Actor arrested after fan dies in crowd crush
Indian actor Allu Arjun, a prominent figure in the Telugu film industry, was arrested and later granted bail following a tragic crowd crush that claimed the life of a woman during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad.
The 39-year-old woman lost her life, and her nine-year-old son remains hospitalised after the incident, which unfolded when the actor made a surprise appearance at the screening last week.
Initially, a local court sentenced Arjun to 14 days in police custody. However, within hours, the high court overturned the ruling, granting him bail. Charges of culpable homicide were filed against Arjun, his security team, and the theatre’s management. The theatre’s owner and two staff members were also arrested earlier.
Police accused the actor’s team of aggravating the chaos by pushing the already dense crowd upon his unannounced arrival at 9:30 PM local time. Hyderabad Police Chief CV Anand stated:
“There was no intimation from the theatre management or the actor’s team about his visit.”
Arjun’s lawyer argued in court that the actor could not be held responsible, as the crush occurred on a different floor from where he was present.
Following the tragedy, Allu Arjun expressed his sorrow on social media, writing:
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally.”
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The actor also pledged financial assistance of ₹2.5 million ($29,480) to the bereaved family and committed to covering the medical expenses of the injured boy.
The film’s production house, Mythri Movie Makers, released a statement promising full support to the victims’ family. The tragic incident has reignited discussions about crowd management and safety protocols at high-profile events in India, where such accidents are not uncommon.
While Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 has been a highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise, the tragedy has cast a shadow over its release. The incident underscores the pressing need for stringent crowd control measures to prevent such devastating outcomes in the future.
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