Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun addressed the media for the first time following his release from jail. He was arrested in connection with a stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2 at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on December 4, which tragically claimed the life of a woman and left her son critically injured.
Speaking emotionally after his release, Allu Arjun said, “First and foremost, I thank my fans and everyone who extended their immense love and support. I respect the law and will fully cooperate with the investigation. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. This was an unfortunate incident, completely beyond my control.”
Reflecting on the tragedy, he added, “For the past 20 years, I have been attending screenings of my films, and this is the first time such an incident has occurred. I will do everything in my power to support the affected family. While we cannot bring back the life lost, I stand by them during this difficult time.”
Allu Arjun’s lawyer, Ashok Reddy, called the arrest “unlawful” and accused jail authorities of deliberately delaying his release despite a court order. The Telangana High Court granted Arjun bail, emphasizing that no individual should be detained for an extended period solely because of their celebrity status.
The stampede reportedly occurred due to Allu Arjun’s unannounced visit to the theatre, for which police and local authorities had not been informed. A complaint filed by the victim’s husband led to cases being registered against the actor, his security team, and the theatre management.
