Hyderabad:

In a major relief to actor Allu Arjun, a court here has relaxed the conditions of his bail in the ‘Pushpa 2’ stampede case, exempting him from appearing before the investigating officer every Sunday.

The court also permitted him to travel abroad to specified countries, with the condition that he must undertake to appear before the SHO of the Chikkadpally police station as and when required.

He has been directed to inform the SHO of his travel schedule for each trip and provide details of his place of stay in the destination country until the charge sheet is filed.

The remaining bail conditions remain unchanged, the court noted in its order dated January 10.

The court’s decision followed a petition filed by the actor seeking relaxation of the bail conditions.

Previously, while granting regular bail to Allu Arjun on January 3, the court had instructed him to appear before the investigating officer every Sunday between 10 am and 1 pm for two months or until the filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier.

He was also barred from leaving the country without prior court permission.

Additionally, the court had directed the actor to cooperate with the inquiry and refrain from interfering with the ongoing investigation or influencing witnesses in any manner.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in connection with the stampede case and released from jail on December 14 after the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks, which ended on January 10.

The actor named Accused No. 11 in the case, subsequently filed a regular bail petition.

A 35-year-old woman died, and her eight-year-old son was injured in a stampede on December 4 at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, as fans jostled to get a glimpse of the actor during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2’.

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

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun on Tuesday visited the boy, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after suffering serious injury in a stampede at the premiere of his latest film Pushpa 2. Earlier, Arjun was scheduled to visit the hospital on January 5 but the plan was cancelled.

The actor is added as accused No 11 in the case filed after a woman died and her eight-year-old son sustained serious injuries in the stampede on December 4.

During Allu Arjun’s visit to the hospital on Tuesday, Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) Chairman Dil Raju was also present. Security was enhanced at the hospital in view of the actor’s visit.

The SHO of Ramgopalpet Police Station had issued a notice to Allu Arjun regarding his proposed visit to the hospital and advised him to keep it confidential so that public order could be maintained in and around the hospital.

The SHO said police would make necessary arrangements for his visit.

The ‘Pushpa’ actor had earlier said that he remained deeply concerned about the boy, who is under constant medical care after the incident. He wished the boy a speedy recovery and said he is looking forward to meeting him and his family, but was advised not to due to ongoing legal proceedings.

The stampede occurred at Sandhya theatre in Hyderabad on December 4 as fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor during the Pushpa 2 premiere.

Following the tragedy, a case was registered against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management at the Chikkadpally police station. The charges were filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by the woman’s family.

He was arrested on December 13 in connection with the case. However, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail on December 14. He was granted regular bail by a city court on January 3.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

The Ramgopalpet Police Station in Hyderabad has issued a notice to popular actor Allu Arjun, advising him not to visit KIMS Hospital at Secundarabad to see the boy who was injured in the stampede at Sandhya Theatre.

“In view of the heightened public interest in this matter, and to ensure minimal disruption to the hospital’s operations and other patients, we recommend you to reconsider this public visit,” reads a notice issued by the Station House Officer, Ramgopalpet Police Station.

The actor apparently dropped his plans to visit the hospital on Sunday morning after receipt of the notice.

Allu Arjun reportedly planned to visit the hospital after his appearance at Chikkadpally Police Station on Sunday as per the conditions laid down by a city court while granting him regular bail.

The notice further states that if the actor still intends to visit the hospital, his management should coordinate with hospital authorities and police to plan his entry and exist in such a way that minimises inconvenience to the hospital inmates and the general public.

Allu Arjun was also advised to maintain his confidentiality to prevent any gathering of the public/media at the premises which could disturb the peaceful environs of the hospital.

The actor was warned that in case of lack of cooperation from his side, he would be held solely responsible for any negative consequences of his visit to the hospital.

Eight-year-old Sri Tej, who was injured in the stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premier show of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ on December 4, is still undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital.

Sri Tej’s mother, Revathi, was killed in the stampede, which triggered a huge row with the police booking the actor, his team and theatre management for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The police had claimed that Allu Arjun visited the theatre without permission and conducted a ‘roadshow’ which led to the tragedy.

