In a shocking turn of events, Telugu superstar Allu Arjun found himself caught up in a controversy after a tragic stampede occurred at the premiere of his movie “Pushpa 2: The Rule” in Hyderabad. The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, which killed a 35-year woman and left her eight-year-old son critically injured2. Thus Allu Arjun was summoned for questioning by the Chikkadpally police.

The Incident and Immediate Aftermath

The stampede occurred at Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad when crowds gathered in thousands to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun and his co-star Rashmika Mandhana. The mayhem was caused when Allu Arjun proceeded to wave at fans from the sun roof of his car. His actions triggered the undeclared chaos that ensued in the tragic incident1. Police has registered cases against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on the complaint lodged by victim’s family.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13, 2024, and further, the Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail on December 14 as soon as he was arrested. During this period, however, the police usually issue summons to him for questioning on December 24, 20242.

Important Questions by the Police

Allu Arjun was then questioned on some of the important interrogations by the police to strengthen their understanding of his role and knowledge about the events preceding the stampede. Some of the key questions were:

• Did the authorities forewarn by notifying you not to come to Sandhya Theatre?
• Are you aware that police denied permission for you to attend these screenings?
• Did you take permission from the police to attend the opening show?
• Did your PR team give an explanation about the Sandhya Theatre location in advance to you?
• How many security personnel did you put in for the event?

These questions were directed towards finding out whether Allu Arjun and his team were aware of the possible hazards and whether proper preventive measures were done to avert such an incidence.

Public and Media Response

The entire incident along with the questioning of Allu Arjun created a sensation for media and public. Some criticize the actor, while there are compliments for inadequate crowd control at the venue. The media is ever-ready in delivering live updates and analyses by various news agencies4 throughout the event.

Political and Social Fallout

There has been a buzz politically about this stampede, with many parties making noises on the issue. The BJP and BRS have alleged that the Congress-led government was behind all this state-sponsored attack on Allu, whereas Congress refutes any such criticism as a bias against the film industry5.The incident calls for better crowd management and safety mechanisms in all public events, especially celebrity events.

The Reaction from Allu Arjun

Allu Arjun claimed that, according to him, he was unaware about the denial of permission by the police and did not have any impure intentions. He offered good wishes for the bereaved family of the victim and asserted that he will fully participate in the investigation.

Conclusion

The stampede at the Allu Arjun “Pushpa 2” premiere, followed by Allu Arjun’s questioning, has thrown up many possible problems of public safety and celebrity responsibility that plague the present time. The investigation continues, and depending on its outcome, it would be interesting to see how authorities see those concerns and what will be done going forward to correct the situation.

That is, the case probably reminds us of the precarious balance public admiration must maintain with safety, and the importance of proper planning and coordination to make it happen.