Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has come under fire for attending a theatre screening of his blockbuster Pushpa-2 on December 4, despite police denying permission for the event. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy criticized the actor for disregarding safety concerns, which allegedly contributed to a stampede-like situation that claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman and injured her eight-year-old son.
Addressing the state assembly on Saturday, Reddy accused the actor of exacerbating crowd management issues by waving to fans from his car?s sunroof and holding a roadshow outside the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. He noted that videos circulating online showed the chaotic scenes outside the cinema hall.
?The theatre management sought security from the police on December 2 for the actors? visit on December 4. However, the application was rejected due to concerns over managing the large crowd,? Reddy stated. He also alleged that the actor stayed at the cinema hall despite the stampede, prompting police intervention to escort him out.
The CM expressed disappointment over the lack of empathy from the film fraternity, who visited Allu Arjun's residence following his arrest but failed to check on the injured boy undergoing treatment. ?I appeal to top film personalities to show humanity. Such incidents should not be taken lightly,? Reddy said.
The tragedy unfolded as thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun during the premiere, creating a stampede-like situation. Following the incident, the city police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the woman?s death. The Telangana High Court granted him interim bail the next day, and he was released on December 14.
Reddy emphasized that no one, regardless of their stature, would be granted special privileges when incidents of such gravity occur. He assured that the government would take strict action against those responsible for troubling the public.
