Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy issued a stern message to the Telugu film fraternity following the tragic stampede during a promotional event for Pushpa 2. The incident, which occurred at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad on December 4, claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her 8-year-old son, Sri Tej, seriously injured.
Addressing prominent actors, directors, and producers at a high-profile meeting on Thursday, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for stricter crowd-control measures during public appearances. “Law and order is non-negotiable,” Reddy declared, underlining that managing public safety is as much the responsibility of celebrities as it is of law enforcement.
Ban on Special Screenings and Security Concerns
In a decisive move, the Chief Minister announced a temporary ban on benefit shows and special screenings of films. He also issued a warning to private security personnel employed by celebrities, highlighting allegations from Hyderabad Police that bouncers working for actor Allu Arjun had acted “recklessly” and exacerbated the stampede.
The meeting was attended by industry stalwarts, including Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Arvind, and Dil Raju, Chair of the Telangana Film Development Corporation.
Police and Actor’s Team Clash Over Responsibility
The police have attributed the stampede to Allu Arjun’s unannounced arrival at the theatre, claiming that the crowd surged when fans learned of his presence. They also accused the actor of holding an impromptu roadshow in violation of their advice.
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Allu Arjun’s team, however, denied these allegations, asserting that they had informed the police in advance. They released a letter dated December 2, notifying authorities about the event and the actor’s attendance. Despite this, the police argued that the letter was insufficient without further coordination between the actor’s team, theatre management, and law enforcement.
In his defense, Allu Arjun stated, “I just waved to people and went inside. No cop asked me to leave… my manager told me there was a crowd, and I left.” He described the incident as “very unfortunate” and criticized the “misinformation” and “character assassination” directed at him.
The tragedy has cast a spotlight on the responsibilities of public figures and the importance of crowd management during high-profile events. The government’s actions, including the ban on special screenings, aim to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the investigation continues, the Telugu film industry faces mounting pressure to ensure safety and accountability at public gatherings.
