Fact Check: No, fans of actor Allu Arjun did not 'attack' comedian RP's hotel for supporting TDP
Claim: A 45-second video shared on social media, accompanied by a Telugu caption, claims to depict fans of Indian actor Allu Arjun 'attacking' a hotel owned by comedian Ratakonda Prasad, also known as RP. RP gained fame for his role as Kiraak RP in the television show 'Jabardasth' and recently joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), actively campaigning for the TDP-Jana Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance.
Arjun, renowned for films like 'Pushpa,' recently lent support to Ravi Chandra Kishore, a candidate from the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), during the recent Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
The video is circulating with the claim that supporters of Arjun attacked RP's hotel due to his support for the TDP.
Significantly, the YSRCP faced defeat in the recent Assembly elections, with the TDP, Jana Sena Party, and BJP alliance securing 164 out of 175 seats in the state.
However, the claim is baseless, as the video predates the Assembly elections and actually depicts a scuffle between waitstaff and customers at a hotel not owned by comedian RP.
What are the facts?
A reverse image search led to a Times Now report titled, "Clash breaks out between hotel staff and customers in Hyderabad hotel/Video," which features a screenshot from the viral video. According to this report, the incident occurred on January 1, 2024, at the Grand Hotel in Hyderabad's Abids area.
Hyderabad-based journalist Saye Sekhar Angara also shared the video on his X account on January 1, 2024, stating that the altercation took place on December 31, when Grand Hotel waiters assaulted customers with sticks.
According to a report by The News Minute, the conflict erupted after customers complained about undercooked meat in their mutton biryani. Matters escalated when the customers refused to pay the bill, prompting the waitstaff to attack them.
An FIR was lodged, and according to a Deccan Chronicle report, the police apprehended ten hotel employees.
This evidence demonstrates that the incident occurred before the Assembly elections and doesn't involve Arjun's fans targeting RP's establishment.
Furthermore, our investigation reveals that the Grand Hotel is owned by Jaleel F Rooz, not comedian RP. According to local news outlet Telugu Samayam, RP owns a restaurant franchise business named Nelluru Peddareddy Chepala Pulusu, which has branches across the Telugu states. The chain is renowned for its fish-based dishes.
A Google search for any instance of Allu Arjun fans attacking RP's restaurant also yielded no relevant results.
The verdict
A dated video from January 2024, depicting a scuffle between hotel staff and customers, has been shared with the false claim that it depicts actor Allu Arjun's fans attacking a comedian RP's hotel.
The fact check was first published by Logically Facts and republished by Deccan Chronicle as part of Shakti Collective.
