Hyderabad: Medak Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Raghunandan Rao questioned why Hyderabad Police did not make preventive arrests if there was no prior permission for actor Allu Arjun’s presence at Sandhya Theatre on the day of Pushpa 2’s premiere.
His remarks come in the background of an ongoing investigation into a woman’s death in a stampede at Sandhya Theatre in the city on December 4.
Video: Allu Arjun appears before Hyderabad police in theatre stampede case
The Medak MP asserted that not just the film industry, but no industry should be intimidated by “threats” from chief minister A Revanth Reddy.
Rao criticized the government’s handling of the situation, suggesting that the Hyderabad police showed “over-enthusiasm” in their actions around the incident.
He expressed concern over the police’s inaction on December 4, “especially when political leaders are often preemptively arrested during protests.”
Rao emphasized that the police should clarify their stance on the matter, particularly regarding why they did not preventively arrest Allu Arjun at his residence.
He pointed out that the issue concerning Allu Arjun is currently in court, and therefore, no comments should be made on it.
Allu Arjun appears for investigation
Allu Arjun on Tuesday appeared before police for questioning in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case.
Amid tight security, the national award-winning actor reached Chikkadpally Police Station around 11 a.m.
On Monday, the police issued a notice to the actor, directing him to appear before them for further questioning.
Police stepped up security at the police station and imposed restrictions on movement of vehicles.
Allu Arjun’s father Allu Arvind and his lawyers also reached the police station.
The legal team of the actor was at his residence till late Monday night.
Stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad
A woman died and her son was critically injured in the stampede at Sandhya Theatre on December 4 during the premiere show of ‘Puspha 2: The Rule’.
The theatre management, Allu Arjun and his team were booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The ‘Pushpa’ star, who is listed by police as accused number 11, was arrested on December 13. He was produced in a city court, which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. However, the same day the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks.
The actor was released from Chanchalguda Jail the next day.
Hyderabad police to approach HC to cancel Allu Arjun’s bail: Reports
The fresh notice to Allu Arjun came amid reports that the police are planning to approach the High Court to cancel his interim bail.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C. V. Anand said on Sunday that the police would take the next step in the case after taking legal opinion.
The police chief on Sunday also released minute-to-minute CCTV footage of the incident at Sandhya Theatre to debunk Allu Arjun’s claims.
Hyderabad police compile 10 min video
The police compiled a 10-minute video to provide a clear account of what had transpired on December 4. Anand said the video was compiled after analysing 1,000 video clippings.
Allu Arjun is likely to be questioned based on the video evidence and also the statements made by him after his release from jail and on December 21.
Revanth Reddy slams Allu Arjun
While speaking in the Assembly on December 21, chief minister Revanth Reddy had come down heavily on Allu Arjun for visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a “roadshow” even after the stampede claimed the life of a woman and critically injured her son.
Hours later, Allu Arjun addressed a press conference, terming the allegations false. Allu Arjun also stated he was hurt over character assassination.
However, the police came out with CCTV footage to debunk the actor’s claims.
(With excerpts from IANS)
