Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has been arrested over a stampede at Pushpa 2 screening in Hyderabad in which a woman died on December 4. The stampede killed a woman who was later identified as Revathi while her eight-year-old was also critically injured at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2. The son remained in critical condition and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
As per reports, the popular actor was arrested from his Jubilee Hills home and was taken to the Chikkadpally Police Station before bringing him to Nampally court.
Meanwhile, the husband of the deceased woman has said that he is willing to withdraw the case and he does not hold Allu Arjun responsible for the stampede or his wife's death. Speaking with reporters hours after Arjun's arrest, Bhaskar, the husband of Revathi, said, "We only went to Sandhya Theatre that day because my son wanted to watch the movie. It's not Allu Arjun's fault that he visited the theatre that day. I am ready to withdraw my case. Police didn't inform me of his arrest, I watched it on the news at the hospital. He (Arjun) has nothing to do with stampede."
Taking cognisance of the arrest, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy said, "Law will take its own due course, and nobody will intervene in the investigation of the case", as per a report by India Today.
Hyderabad police earlier registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under sections 105 and 118(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint lodged by the deceased woman's family.
Following the woman's death, protests took place outside the theatre seeking strict action against the management and ex-gratia for the deceased's family.
Expressing grief over the death of the woman in Hyderabad, actor Allu Arjun in a video message said, "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 extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey."
Three persons associated with the film theatre were were recently arrested in connection with the case registered over the death of a woman due to asphyxiation as crowds jostled at the theatre during the premiere show of actor Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2: The Rule", police said.
A day after the death of a woman in a stampede in Hyderabad, the screening of Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandana starrer Pushpa 2:The Rule, got embroiled in another controversy at Mumbai's Gaiety Galaxy Theatre after an unidentified person sprayed a 'mysterious substance' which caused coughing, throat irritation, and vomiting among the audience.
