'Pushpa 2' stampede | Allu Arjun records statement at Chikkadpally PS

Chikkadpally police on Tuesday (December 24) recorded Telugu actor Allu Arjun’s statement in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case.

The Pushpa actor arrived at the Chikkadpally police station in Hyderabad in the morning for questioning in connection with the death of a woman in the stampede that happened during the screening of Pushpa-2 in the city on December 4.

Heavy security was reportedly deployed around the police station with no traffic being allowed within 200 metres of the police station.

Summoned after video release

Media reports said he was questioned by Chikkadpally ACP Ramesh Kumar along with Hyderabad central zone DCP Akshansh Yadav.

The actor was summoned a day after Police Commissioner CV Anand released a video showing the sequence of events at the theatre. The actor had earlier said that he would cooperate with the investigation.

Allu Arjun was arrested by the city police in the case on December 13. He was released from jail the next day after the Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail.

Also read: Allu Arjun didn't leave theatre despite being told about woman's death: Police

Congress leader alleges “insult” to police force

In more trouble for the actor, a senior leader of the Congress in Telangana has filed a complaint with the police against him, alleging a scene in Pushpa 2 insults the police force.

Congress leader Theenmar Mallanna filed the complaint at Medipalli police station. Besides the actor, the complaint names the movie’s director Sukumar, and the producers, said an NDTV report.

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.

Aid of Rs 50 lakh for kin

Meanwhile, a Hyderabad court on Monday granted bail to six people, who were arrested for allegedly vandalising the residence of the actor even as the police beefed up security there on Tuesday, a day after the incident.

In another significant development, the producers of Pushpa-2 on Monday extended financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh 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.

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.

Also read: ‘Law-abiding citizen’: Allu Arjun responds to Revanth Reddy’s charges on ‘Pushpa 2’ stampede

BRS leader T Harish Rao termed the incident a “complete failure of governance” while BJP Lok Sabha member DK Aruna claimed that four of those who indulged in vandalism at the 42-year-old actor's house belong to Kodangal. “This is leading to suspicion whether it was a Congress conspiracy,” she said, a charge denied by the ruling party.

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. “We do not know why they have carried out the vandalism. Why should we provoke and send them,” he asked.

(With agency inputs)