Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has been arrested by Hyderabad Police in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred during the premiere of his highly anticipated film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which took place on December 4 at the Sandhya Theatre near RTC Crossroads, resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman named Revathi and the hospitalization of her nine-year-old son, Sri Teja, due to asphyxiation.
The Chikkadpally police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under Sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint filed by the victim’s family. A team of officers took the actor into custody from his residence in Jubilee Hills for questioning.
The tragedy unfolded when an overwhelming number of fans gathered at the theatre to catch a glimpse of the star, who portrays Pushpa Raj, a red sandalwood smuggler, in the film. Amid the chaos, Revathi succumbed to injuries sustained in the stampede. Her son, who was accompanying her, is recovering in a hospital.
In a separate incident on December 11, another fan, 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa, was found dead at a screening in Rayadurgam. Authorities reported that he attended the film’s matinee show in an intoxicated state, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of his death.
Reacting to the tragedy, Allu Arjun filed a plea in the Telangana High Court seeking to quash the FIR and halt further proceedings. The actor also announced financial aid of ₹25 lakh for Revathi’s family as a gesture of support. The High Court is expected to hear the matter soon.
The incident has raised serious concerns about crowd management and safety protocols at public events.
