Telugu actor Allu Arjun has been arrested by the police following the tragic death of a woman during the premiere of his latest movie, Pushpa 2: The Rise. The incident occurred on 4 December at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where a 35-year-old woman was killed and her nine-year-old son was severely injured due to a crowd surge as fans gathered to see the actor.
Charges against Allu Arjun
The police have filed charges against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under sections 105 (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(1) (Voluntarily causing hurt), and 3(5) BNS. The case was registered on 5 December following a complaint from the woman’s husband. As of 8 December, the theatre owner, general manager, and security manager were arrested in connection with the incident.
A second death also occurred during a Pushpa 2 screening, when a fan named Harijana Madhannappa, aged 35, was found dead at the Rayadurgam theatre on 8 December. He had attended the matinee show in an intoxicated state, and investigations are still underway to determine the cause of his death.
On 11 December, Allu Arjun approached the Telangana High Court, seeking to have the First Information Report (FIR) quashed. The actor and his team were reportedly unaware of the theatre’s arrangements, and the police stated that the theatre management had failed to make additional security provisions to control the crowd.
In response to the tragic events, Allu Arjun announced a financial assistance of ₹25 lakh (approximately £24,000) for the deceased woman’s family. Expressing his deep sorrow, the actor shared on social media:
“Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extending every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey.”
The actor’s heartfelt response and his financial contribution reflect his concern for the family during this time of loss. However, the ongoing investigations into the incident have raised questions about crowd management during the film’s premiere and the responsibilities of those involved in organising the event.