It was an arrest that ignited heated debates all over the nation after the Tollywood star, Allu Arjun, was taken into custody following a tragic stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. The woman was killed in the stampede and her little son was fighting for his life when the actor was behind bars for one night before getting released on interim bail. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s statements have further intensified the debate over the issue.
CM Revanth Reddy’s Remarks
Speaking to a national media outlet during his visit to Davos, CM Revanth Reddy addressed questions regarding the arrest of Allu Arjun. When asked if the arrest of a popular actor was justified, he stated, “CM Chandrababu Naidu might not have all the details. When assessed objectively, the arrest seems reasonable.”
Revanth expressed disappointment over the actor’s delayed response following the tragedy. “The stampede and resulting death may not have been directly caused by Allu Arjun, but his failure to support the grieving family for over 10 days raises serious questions about his responsibility as a public figure,” he said.
Allegations of Ignoring Warnings
CM Revanth Reddy highlighted negligence on the part of Allu Arjun and his team. “Two days prior to the event, the police had denied permission for the premiere. Despite this, he went ahead with the event, and the actions of his security team created chaos, ultimately leading to a stampede. A woman lost her life, and her son is fighting for his life in the hospital. This is not just about the tragedy itself but also about the lack of timely support extended to the victim’s family,” he remarked.
Film Industry Under Scrutiny
The Chief Minister also criticized the overwhelming support from the film industry for Allu Arjun following his arrest. “Why did so many film personalities rush to console him? Did he suffer any significant injury or loss? Instead, why did no one visit the family of the deceased or the boy in the hospital? This misplaced sympathy is deeply troubling,” Revanth asserted.
He further added, “Allu Arjun is a successful actor earning through films. He hasn’t done anything extraordinary like serving on the battlefield. Why is his arrest being treated as the central issue when the real tragedy is the loss of life and the suffering of a family?”
Rising Public Tensions
The controversy took another turn when Allu Arjun held a press meet, claiming that his reputation was being unfairly attacked. The situation escalated with protests and even stone-pelting incidents at the actor’s residence. Senior members of the Telugu film industry eventually stepped in to mediate and defuse tensions.