NEW DELHI – Indian actor Allu Arjun was arrested on Dec. 13 following a fatal stampede at the screening of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad. The incident, which occurred on Dec. 4, resulted in the death of a woman and left her son seriously injured.
The 42-year-old actor faces charges including voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous means, according to a police officer who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. Seven other individuals have also been arrested in connection with the case.
Footage shared by broadcaster TV9 on social media platform X shows Arjun being taken into custody. He was later granted interim bail for four weeks, media outlets reported.
The tragedy unfolded when large crowds gathered at the theatre to catch a glimpse of Arjun, a major star in southern India and National Film Award-winning actor for the first Pushpa installment. The victim’s family filed a complaint against Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management.
Two days after the incident, Arjun expressed his sorrow on X, writing: “I stand committed to extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey.”
The Pushpa film franchise has been a significant box-office success, contributing to Arjun’s immense popularity in India.