Telugu star Allu Arjun was arrested after a tragic stampede outside a Hyderabad theater during a screening of his film, leading to a woman’s death and her son’s critical injuries. The police charged him and others with culpable homicide. Allu expressed condolences and pledged financial support to the victim’s family while seeking to quash the case.
Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has been arrested in connection with the tragic stampede outside a Hyderabad theatre that resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and injuries to her 9-year-old son. The incident occurred during an unscheduled appearance by the actor at Sandhya Theatre, where a special screening of his highly anticipated film, Pushpa 2: The Rule, was underway.
Shortly after his arrest, Allu Arjun filed a petition to delay the proceedings until Monday. The court hearing is set for 2:30 pm. The 41-year-old actor was taken from his Jubilee Hills residence to the Chikkadpally Police Station, accompanied by his father, renowned filmmaker Allu Arvind, and other family members.
Hyderabad Police have filed charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and voluntarily causing hurt against Allu Arjun, members of his security team, and the theatre management. The investigation will primarily focus on two key questions:
- Did Allu Arjun have police permission to appear at the theatre?
- Was permission granted for him to interact with fans in an area densely packed with other cinema halls?
On December 11, the actor sought to quash the case by moving the Telangana High Court.
The stampede unfolded after Allu Arjun and Pushpa 2 music director Devi Sr Prasad made an unannounced appearance at Sandhya Theatre. The incident occurred at 9:30 pm when the actor used the main entrance to interact with fans outside. The large crowd that had gathered grew uncontrollable, leading to chaos.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand revealed that neither the theatre management nor the actor’s team informed authorities about the visit. Moreover, no separate entry or exit was arranged, further exacerbating the situation.
As the crowd surged, security personnel attempted to push them back, which aggravated the chaos. A woman named Revathi and her son were pulled out of the suffocating crowd and rushed to a hospital. Tragically, Revathi succumbed to her injuries, while her son remains in critical condition.
Read Also: Allu Arjun Moves High Court || Seeks Quashing of FIR Over ‘Pushpa 2’ Premiere Tragedy
In the wake of the tragedy, Allu Arjun expressed his grief on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident… My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time.” The actor pledged Rs 25 lakh to Revathi’s family and assured to cover the boy’s medical expenses. He also promised to meet the family personally to offer support.
The arrest of the popular actor has ignited political controversy. BRS leader KT Rama Rao criticized the government’s actions, calling the arrest “the pinnacle of insecurity of the rulers!” He added,
“Treating Allu Arjun garu as a common criminal is uncalled for, especially for something he isn’t directly responsible for. I strongly condemn the high-handed behavior of the government.”
Rao also drew parallels to past incidents, questioning the government’s selective enforcement of accountability.
“Going by the same perverse logic, Revanth Reddy should be arrested for causing the death of two innocent people who died in Hyderabad because of the fear psychosis caused by Hydra…”
Additionally, Superstar Allu Arjun has told the court that the cops entered his bedroom around noon to arrest him in the stampede case that saw the death of a woman last week.
The tragic stampede has sparked widespread criticism, with many calling for stricter regulations to manage celebrity events and ensure public safety. The incident underscores the need for coordination between event organizers, law enforcement, and venue management to prevent similar tragedies.
The court will reconvene on Monday to hear Allu Arjun’s plea. Meanwhile, the case has drawn significant public attention, with fans and critics closely monitoring developments.
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