Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticized the arrest of Telugu actor Allu Arjun in connection with the tragic stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre. The incident occurred during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule on December 4, which led to the death of a 35-year-old woman and hospitalization of her child.
In his statement, Jagan Reddy expressed that it was unfair to hold Allu Arjun directly responsible for the tragic loss of life. He emphasized that the actor had publicly expressed his condolences and offered support to the woman’s family. He further questioned how Allu Arjun could be framed as a culprit when the incident occurred without any direct interference from him.
“Allu Arjun has expressed his heartfelt sympathy for the woman’s family and pledged support, but framing him as responsible for a stampede that spiraled out of control is unjust,” Reddy stated. “Such actions are not the right way to handle this situation,” he added.
Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday and was initially remanded to judicial custody. However, hours later, the Telangana High Court granted the actor interim bail after he was sent to a 14-day jail sentence by the local court.
The tragic stampede occurred when the crowd became unmanageable at the Sandhya Theatre during the movie’s screening. While many have expressed outrage over the incident, Reddy’s comments reflect concerns over the handling of the case and whether the actor should be held accountable for the chaos that unfolded.
The incident and its aftermath have sparked widespread debate on accountability and the handling of large public gatherings, with the case continuing to attract attention from political figures and the public alike.
