Telugu film star Allu Arjun has been arrested in connection with a stampede that occurred at the Pushpa 2 premiere in Hyderabad on December 4. The tragic incident claimed the life of a 39-year-old woman, M. Revathi, and left her son critically injured.
The Hyderabad Police registered a case against the Sandhya Theatre management, the actor, and his security team under sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and voluntarily causing hurt. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshansh Yadav, “Stringent action as per law will be taken against all responsible for the chaotic situation.”
On Friday, a team from the Chikkadpally police station arrived at Arjun’s residence and took him into custody. The actor, reportedly cooperative but displeased with the manner of the arrest, expressed concerns about being approached in his private quarters.
Arjun’s lawyers filed an urgent petition in the Telangana High Court to delay his arrest until Monday. The petition is scheduled for a hearing at 2:30 pm.
The stampede occurred as fans flocked to Sandhya Theatre for the premiere. Police allege that the theatre management failed to arrange for adequate crowd control measures and that no separate entry or exit was provided for the actor and his entourage.
Arjun’s arrival with his security team around 9:30 pm caused a surge in the crowd. Witnesses reported that his security personnel pushed fans, worsening the situation. Revathi, the victim, had attended the event with her family because her son is a devoted fan of the actor.
The police have already arrested the theatre owner and two employees. Arjun was taken to Osmania Hospital for a routine medical check-up before being presented in court. His father, producer Allu Aravind, accompanied him to the police station.
As the investigation unfolds, Arjun’s legal team is working to clear his name. Meanwhile, the tragic incident has sparked discussions about crowd management and accountability at high-profile events.
