Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun was embroiled in controversy after being arrested in connection with a stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2, which claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman and left her young son in a coma. Despite being granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court on Friday, the actor had to spend the night in jail due to procedural delays and was released at 7 am on Saturday.
The tragic incident occurred at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad on December 4, where an overwhelming crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the star. Following a complaint from the victim’s family, the police filed an FIR against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The local court initially remanded the actor to 14-day judicial custody, but the High Court later granted a four-week interim bail.
The arrest sparked a political debate, with BJP and BRS leaders criticizing the treatment of the actor, while Congress defended the law’s impartiality. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy highlighted the human cost of the tragedy, emphasizing the need for justice for the victim’s family.
Allu Arjun’s legal team argued that the theatre management had informed the police in advance about the event, and the stampede could not be directly attributed to the actor. Senior advocate S Niranjan Reddy contended that criminal charges such as culpable homicide were not applicable.
In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun offered Rs 25 lakh to the victim’s family and assured them of his support. The case remains under investigation, with further hearings scheduled for January 2025.
