Blaming the Sandhya 70 mm theatre management and actor Allu Arjun for the stampede and the subsequent death of a young mother, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said he will not allow Tollywood to play with lives.
Published Dec 21, 2024 | 7:58 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 22, 2024 | 10:05 AM
Chaos unfolded at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2 following actor Allu Arjun’s arrival.
An actor unmoved by a death, a theatre that defied police advise, a film industry that showed no concern for a family that lost its kin and an Opposition that defended the accused instead of sympathising with victims — that is how Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the situation around the death of a woman at a film’s premiere and its aftermath.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recalled the series of incidents that preceded and followed a fatal stampede at Sandhya Theatre on 4 December. The theatre was then premiering Pushpa 2: The Rule, with Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna as the lead pair.
The chief minister narrated the incidents in response to AIMIM member Akbaruddin Owaisi’s specific question in the Telangana assembly on Saturday, 21 December.
While replying, Revanth Reddy also issued a stern warning to Tollywood, saying all were equal before the law. He was referring to the arrest of Allu Arjun, which gave the Opposition ammunition to train guns at the government.
Here is the series of incidents, as told by Revanth Reddy:
2 December 2024: The management of the Sandhya Theatre approaches the police, seeking security cover. The police were told that Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and members of the production team would be visiting the theatre two days later.
3 December: Police deny permission. Citing space constraints, the management was asked to drop the plan. The police also pointed out that the theatre had only one entrance, which would make crowd management difficult. The management was also reminded of the theatre’s location in a crowded area.
4 December: The theatre management goes ahead with the plan, despite the police denying permission.
9 pm, 4 December: Allu Arjun and others arrive at the theatre. Instead of quietly going in and watching the movie, he emerges through the sunroof of his vehicle, and waves at the crowd, converting his visit into a roadshow.
Seeing Arjun, the crowd surges forward in a bid to have a closer look of the star.
The theatre premise becomes free for all. Arjun’s security detail — some 50 to 60 bouncers — pushes back people who were rushing forward.
News of Arjun’s visit spreads in the neighbourhood. People, especially youth, from nearby theatres rush to Sandhya Theatre.
Bhaskar Magudampalli, his wife Revathi and their children Sri Tej (9) and Sanvika (8) were at the theatre. They had purchased four tickets for ₹12,000 (₹3,000 per ticket). Tej was a diehard Arjun fan. The mother and son get separated from the father and daughter in the melee.
Even as the crowd rushed towards Allu Arjun, Revathi and Tej get squeezed in the chaos, suffocate and fall down unconscious.
The police rushed in and performed CPR on the boy. Both mother and child were rushed to a hospital. However, the mother had died before receiving medical attention.
Revathi was found holding the boy tight even in death. Tej has since been in comatose and on life support.
11 pm, 4 December: ACP tries to meet Arjun but was prevented by the actor’s security personnel. The police officer was not allowed entry even as the movie’s crew continued to watch the screening.
The officer forces his way into the theatre and asks the actor to leave. Arjun, however, stays put. The ACP also conveys to the actor that a woman had lost her life and at least two others were injured in the crowd surge. The actor allegedly remains unmoved.
DCP arrives at the scene. Asks Arjun and his entourage to leave. The actor was told the crowd outside was going out of control. When Allu Arjun allegedly refuses to leave, the officer tells the actor that he will be arrested if he did not leave.
12 midnight: The actor leaves. On his way out, despite being informed of the death and injuries, he once again waves at the crowd from the sunroof.
Police file a case against Arjun and the theatre management.
13 December: Police arrest Arjun from his residence, and take him to the station. Actor acts rudely with the officers.
The Telangana High Court granted him bail after a trial court remanded him in custody for 14 days.
14 December: Arjun released from prison.
21 December: Chief Minister Revanth Reddy narrates the series of events that preceded the stampede. He also delivers a stern warning to Tollywood.
The actor did not meet the grieving family nor visit the hospital where the boy has been undergoing treatment. None of the celebrities who met Arjun, too, did not visit the family. In a statement, the actor claimed that his legal team had advised against meeting the family. Injured Tej’s family said that Allu Arjun had been taking care of hospital expenses but the Telangana government has since taken over that responsibility.
Revanth Reddy further said that BRS leaders, who were ministers for 10 years, attacked him for arresting Arjun. The opposition party also used filthy language against the government after the arrest of the person responsible for Revathi’s death.
Stating that there was no separate law for film actors, the chief minister said the government would adhere to the law sourced from the Indian Constitution authored by Dr BR Ambedkar.
“We will not tolerate if the film industry plays with the lives of the people. As long as I am in this chair, I will not allow such incidents to happen,” the chief minister told the Assembly.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
