Prominent Telugu actor Allu Arjun is under heavy scrutiny following a tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the premiere of Pushpa 2 on December 4, 2024. The incident resulted in the death of a woman, leading to Allu Arjun’s brief detention. He spent a night in jail before being released on interim bail.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy publicly criticized Allu Arjun, holding him responsible for the chaos at the premiere. In response, the actor addressed the media in a press conference, clarifying his actions on the day of the incident. Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand, during a separate press briefing, presented video footage showing Allu Arjun in the theatre at the time of the stampede. However, Anand refrained from sharing further details, citing the ongoing legal investigation.
The situation escalated when CV Anand made controversial remarks during the briefing, accusing the national media of being biased, “bought over,” and lacking shame. His comments sparked outrage among journalists, and a video of his statement, recorded by an attendee, went viral on social media.
Facing widespread backlash, CV Anand issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) – “I apologize for losing my cool when asked repeatedly provoking questions about the ongoing investigation. I regret making unnecessary general remarks about the national media. It was wrong, and I should have remained calm. I withdraw my remarks wholeheartedly.”
Despite his apology, the media fraternity remains dissatisfied with his behavior. Meanwhile, Allu Arjun and his family have chosen to stay silent, likely to avoid further complications.
The Sandhya Theatre stampede incident has attracted significant public and media attention, and its legal and social implications are expected to unfold in the coming days.
I apologise for losing my cool when asked continuous provoking questions on ongoing investigations and making unnecessary general remarks about national media . I feel bad that I got provoked and it was wrong and should have kept calm .I withdraw my remarks wholeheartedly 🙏🏻
— CV Anand IPS (@CVAnandIPS) December 22, 2024