The actor also came under criticism from various quarters for not consoling the family of the the person who died or visiting the injured boy at the hospital.

The actor’s father and producer Allu Arvind visited the hospital twice. During his last visit on December 25, he presented a cheque of Rs 2 crore to the victim’s family.

While Allu Arjun has given Rs 1 crore, Mythri Movies, the producers of the movie, have extended an assistance of Rs 50 lakh. The film’s director, Sukumar, has also given Rs 50 lakh to the family.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 in the case. He was presented before Nampally court, which remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.

The same day, Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks. He was released from jail the next day.

On January 3, Nampally Court granted regular bail to the actor. As per one of the bail conditions, he has to report to Chikkadpally Police Station every Sunday.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The recent face-off between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and actor Allu Arjun over the stampede at Sandhya Theatre on December 5 has begun to show signs of de-escalation, with conciliatory statements and compensation for the victim’s family.

The outpour of sympathy and support for the family of the 39-year-old mother who tragically died, and her nine-year-old son who survived life-threatening injuries, is heartening. One can only hope that as a society, we take collective responsibility to prevent such stampedes—particularly those caused by the frenzy surrounding film stars and movie releases.

That said, the Arjun vs. Reddy battle mirrors a familiar narrative in southern Indian politics: the clash between a star and a powerful politician. This story has played out numerous times, both in the political arena and in film scripts. In real-world politics, history shows that it is generally unwise for politicians to antagonise stars, especially those at the peak of their popularity.  

MGR vs Karunanidhi

The first notable example from Tamil Nadu where a politician who took on a star lost the battle is the defining story of Dravidian politics. The late Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, M. Karunanidhi, antagonised the enormously popular M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), an actor who had a massive following.

MGR worked closely with Karunanidhi in films and was part of the DMK, which was founded by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, or ‘Anna’. When Anna passed away while in office in 1969, Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister and president of the DMK. A rift with MGR followed, leading to a split in the party. MGR went on to form his own party, the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK), and not only defeated Karunanidhi’s DMK but also kept him out of power until his death in 1987.

While there were many other factors at play, including the declaration of emergency, it was fundamentally the narrative of MGR’s persecution that fuelled the rise of the AIADMK. This emotional connection helped keep Karunanidhi and his DMK out of power in successive elections, till MGR was alive. 

Rajnikanth vs. Jayalalithaa, 1996

In 1996, the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa—MGR’s successor and a popular actor who took over the AIADMK—had a face-off with superstar Rajnikanth. The friction between the two leaders, who were neighbours in Chennai’s posh Poes Garden area, escalated when Rajnikanth publicly declared that “even God could not save the state if Jayalalithaa came back to power”.

In the 1996 elections, the AIADMK was decisively routed, with even Jayalalithaa losing her seat. There were multiple reasons for this defeat and Rajnikanth’s statement contributed to the atmosphere, but the episode serves as a reminder that a public confrontation with a powerful star is rarely advantageous for a politician in Dravidian politics.

Although Rajnikanth never formally entered politics, he made a film in 1998, Padayappa, where the antagonist was a woman—interpreted by many as a veiled reference to the ousted Jayalalithaa. In the years that followed, there was a reconciliation between the two, with Rajnikanth remaining officially apolitical, though he sporadically made statements in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until Jayalalithaa’s death.

NTR In Telugu politics, Rajkumar In Karnataka

In the world of Telugu politics, it was the most popular star of the time, NT Rama Rao (NTR), who toppled the Congress in 1983. While there was no narrative of the “persecution of the star” in the assembly battle back then, NTR capitalised on a narrative of the Congress hurting Telugu pride. This political victory still contributes to the stereotype of star power in Southern politics.

Generally, political leaders in Telugu, Tamil and even Kannada politics have treaded carefully when dealing with stars. For example, in Karnataka, Kannada superstar Rajkumar, who stayed away from politics throughout his life, played a significant role in the Gokak agitation for the Kannada language in the early 1980s. This movement contributed to the defeat of the then Congress Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao and the Janata Party’s victory in the 1983 state elections.

