Hyderabad: Telugu star Allu Arjun has been arrested by Hyderabad Police in connection with the death of a 35-year-old woman during a stampede at the premiere of his latest film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident occurred on December 4 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad’s busy RTC Crossroads area, where a massive crowd of fans had gathered to see the actor.
The victim, identified as Revathi, tragically lost her life, while her nine-year-old son, Sri Teja, was hospitalized due to asphyxiation. Police from Chikkadpally police station visited Arjun’s residence in Jubilee Hills and took him into custody for questioning.
Incident Details and Police Action
The stampede-like situation unfolded during the night show of Pushpa 2, leading to chaos among fans. According to police, a case has been registered against the actor, his security team, and the theatre management under Sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by Revathi’s family.
In a separate incident, a second fan was found dead at another Pushpa 2 screening. Police reported that 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa was discovered by cleaning staff around 6 pm on Monday at a theatre in Rayadurgam after attending the matinee show in an intoxicated state. Investigations into the cause of his death are ongoing.
Allu Arjun’s Response to the Tragedy
On Wednesday, Allu Arjun filed a petition in the High Court seeking to quash the FIR and requested a stay on all proceedings, including his arrest, until the case is resolved. The court is expected to hear the plea in the coming days.
In response to the tragedy, Arjun announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to Revathi’s family. The actor has yet to issue a public statement regarding the incident.
Fan Safety Under Scrutiny
The incidents have sparked conversations about fan safety at crowded events and the responsibility of event organizers and celebrity security teams to prevent such tragedies. Police are continuing their investigations into both cases.