Hyderabad Police Refutes Allu Arjun on Sandhya Theatre Incident

Hyderabad, Karimnagar: The Hyderabad police on Sunday contradicted actor Allu Arjun’s claims that he had left the Sandhya theatre during the Pushpa 2 premiere after being informed by his manager about overcrowding, releasing a 10-minute video that purported to show the events from the stampede on December 4, the death of a woman and critical injuries to her son, and the actor leaving the venue past midnight.

The footage showed senior officials, including the DCP and the ACP, escorting the actor out of the venue. The footage also showed Allu Arjun earlier waving to the crowd from the sunroof of his car from RTC crossroads as he made his way to the theatre, which contradicted his earlier statement.

DGP Jithender, addressing the media in Karimnagar on Sunday, expressed disappointment over the actor’s behaviour during the incident. “Allu Arjun might be a hero on screen, but, as a citizen, one must act responsibly. The safety and security of citizens should be paramount,” the DGP said.

Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand refrained from commenting on the issue, as the matter was in court, but urged the public to review the video evidence and draw their own conclusions.

DGP Jithender said that legal proceedings would be initiated against Allu Arjun. “We are not against Allu Arjun personally. However, accountability is crucial, particularly when public safety is compromised,” he stated.

As part of the Hyderabad Police's 2024 annual report presentation at the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC), commissioner Anand showcased a series of videos detailing the stampede at the Sandhya theatre.

The footage purported to show Allu Arjun’s bouncers aggressively pushing back an excited crowd, as well as police personnel who were struggling to maintain order when the actor made an appearance. In response to the situation spiralling out of control, the police resorted to lathicharges to disperse the crowd.

Inside the theatre, Allu Arjun allegedly instructed his staff to close the doors, inadvertently increasing the pressure on the overcrowded inner balcony. This decision proved fatal, leading to the death of 39-year-old M. Revati and critically injuring her son, 10-year-old Sri Teja who is battling for life in a hospital nearly three weeks after the incident.

Revati, her husband, and their two children were seated in the lower balcony. The arrival of Allu Arjun with his family and entourage in the upper balcony caused the crowd to surge forward. The stampede separated Revati and her son from the rest of their family.

By 9.45 pm, Revati was found unconscious along with her son in the theatre lobby. Despite police efforts to resuscitate them, Revati was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. Her son remains on ventilator support at KIMS Hospital.

ACP L. Ramesh Kumar stated that he had informed the actor’s manager, Santosh, about the stampede and Revati’s death. However, the manager allegedly withheld the information from Allu Arjun.

The ACP later approached the actor directly but was met with reluctance. “I informed him about the death and requested him to leave immediately, but he insisted on staying until the film ended,” the ACP said.

It was only after the intervention of the DCP that Allu Arjun and his entourage were escorted out of the theatre.

"We have the CCTV footage as evidence. Allu Arjun entered the theatre balcony around 10.10 pm and came out of the theatre by 12.10 am. We have evidence to prove this,” the ACP added.

The footage provided by the officials showed Allu Arjun, his wife and actress Rashmika Mandana being whisked away from the theatre. The actor can be seen blowing kisses in the air and waving at the crowd before leaving the scene.

Chikkadpally circle inspector B. Raju Naik turned emotional as he recounted the rescue attempt. “Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t save Revati,” he said, wiping his tears. Clips showing Raju Naik and his team rescuing the victims have garnered widespread attention on social media.

“When I fell near the gate during the chaos, I wasn’t sure if I’d survive. I hope Revati’s son survives this ordeal,” he added.

The inspector also revealed that Sandhya theatre management had assured the police that Allu Arjun’s visit would be an informal one, with no public event or roadshow planned. Permission for a larger event was earlier denied due to safety concerns, particularly because two theatres share the same entrance, he said.

Commissioner Anand issued a stern warning to VIPs, VVIPs, and agencies employing bouncers. “Any harm caused by bouncers will hold both the agencies and their clients accountable,” he stated.

Reliable police sources disclosed that the investigation teams have produced the videos as exhibits in the court.