police station and humiliated by the police. Whatever evidence the police has got, they can file the chargesheet. But, they should stop defaming the family members of NTR," Ramachandraiah said.