Political Storm Erupts Over Allu Arjun's Arrest In Sandhya Theatre Stampede Case; Congress, BJP Lock Horns

The arrest of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has sparked a wave of reactions across Telangana, with political leaders from various parties weighing in.

While opposition parties have sharply criticised the Revanth Reddy-led government over the incident, the Congress has defended the action against the 'Pushpa 2' star in connection with the Sandhya Theatre stampede case.

Photo Credit: PTI

Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud stated that the law was taking its course, adding that his party had no issues with any film personality.

"The cases filed against Arjun are within the purview of law and the court granted him bail," he said. Goud also highlighted that it was Congress chief ministers in undivided Andhra Pradesh who played a key role in relocating the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad in the 1980s, expressing that his party held no animosity towards film personalities.

However, opposition leaders have been critical of the arrest. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lambasted Congress on social media, accusing them of having "no respect for the creative industry."

He claimed that the mishap at Sandhya Theatre, which led to the tragic death of a woman due to overcrowding during a 'Pushpa 2' screening, was the result of poor arrangements by the state and local administration. "To deflect that blame, they are indulging in such publicity stunts," Vaishnaw said, urging the Telangana government to hold accountable those responsible for the incident, rather than targeting film stars.

YSRCP leader and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy also condemned the arrest, calling the charges "unfair and unacceptable," as Arjun had no involvement in the stampede.

"He displayed a responsible approach in expressing grief over the tragedy and offered support to the affected family," Reddy wrote on social media. He urged authorities to focus on justice for the victim's family, rather than targeting individuals unjustly.

Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday and sent to 14-day judicial custody, with a local court in Hyderabad connecting him to the tragic incident. He was later granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court.