While not all stars have been successful in politics, there are enough historical lessons for southern politicians to avoid friction with a star—especially one at the height of his popularity.

What Reddy Can Learn From Stalin

Currently, Tamil Nadu is witnessing the rise of actor Vijay with his political party. Although Vijay has been critical of the ruling DMK, Chief Minister Stalin has refrained from engaging in a war of words. Stalin has even instructed his party, including his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi, to avoid getting involved in a public dispute.

Having been a witness to the history of Dravidian politics as the late Karunanidhi’s aide, Stalin understands that politically attacking a star only boosts his or her mass appeal and influence.  

While the Arjun Vs Reddy controversy isn’t electoral in nature—at least not yet—it remains unclear how such a public confrontation erupted in Hyderabad, given the deeply intertwined world of politics and cinema. With close connections, including family linkages, it’s hard to believe this was purely about the stampede. Whatever the reasons, history is a reminder for Revanth Reddy to avoid star-studded confrontations in the future. 

(TM Veeraraghav is Executive Editor, NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Hyderabad:

Telugu film producer D Suresh Babu told NDTV today that they are extremely satisfied with the meeting with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, held amid the huge row over the stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall. The Chief Minister has squarely blamed actor Allu Arjun and his team for instigating it and said actors, along with the police, are accountable for public order.  

“It was wholeheartedly satisfying meeting for everybody. It was one of  the best interactions between the Chief Minister and everybody… everybody spoke their hearts off… They said whatever they wanted and he was also very positive,” he said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.  

Eyewitnesses have made it clear that Allu Arjun’s team had unofficially made it clear that he would present at the Sandhya Theatre for the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’ on December 4. When the 3000-strong crowd started jostling for a glimpse of the actor, his bouncers had acted tough and escalated the crisis. 

A woman died in the stampede and her eight-year-old was critically injured in the stampede that followed, which sparked one of the biggest rows and political blame game in recent months. 

The Chief Minister and the police said that the Telugu superstar was present at the spot despite the denial of permission – allegations the actor has refuted. 

At the meeting today with the representatives of the film industry, who included Allu Arjun’s father, producer Allu Arvind, the Chief Minister said crowd-control is as much the responsibility of celebrities as it is that of the police. For their public appearances, actors have to work with the police, he added, underscoring that there will be no compromise on law and order.

The recent stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall that claimed the life of a woman, is not entirely the fault of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, the government and the police also had a role to play, an eyewitness of the tragedy has pointed out. Vijay who was at the spot on December 4 during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, explained several aspects of the situation that have not been widely known so far. 

Speaking to NDTV, Vijay said, “It is not that Allu Arjun is completely at fault. So is the police and so is the government. It is the government who gave permission and who charges Rs 1100 per ticket and what did they give us in return? They gave us lathicharge… Instead of trying to blame each other, everybody has to own up to their mistakes”.

Close to 3000 people had gathered at the spot for a glimpse of Allu Arjun, whose PR team had made it “obvious” that he would be present for the premiere, he told NDTV.

The police station, he added, is just 1 km away from the spot where these 3000 people gathered. Even so, the police deployed only 20 to 25 personnel, who were assisting VIPs who came for the premiere, he said. 

“They were trying to make way for the VIPs to enter the theatre and there was no one to check the tickets, nor to control the crowds and there was no barricade or ropes,” he told NDTV.  

“My point here is that the police are overenthusiastic in trying to prevent any law-and-order situation. Why did they not send Allu Arjun back if they have not given any permission?” he said. 

Allu Arjun underwent a marathon 3-4 hour questioning session today. The police have indicated thye might question him again soon. 

After a woman ws killed and her son critically injured during the December 4 stampede, Allu Arjun was arrested but he got bail soon after. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused Allu Arjun of visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a ‘roadshow’ even after the stampede. The police said he was not ready to leave even after knowing of the woman’s death. 

