Actor Allu Arjun has been arrested in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede at a Hyderabad theatre during the premiere of the movie Pushpa 2. Hyderabad Police picked him up from his residence and took him to Chikkadpally police station for questioning.
Police had filed an FIR against the actor and management of the Sandhya Theatre over the death of the woman in the stampede. As per police, the stampede was caused by the sudden appearance of the actor at the theatre for the premiere on 4 December. Police said that neither Allu Arjun’s team nor the theatre informed police that the actor will be visiting the theatre to attend the premiere of Pushpa 2.
Police also accused the Sandhya Theatre management of not making any arrangement for the actor’s visit, which caused the stampede. There was no separate entry and exit for the actor and his team at the theatre. When Arjun arrived with his security, the crowd tried to enter the theatre with him. At that time, his security allegedly tried to push the people away, which deteriorated the situation and led to a stampede. The theatre’s main gate also collapsed during the incident.
Apart from the death of the woman, her son was seriously injured in the incident. Few other people were also injured.
Officials from the Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s Task Force and the Chikkadpally police station arrived at Arjun’s house on Friday morning and took him into custody. Sandhya Theatre’s owner and two employees have already been arrested.
Allu Arjun has been booked under BNS section 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) r/w 3(5) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt). Hyderabad Central Zone Police DCP Akshansh Yadav said that stringent action as per law will be taken against all the persons responsible for the chaotic situation inside the theatre leading to the death of a person and injury to others.
Allu Arjun has already approached the Telangana High Court to remove his name from the FIR, but the petition has not been taken up by the court yet.
