Telangana Police Insist They Informed Allu Arjun About Fan’s Death During Pushpa 2 Premiere: ‘He Wanted To Complete The Film’

Telangana DGP Jitender on Sunday said that film personalities and all others should understand that the safety and security of citizens is of utmost importance and they should behave accordingly. It happens a day later Allu Arjun held a press meeting for deny new allegations held against him in Pushpa 2: The Rule, the first case of stampede. (Also read: Allu Arjun claims people are ‘misrepresenting’ fans with fake IDs, calls for calm amid fresh allegations over Pushpa 2 stampede)

DGP Jitender on Allu Arjun

He was responding to a question about the death of a woman in a stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule earlier this month and some of Arjun’s comments. He said the police have nothing against anyone personally, but at the same time, all should be accountable to the citizens of the state.

“They are heroes in films. But on the ground, they have to understand the problems of society. Promoting a film is not as important as the safety of citizens. Something wrong has happened. We all need to understand that such incidents are not good for the safety and security of citizens,” he told reporters in Karimnagar district.

Chikkadapally CI Raju Nayak also said that he categorically refused Arjun permission to visit the theater during the premiere, stating that he felt bad that he “couldn’t save a life”. He also said he thought he too would “die” in the stampede.

ACP Ramesh also reiterated to the press that Arjun was informed by the police about the stampede while he was watching the film at Sandhya Theatre. He said, “Allu Arjun’s manager Santosh was the first to know about the death while they were at the theater. We also told him that the situation was getting out of control and that a the boy was hospitalized. But Santosh and another man did not allow us to meet the actor.

ACP Ramesh said that he insisted that they inform Arjun, but they did not do so. When the DGP insisted that the ACP warn the actor, the actor went to tell her in person. “You are a celebrity, our officers have paved the way for you,” I told him, asking him to leave. But he insisted on finishing the film. When the DGP arrived and gave him 10 minutes to leave, it was only then that he moved.”

Telangana Police statement matches what CM Revanth Reddy and MP Akbaruddin Owaisi told the assembly.

What happened

A woman died, while her eight-year-old son was injured in a stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at a cinema here earlier this month. Arjun, who was visiting the theater then, was arrested in connection with the case and the High Court granted him provisional bail. The actor insisted at a press conference at his home on Saturday that he only learned of the incident the next day.

With contributions from PTI