Hyderabad:

Unseen footage from Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre – where a stampede December 4, as actor Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise‘ was being screened, killed a young mother and critically injured her eight-year-old child – shows the confusion and chaos that prevailed that night.

The 14-second clip doesn’t have audio but shows a crowd pushing and shoving as they funnel through a doorway. The metal gates on either side are literally torn from their hinges. The ground is littered with pieces of paper and plastic water bottles stomped on by the surging mob.

The timestamp on the video is around 9.15 pm, which is 15 minutes before Allu Arjun arrived – unannounced, according to the police – at the theatre. News of the actor’s arrival, the cops have alleged, led to the stampede as adoring fans fell over each other to get a glimpse of the actor.

In the crush that followed Revathi, 35, was killed and her eight-year-old son, Sri Tej, was left critically injured. Mr Arjun, 41, was arrested nine days after the tragic incident.

A lower court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days but, in a cinema-like twist, a few hours later the Telangana High Court granted interim bail, underscoring the actor’s right to liberty.

Mr Arjun spent the night in jail anyway because the court’s order came late.

Out on bail, the actor was summoned today to join the police investigation. He did so, appearing at the city’s Chikkadpally Police Station for a nearly four-hour question session.

Among the questions thrown at him by the police were:

• Did you know police permission had been denied for you to come to the premiere?
• Who took the call to proceed with the plan (for the actor to attend the special screening) despite denial of police permission?
• Did any police officer inform you about the stampede outside?
• When did you know about the death of the woman?

READ | “Did You Know…”: What Cops Asked Allu Arjun In ‘Pushpa 2’ Stampede Case

The actor and his security team, and the theatre owner, general and security managers have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 

On his part, Allu Arjun has rejected allegations he was responsible for the stampede and the death of the woman. On Saturday, he told reporters the incident was “very unfortunate” and criticised what he called “misinformation” and “character assassination” against him.

READ | “Misinformation, Character Assassination”: Actor Allu Arjun On Stampede Row

Public sentiment, though, has been divided; on Sunday there was a protest outside his home.

A mob barged in and vandalised parts of the compound; they broke flower pots and threw tomatoes at the building. The protesters, reportedly university students, also shouted slogans till they were ejected.

Hyderabad:

Telugu actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad Police Tuesday after a stampede at a city theatre this month killed a 35-year-old woman and left her eight-year-old with life-threatening injuries.

Mr Arjun, 41, had been summoned by the cops Monday to join the investigation.

Among the questions thrown at him by the police were:

• Did you know police permission had been denied for you to come to the premiere?
• Who took the call to proceed with the plan (for the actor to attend the special screening) despite denial of police permission?
• Did any police officer inform you about the stampede outside?
• When did you know about the death of the woman?

The questions are in line with what sources told NDTV will be the focus of the investigation – a. did Mr Arjun have permission to appear at the theatre, and b. did he have permission to interact with fans outside the theatre, which is in a city neighbourhood home to other cinema halls?

Allu Arjun had been arrested by the police on December 13, nine days after the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre. Hours later he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

READ | “Just Because He’s An Actor…”: Court Grants Interim Bail To Allu Arjun

However, hours after that, in a dramatic twist, Mr Arjun was released on interim bail by the Telangana High Court, which cited his fundamental right to liberty and flagged possible police overreach. “Just because he is an actor… he cannot be held like this,” the court said.

The police have claimed Allu Arjun’s unannounced arrival at the theatre – for a special screening of his new film – prompted the stampede as large numbers of his fans jostled and shoved each other aside for a glimpse of the actor. The young woman died in the melee that followed.

The woman, whom police have identified as Revathi, and her son were pulled out from under the crowd by the cops, who performed emergency first aid and rushed them to hospital.

The police claim Mr Arjun arrived at 9.30 pm. As news of his arrival – he used the main entrance and spent 15-20 minutes outside – spread, hundreds gathered. His security team – and bouncers at the theatre – started pushing the crowd back and that aggravated the situation.

