Singer-producer SP Charan has dismissed rumours that he had sought help from the Tamil Nadu government and the vice-president to clear the hospital bills of his father SP Balasubrahmanyam, terming all such claims hogwash.
Charan released a video on his Facebook page, 24 hours after his father’s burial, in which he attempted to clear the air. “There are rumours about the bill amount that was charged and that we had paid something and that there was a balance and that I had asked the state government and that they had not reciprocated and that I (had) gone to the vice-president and that he had reciprocated instantly and also that unless we had paid the balance the hospital were not releasing my dad for the last rituals. Let me say something, this is all a big hogwash (sic),” Charan said in the video.
The legendary singer died on September 25 in Chennai after suffering a cardio-respiratory arrest. He had been admitted to the MGM Healthcare hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus in early August.
SP Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946–25 September 2020): The singer who could act with his voice
The rumours had it that Balasubrahmanyam’s family couldn’t afford his hospital bills and, after being, allegedly, turned down by the Tamil Nadu government, vice-president Venkaiah Naidu’s daughter came forward to clear the bills.
Reacting to these claims, Charan said: “Whoever spread this message, don’t seem to realize how hurtful and offensive it is to those associated with the issue. I don’t think SPB’s fans can do something like this. I want to forgive this person or persons who have been spreading these rumours. I hope he gets some sense and does the right thing.”
Charan went on to thank the management of MGM Healthcare for its support, adding that he would soon reveal all the details about the hospital bills.
“We as a family are completely grateful for everything that MGM healthcare for us, for my father as a patient and for us as a family who were attending and taking care of him. I truly miss going to the hospital, miss meeting all doctors and nurses. I am not going to give any details right now because the hospital and I are going to do a press release together (sic),” he added.