In a day of filmi twists and turns, film actor Allu Arjun was arrested, remanded for 14 days by a local court, and subsequently granted interim bail by the High Court in connection with a stampede at a theatre on December 4, the eve of the release of Pushpa 2 that resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and hospitalisation of her nine-year-old son.

Earlier in the day, Telangana police arrested the actor and presented him before a local court at Nampally in the evening. Following the court’s decision to remand him for 14 days, he was taken to Chanchalguda jail.

Meanwhile, Allu Arjun’s lawyers filed a quash petition and appealed to the High Court for interim bail, asserting that he had informed both the police and the management of Sandhya theatre before his arrival on December 4.

Sandhya theatre, located at the busy RTC Cross Roads, has been considered a lucky charm for many top actors for decades. They, along with their families, often visit the theater for the first show on opening day, delighting their fans.

On the day of the incident, hundreds of fans gathered in the parking area to catch a glimpse of the actor as he arrived at the theatre. Tragically, a woman was killed and her son collapsed as the crowd surged forward.

Police filed a case against both the theatre management and the actor, holding them responsible for the incident. Allu Arjun announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh to the family and pledged to cover the hospitalisation costs. The boy is reportedly responding to treatment after a week in the hospital.

Allu Arjun’s arrest took a political turn, with the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticising the Revanth Reddy Government for the action. “The arrest is the pinnacle of insecurity of the rulers! I totally sympathise with the victims of the stampede but who failed really,” he questioned in a post on ‘X’.

He further expressed, “Treating Allu Arjun as a common criminal is uncalled for especially for something he isn’t directly responsible for. There is always space for respect and dignified conduct. I strongly condemn the high-handed behaviour of the Government.”