'No role of govt': Telangana CM Revanth Reddy on actor Allu Arjun's arrest amid opposition's attack

Telugu actor Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday by the Hyderabad police in connection with death of a woman at premiere of his latest movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’.

Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy on Friday said the state government had no role in the case under which Telugu star Allu Arjun was arrested, adding that law is taking its own course.

Actor Allu Arjun comes out of the Chikkadpally police station following his arrest by the police in Hyderabad on December 13, 2024.(AFP)

Telugu actor Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday by the Hyderabad police in connection with the death of a woman at the premiere of his latest movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. Allu Arjun was remanded for 14 days by a Hyderabad court, however, was given interim bail by Telangana High Court later.

The actor was taken into custody, amid tight security, from his residence and taken to Chikkadpally police station in a police vehicle.

He was later taken to Gandhi Hospital for a medical examination.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition party in Telangana, the BRS, lashed out at the ruling Congress over the arrest of Allu Arjun, questioning the treatment meted out to the Pushpa star.

BJP leader and Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said the actor deserved a better treatment, while BRS Working President KT Rama Rao slammed the government for treating the star like a "common criminal."

Kumar, in a post on 'X' alleged the National Award-winning actor was "lifted straight from his bedroom" without even being given time to change, which according to him is a "disgraceful act of mismanagement and disrespect".

"A star of his stature, who brought global recognition to Indian cinema, deserved better treatment," the Union Minister of State for Home said.

Describing the tragic death of a woman at Sandhya theatre, where All Arjun's Pushpa 2 was released recently, as deeply unfortunate, the minister said the incident only underscores the Congress government’s failure to manage the massive crowd.

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao criticised Allu Arjun's arrest, calling it "unwarranted and inappropriate" to treat the actor like a "common criminal". Taking a dig at the Congress government, Rao said the arrest was the "pinnacle of insecurity of the rulers." "I totally sympathise with the victims of the stampede but who failed really? Treating Allu Arjun garu as a common criminal is uncalled for, especially for something he isn’t directly responsible," Rao said on social media platform 'X'.

Rao emphasised the need for "respect" and "dignified conduct" while condemning the government's alleged high-handed behaviour.

What is the case

A 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was hospitalised in the incident which took place on December 4 night when a large number of fans thronged the Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad for a glimpse of the actor.

According to the police, a huge crowd had gathered at the theatre to watch the movie and have a glimpse of the movie's lead actors coming to the theatre. However, there was no intimation from the side of the theatre management or actors team that they would be visiting the theatre.

"The theatre management did not make any additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd nor was there any separate entry or exit for the actors team though the theatre management had information about their arrival," a police release citef in a news agency PTI report said.

Sandhya Theatre chaos: How it happened

Around 9.30 pm on December 4, Allu Arjun came to the theatre with his personal security and people gathered there tried to enter the theatre with him.

Allu Arjun's personal security team started pushing the public, which further aggravated the situation as there was already a huge gathering at the theatre, police sad n the release, adding that taking advantage of this situation along with the actor and his security team, a large number of people entered inside the lower balcony area.

"In this, one Revathi and her son felt suffocated due to a large public influx and immediately the police personnel who were on duty pulled them out of the public from the lower balcony and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her son and immediately shifted them to a hospital, where the doctor informed that she was dead," the release said.

The Hyderabad police have registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under sections 105 and 118(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint lodged by the deceased woman's family.

Allu Arjun on December 11 approached the Telangana High Court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him in connection with the death of a woman.

The actor last week announced ₹25 lakh to the family of the deceased and also assured the grieving family that they are not alone in this painful situation and he will meet the family personally.

Earlier, the police arrested three persons -- one of the owners of the theatre, its senior manager and lower balcony incharge (at the theatre) -- in connection with the case registered over the death of the woman due to asphyxiation as crowds jostled at the theatre during the premiere show of Allu Arjun's movie.

The boy is now undergoing treatment in a Super Speciality Hospital.