Allu Arjun Booked in Stampede Incident at 'Pushpa 2' Premiere; 1 Dead, Several Injured

Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has been named in a police case after a stampede during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad claimed the life of a woman and left her nine-year-old son critically injured. The tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday night when a large crowd gathered at the theatre to catch a glimpse of the actor.

Hyderabad Police confirmed that cases have been registered against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Chaos at the Theatre

The stampede reportedly began after Allu Arjun arrived unannounced at the theatre, accompanied by music composer Devi Sri Prasad, to attend the screening. Crowds surged to see the actor, and his security team allegedly attempted to push back the throng, worsening the situation.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand said neither the theatre management nor the actor’s team informed the authorities about his visit in advance. "There was no separate entry or exit designated for the actor and his entourage, even though the theatre management was aware of their arrival," Commissioner Anand noted, promising stringent legal action against all those responsible.

The crowding led to asphyxiation, causing the death of 35-year-old Revathi and critically injuring her son, Teja. Police said their personnel pulled the mother and child from the suffocating crowd and administered CPR before transporting them to Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital, where Revathi was pronounced dead. Teja was later shifted to another hospital for advanced treatment and remains in critical condition.

Family Demands Accountability

Revathi's grieving family, residents of Dilsukhnagar, has demanded accountability from the theatre management and Allu Arjun. They are also seeking financial and moral support from the actor, holding him partially responsible for the incident.

Reactions

The production house behind the film, Mythri Movie Makers, expressed its condolences to the victim's family, saying, "We are committed to standing by them and extending all possible support during this difficult time."

Allu Arjun and the theatre management have yet to issue an official statement.

Police Investigation Underway

The police are examining video footage from the scene and interviewing witnesses to ascertain the sequence of events. They are also investigating potential lapses in crowd management and security arrangements at the venue.

Commissioner Anand assured that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for the tragic incident.