Telugu actor Allu Arjun leaves the state-run Gandhi Hospital after medical check up, in Hyderabad, Friday. (PTI)
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Actor Allu Arjun, the star of Pushpa 2, was on Friday arrested in connection with a stampede during the premiere of his movie in Hyderabad. The December 4 incident left 39-year-old M Revathi dead and her son critically injured.
Big picture: The case started a political slugfest in Congress-ruled Telangana. Opposition parties BRS and BJP say the police’s action against Arjun was excessive. “Holding him accountable for something he isn’t directly responsible for is unjust and unwarranted,” BJP legislator T Raja said.
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Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said there would be no interference in the case. “Law will take its own due course, and nobody will intervene in the investigation of the case,” he said in a statement.
Police action: Hyderabad Police, especially officials from Chikkadpally police station and Chikkadpally division, faced criticism for the manner in which they took Arjun into custody, allegedly following him to his bedroom.
The management at Sandhya Theatre, where the stampede took place, also released a copy of a letter seeking police permission for Arjun’s visit to the premiere. Police claim the permission was denied.
Arjun’s day: Police arrived at his Jubilee Hills home on Friday morning. There, Arjun was heard telling officers that it was inappropriate for them to walk up to his bedroom and that they had not given him time to change his clothes or finish breakfast.
Arjun’s father, film producer Allu Aravind, accompanied him to Chikkapally police station, where the case is registered.
Arjun was then taken to Gandhi Hospital for a medical checkup and produced before the IX Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at the Nampally Court Complex.
Court proceedings: The actor’s lawyers argued he could not be held responsible for the stampede. The prosecution contended Arjun and his security team knew his arrival would draw a large crowd. The prosecution also said police had asked Sandhya Theatre management not to invite Arjun.
After nearly two hours of deliberations, the court remanded Arjun to 14 days’ judicial custody.
However, he had already moved a bail plea at Telangana High Court, and as police were taking him to Chanchalguda prison, the HC granted him interim bail.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
