Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has pledged his full cooperation with authorities following his release from a Hyderabad jail on Saturday. The actor spent a night in judicial custody after being arrested in connection with the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule.
Speaking to the media and fans outside his residence in Jubilee Hills, the 41-year-old actor expressed regret over the incident, which claimed the life of a 39-year-old woman and left her eight-year-old son hospitalised.
“There is nothing to worry about. I am fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate,” Allu Arjun assured. Thanking fans for their support, he admitted it had been a challenging time for him and his family. Addressing the tragedy, he called the stampede an “unintentional” accident.
“For the past 20 years, I have been going to theatres to watch movies, including those of my uncles. This has always been a joyful experience, but this time, things took an unexpected turn,” the actor said.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved family, he added, “It was an unfortunate incident. We are sorry for what happened, which was totally out of our control.”
The incident occurred on December 4, when thousands of fans gathered at Sandhya Theatre to catch a glimpse of the star at the premiere event. The overwhelming crowd led to a stampede-like situation, resulting in the fatality and injuries. The Hyderabad police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management based on a complaint from the deceased woman’s family. Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13.
Following his arrest on Friday morning, Allu Arjun was sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a lower court. However, his legal team swiftly approached the Telangana High Court, which granted interim bail, citing the actor’s right to life and liberty as a citizen.
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi remarked that Allu Arjun could not be prima facie held accountable for the stampede, as he had only attended the theatre for the movie premiere. The court granted him four weeks of interim bail. Despite the bail order, administrative delays meant that the actor had to spend Friday night in jail before his release the following day.
The arrest sparked a political storm, with both the BJP and BRS criticizing Telangana’s ruling Congress party for its handling of the case.
While legal proceedings continue, Allu Arjun has reiterated his commitment to cooperating with the investigation, urging his fans to stay calm and respectful.