Theatre stampede: Actor Allu Arjun appears before police for questioning

TOP Telugu actor Allu Arjun on Tuesday appeared before the Chikkadpally police in Hyderabad for questioning in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' here on December 4.

The actor was issued a notice to appear before the police at 11 AM today. Security was stepped up at his residence as well as Chikkadpally police station, and he waved to the crowd before leaving for the police station.

Police imposed restrictions on the movement of traffic on roads approaching the station.

Allu Arjun has earlier said he would cooperate with the investigation.

The notice came a day after police commissioner C V Anand released a video showing the sequence of events at the theatre.

A 35-year-old woman died during the stampede at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad on December 4 and her eight-year-old son was hospitalised.

Following the incident, the city police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint lodged by the deceased woman's family.

Allu Arjun, named as accused no 11, was arrested by the city police in connection with the death of the woman on December 13.

The Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail on the same day and he was released from a prison here December 14 morning.

Attack on his house

The police have also beefed up security at the actor's house in Hyderabad following an attack on Sunday.

Six people, claiming to be members of Osmania University - Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC), were arrested in this connection and were granted bail on Monday (23).

The miscreants were arrested after they allegedly damaged flower pots and threw tomatoes at Arjun's residence on Sunday evening.

They were arrested by police and produced before a local court which granted them bail on Monday.

Political slugfest

The incident also led to a fierce political slugfest with the BJP joining the BRS in attacking the Congress government, saying some of the attackers belonged to the Kodangal assembly constituency of chief minister A Revanth Reddy.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Reddy had condemned the attack and directed the state DGP and the city police commissioner to be tough in maintaining law and order.

BRS leader T Harish Rao termed the incident a "complete failure of governance" while BJP Lok Sabha member D K Aruna claimed that four of those who indulged in vandalism at the 42-year-old actor's house belong to Kodangal.

Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said it is wrong to link the vandals with the Congress party by merely showing some photos.

Those accused in the incident had photos taken with leaders of other parties as well, he said.

Pachayat Raj Minister D Anasuya Seethakka alleged that BRS and BJP are politicising the issue. One life was lost and another is battling for life, she said.

Meanwhile, Allu Arjun's father-in-law Chandrasekhar Reddy met AICC Telangana in-charge Deepa Dasmunsi at the Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud said.

However, it was not clear what transpired between the leaders.

Assistance to family

The producers of 'Pushpa-2' on Monday extended financial assistance of ₹5 million (£46,802.24) to the family of the woman who died in a stampede during the screening of the film on December 4.

Naveen Yerneni, the producer, visited the hospital where the victim's eight-year-old son was undergoing treatment and handed over a cheque to the family.

According to the hospital, the boy is currently maintaining stable vital parameters and continues to be off oxygen and ventilator, while his neurological status remains the same. (PTI)