Allu Arjun attended the screening of 'Pushpa 2' despite police refusal: Revanth Reddy

Hyderabad:

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday alleged that despite not getting police permission, top Telugu actor Allu Arjun visited the theater here where 'Pushpa-2' was shown on December 4. However, the top actor had denied the allegation.

He alleged that the actor did not leave the cinema hall even after the death of a woman in the stampede, following which the police had to forcibly throw him out.

Responding to the issue after it was raised in the Assembly by AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, Mr. Reddy, citing the viral video, blamed Allu Arjun for organizing the road show and waving to the crowd despite the huge crowd.

Mr. Reddy further said that the theater management had submitted a letter to the police on December 2 demanding security for the visit of top actors and others on December 4. However, the police rejected the application citing difficulties in crowd management and the fact that it was a theatre. Only one entry and exit.

Hours after Sri Reddy criticized the actor, Allu Arjun refuted the allegations in a hastily arranged press conference, saying it was not true and in fact, the police were clearing the way for him and he was under their instructions. Reached the venue.

He also denied allegations that he had done a road show by waving at the crowd, without mentioning anyone.

“If there was no permission, they would have asked us to return and I am a law abiding citizen. I would have followed that. No such information was given to me. I am following as per their guidance. And it was not a procession. It was a crowd a few meters away from the theatre.” He said, it was the police who were clearing the way for him and he reached the venue on their instructions.

Mr Reddy alleged that before entering and exiting the theatre, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowd at the road show, leading to thousands of fans vying to catch a glimpse of him.

Mr Reddy said thousands of fans gathered when the actor arrived as there are many theaters in the area.

The actor's personal security sidelined fans, leading to a stampede-like situation, he said.

Mr. Reddy, who narrated the incident, said that the theater management initially did not allow a police officer to meet the actor in view of the prevailing situation and asked him to leave the place. However, the officers approached the actor and asked him to leave as the crowd would not leave until he left. The actor did not bow down.

After this, a senior police officer who reached the spot asked the actor to leave immediately, otherwise he would have to be taken to the police station if the situation went out of control.

The senior officer threw the actor out of the theatre. While leaving, the actor again waved towards the crowd. “What kind of person (the actor was)”, asked Sri Reddy.

He said that when the police reached his residence to inform him about the case against him, the actor allegedly did not behave properly with the police.

He criticized film celebrities for arriving at Allu Arjun's residence to meet him after his arrest, but did not show sympathy for meeting the boy who is undergoing treatment in the hospital and is brain dead after being injured in the incident. Such a situation had to be faced.

“I appeal to top film personalities that they should not be inhumane,” he said.

“When he (Allu Arjun) was taken to the police station for a day, the High Court also accepted the lunch motion petition and granted him bail. Our people are saying that he should be released at 12 midnight. Where is the provision (for midnight release)?,” he asked.

He also said that he is constantly monitoring the health condition of the boy.

He said the film industry can take incentives and subsidies from the government, but there will be no special facilities in case of untoward incidents like deaths in stampedes and said the government will not spare those who harass the common people.

Mr Reddy attacked BRS working president KT Rama Rao without naming him for criticizing the government over the arrest of Allu Arjun.

State Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy spoke against allowing 'benefit shows' at night without permission. He announced an assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the victim's family and the government will also take care of the boy's health.

Meanwhile, the eight-year-old boy, who is being treated at a private super-speciality hospital here, is maintaining his vital parameters well without any external support of oxygen or inotropes.

“He is tolerating nasogastric feeding well. He was having intermittent recurrence of fever for which some investigations have been sent. His neurological condition is stable,” KIMS Cuddles said in a release.

A 35-year-old woman was killed and her eight-year-old son was injured during a stampede-like situation at Sandhya Theater in Hyderabad on December 4, when thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor during the premiere. Blockbuster 'Pushpa 2'.

Following the incident, the city police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Justice Code (BNS) against Allu Arjun, his security team and the theater management at Chikkadappally police station based on a complaint by the victim woman's family.

Allu Arjun was arrested by the city police on December 13 in connection with the woman's death. The Telangana High Court granted him four weeks' interim bail the same day and he was released from jail here on the morning of December 14.