According to the timeline being built by the cops, Allu Arjun had, by this time, disappeared into the theatre – after holding what the police said was an impromptu roadshow despite warnings.

The cops also said the bouncers were “behaving recklessly”.

“Despite the presence of the public and police, they pushed everyone aside. Their sole focus was on the VIP (Mr Arjun),” Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand told reporters last week.

READ | In Stampede Row, CCTV Shows Cops Escorting Allu Arjun From Theatre

Mr Arjun has denied holding any roadshow. “I just waved to people and went inside. No cop asked me to leave… my manager told me there is a crowd and asked me to leave,” he said.

The actor, through his office, has also countered the police’s claim they were not informed about his arrival. A letter was made public shortly after his arrest; it was dated 48 hours prior to the screening and asked for security to be made for a visit by Mr Arjun and his co-stars.

READ | After Allu Arjun’s Arrest, Letter Contradicts Cops’ “No Info” Claim

The police, though, have said no details were provided and that neither Mr Arjun’s security team nor theatre management made the request in person, as is the protocol in such cases.

The actor and his security team, and the theatre owner, general and security managers have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The theatre owner and staff were among six arrested after Mr Arjun; all six have since received bail.

Mr Arjun has been defended by his fellow actors, who say he cannot be held responsible for the actions of others. He too has dismissed allegations he was responsible for the tragic death.

Speaking at a press conference Saturday, he described the incident as “very unfortunate” and criticised what he called “misinformation” and “character assassination” against him.

READ | “Misinformation, Character Assassination”: Actor Allu Arjun On Stampede Row

Public sentiment, though, has been divided; on Sunday there was a protest outside his home.

A mob barged in and vandalised parts of the compound; they broke flower pots and threw tomatoes at the building. The protesters, reportedly university students, also shouted slogans till they were ejected.

The woman’s husband spoke to NDTV Monday and said he does not blame the actor for the stampede, and is ready to withdraw the police case against him. He claimed to have received the “full support” of Mr Arjun. The actor announced Rs 25 lakh for the family, while the producers of his film, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, have announced Rs 50 lakh more.

Hyderabad:
Actor Arjun Allu has been summoned by Hyderabad police today as part of the ongoing probe into the stampede during the screening of his movie ‘Pushpa-2’. A woman was killed and her son critically injured in the incident this month.

Here Are Top Points On ‘Pushpa 2’ Screening Stampede Case:

Hyderabad:

A senior leader of the Congress in Telangana has filed a complaint with the police against Telugu superstar Allu Arjun over his new movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, alleging a scene in it insults the police force.

Congress’s Theenmar Mallanna filed the complaint with the Medipalli police station. Besides the actor, the complaint names the movie’s director Sukumar, and the producers. 

Theenmar Mallanna has specifically criticised a scene where the protagonist urinates in a swimming pool while a police officer is in it. The MLC described the scene as disrespectful and degrading to the dignity of law enforcement officers.

In his complaint, he demanded action against the film’s director Sukumar and Allu Arjun, who plays the lead, as well as the producers of the movie. He urged authorities to take strict measures to address what he called an offensive portrayal of the police.

The fresh complaint comes on the heels of the massive row over the stampede at a movie hall in Hyderabad during the premiere of the film on December 4. A woman had died at Sandhya Theatre and her eight-year-old son, who was critically injured, is still in a coma. 

Allu Arjun, who was present for the premiere despite the refusal of police permission, was arrested and is currently out on bail. 

While the woman’s husband, Bhaskar, says he is ready to drop the case against the actor, the state police has issued a fresh notice to Allu Arjun, asking him to appear for questioning at 11 am on Tuesday. 

The matter is now escalating into a political row, with the state’s Opposition BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi targetting the Congress government over Sunday’s violent protests at the actor’s house. 

The Opposition is claiming that some of the attackers belonged to the Kodangal assembly constituency of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

Six people, who claim to be students of Osmania University have been arrested for allegedly throwing tomatoes at Allu Arjun’s home and damaging flower pots.