Allu Arjun Refutes Claims of Attending Pushpa-2 Screening Against Police Orders

Telugu actor Allu Arjun visited a theatre in Hyderabad on December 4, where his film Pushpa-2 was screened, despite police denying permission. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy accused the actor of causing chaos, but Arjun refuted these claims. The incident led to a stampede, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to her son.

Reddy criticised Arjun for allegedly holding a roadshow and waving to fans despite the crowd's size. He mentioned that the theatre management had requested police security on December 2 for the event, but it was denied due to crowd control concerns and limited entry points. Videos circulating online were cited as evidence against Arjun.

Police Intervention and Allegations

The CM alleged that Arjun stood through his car's sunroof, waving to fans, which led to thousands gathering. This caused a stampede-like situation as his private security pushed fans aside. Police reportedly forced Arjun out of the theatre after he refused to leave voluntarily, even as the crowd remained unruly.

Arjun, during a press conference, denied these allegations. He stated that he followed police directions and did not conduct a roadshow. "Had there not been permission, they would have told us to return and I am a law-abiding citizen," he said. He insisted that there was no procession and that police cleared the way for him.

Legal Actions and Criticism

A case was filed against Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management at Chikkadpally police station following the incident. The CM criticised film personalities for visiting Arjun after his arrest but not showing empathy towards the injured boy. Reddy also questioned the midnight release of Arjun from custody.

The CM highlighted that while the film industry benefits from government incentives, it won't receive special privileges during incidents like these. He assured continuous monitoring of the boy's health condition and condemned those causing trouble for common people.

Health Update and Government Response

The injured eight-year-old boy is being treated at a private hospital in Hyderabad. According to KIMS Cuddles, he is maintaining vital parameters without external support but has intermittent fever spikes. His neurological condition remains unchanged.

State Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy announced Rs 25 lakh assistance to the deceased woman's family. He also spoke against allowing night benefit shows without proper permissions. The government is committed to taking care of the boy's health expenses.

The tragic incident occurred when thousands gathered at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad for Pushpa-2's premiere. The stampede resulted in a 35-year-old woman's death and her son's injury. Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 but received interim bail from Telangana High Court on December 14.