Arjun, who was arrested on 13 December and is listed as Accused No. 11, is currently out on conditional bail. His appearance on Tuesday follows a notice served by the police, requiring him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Published Dec 24, 2024 | 1:12 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 24, 2024 | 1:12 PM
Allu Arjun appears for questioning. (Screengrab)
Actor Allu Arjun on Tuesday, 24 December appeared before the Hyderabad police at the Chikkadapalli police station for questioning.
The questioning which began at around 11 am, is still in progress, with Central Zone DCP Akshansh Yadav leading the investigation team.
Arjun, who was arrested on 13 December and is listed as Accused No. 11, is currently out on conditional bail. His appearance on Tuesday follows a notice served by the police, requiring him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
The case against the Pushpa 2 actor is in connection with the fatal 4 December stampede at the Sandhya 70 MM theatre at RTC X roads, which was triggered by his visit to the theatre, where his movie was being screened. A woman was killed and her nine-year-old son has been seriously injured and is currently hospitalised.
Allu Arjun has been accompanied by his father, producer Allu Arvind, and his advocates.
Police were deployed at the police station and Arjun’s residence, and the road leading to the police station was closed
Until late into the night on Monday, 23 December, the actor discussed the case details with his advocates’ team.
They have reportedly discussed the probable questions the police might ask and his answers. Initially, the actor considered seeking more time but decided against it. According to sources, he did not want to appear dodging the inquiry and decided to attend the inquiry as asked by the police.
#Hyderabad: #AlluArjun Appears at Chikkadpally Police Station for Questioning in Stampede Case
Actor Allu Arjun has arrived at Chikkadpally Police Station for questioning in connection with the Sandhya Theatre stampede case. The incident, which occurred on December 4, resulted… pic.twitter.com/XU01RnLUJk
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) December 24, 2024
The police inquiry is taking place against the backdrop of Hyderabad police Commissioner CV Anand releasing a video on how the stampede took place and how the actor left the Sandhya Theatre with police providing security to his vehicle.
The video nailed Allu Arjun’s lie that no policemen had told him that a woman died and her son was injured critically in the stampede.
In a video presentation, the police displayed a letter they had sent to the theatre management, instructing them not to allow Allu Arjun or the film crew to attend the show.
They also displayed visuals of the stampede-like situation emerging as the police opened the gates for the actor’s cars.
The police detailed that, between 9.28 pm and 9.34 pm, people had flocked to the theatre from surrounding areas to catch a glimpse of the Tollywood actor.
The video further showed the area where Revathi and Sri Tej lost consciousness in the lower balcony due to the accumulating crowd in the upper balcony.
The police said that Allu Arjun refused to leave the theatre even at 11.45 pm when the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) asked him to leave, informing him of the situation. The actor reportedly stated that he would only leave after the film’s completion.
The police supported this claim by presenting visuals of police personnel entering the theatre and of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) escorting Allu Arjun out of the venue.
During a press conference on the evening of 21 December, Allu Arjun maintained that he had followed due procedure while attending the premiere show as per police directions.
Pusha 2: The Rule hero said the incident was purely an accident. Arjun made the clarification hours after Revanth Reddy accused in the state Assembly that the actor had remained insensitive to the tragic incident.
The Tollywood star said the charge that he had remained in the theatre after being informed about the woman’s death was an outright lie.
Speaking in the Assembly on 21 December, the Chief Minister said he was pained by stars from the Telugu film industry queuing up to meet Allu Arjun following his arrest and swift release on bail, even as a nine-year-old boy was battling for his life in hospital.
Asserting that the rule of law is equal, he said: “The government goes by the rules and the law. We cannot relax the rules for celebrities. I cannot do it even for my family.
“Just because a film actor is a superstar, can he do whatever he wants and get away with it?” he questioned.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Raj Rayasam)
