Allu Arjun arrested
Hyderabad Police have arrested Telugu film superstar Allu Arjun in relation to the tragic death of a woman during a stampede at the screening of his latest film, "Pushpa 2: The Rule". The incident occurred on December 4, when an overcrowded premiere of the movie at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad turned chaotic. The stampede left 35-year-old Revathi dead, while her nine-year-old son, Sri Teja, was hospitalized after suffering from asphyxiation.
Arjun, who had been at the centre of the frenzy, was taken into custody by a team from the Chikkadpally police station. Officers arrived at his residence in Jubilee Hills and transported him to the station for questioning. The police are conducting further investigations into the incident.
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The deadly scene unfolded as a massive crowd of Arjun's fans gathered at the Sandhya Theatre near the bustling RTC Crossroads to catch a glimpse of the actor. In the chaos that ensued, Revathi was tragically crushed, and her son was left in critical condition. While Sri Teja is now recovering, the loss of his mother has deeply affected the family.
Police have charged Allu Arjun, his security personnel, and the theatre management under sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint filed by Revathi's family. Authorities are looking into whether inadequate crowd control contributed to the disaster.
In a strange turn of events, a second fan died during another Pushpa 2 screening on the following Monday. The body of 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa was discovered by cleaning staff at the theatre in Rayadurgam. Madhannappa, who had attended the film's matinee show while intoxicated, was found dead in the theatre's restroom. Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun sought legal recourse. On Wednesday, the actor filed a petition in the High Court requesting to quash the FIR and halt all further proceedings, including the arrest, until the petition is resolved. The High Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming days. In an effort to offer support to the grieving family, Arjun had earlier pledged ₹25 lakh as financial assistance to Revathi's family.
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