Hyderabad Police have arrested Telugu superstar Allu Arjun following a tragic incident at a screening of his latest film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which occurred on December 4, led to the death of a woman in a stampede-like situation at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad.
According to police, the 35-year-old woman, identified as Revathi, was among the large crowd of fans who gathered at the theatre to catch a glimpse of the actor during the premiere. Tragically, she succumbed to the chaos, and her nine-year-old son, Sri Teja, was hospitalized due to asphyxiation but is currently recovering.
The stampede occurred when an overwhelming number of fans gathered at the theatre, leading to a chaotic and unsafe environment. Police officials from the Chikkadpally police station arrested Allu Arjun at his residence in Jubilee Hills, and he was later taken to the police station for questioning. The police have registered a case against the actor, his security team, and the theatre management under sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by the deceased woman’s family.
In another tragic twist, a second fan died during a screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule on December 8. The man, identified as 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa, was found dead by cleaning staff at the theatre. Authorities stated that he had attended the matinee show in an intoxicated state, and investigations into his cause of death are ongoing.
In response to the tragic events, Allu Arjun filed a plea in the High Court, requesting the quashing of the FIR and seeking a stay on all further proceedings, including his arrest, pending the disposal of the petition. The High Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days. In a show of support for the victim’s family, Allu Arjun had earlier announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to Revathi’s family to help with their loss.
As investigations continue, the incident has raised concerns about the safety measures at such events, prompting questions about crowd management and security at public screenings of high-profile films. Fans and the film industry continue to express their shock and sadness over the tragic loss of life at what was meant to be a celebratory occasion.
Sources By Agencies
