Telugu superstar Allu Arjun expressed respect for the law and pledged full cooperation with authorities after being released from jail on Saturday in connection with the Sandhya Theatre stampede case.
Speaking to the media and fans gathered outside his Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad, Allu Arjun assured everyone of his well-being. "There is nothing to worry about. I am fine. I am a law-abiding citizen and will cooperate," the 41-year-old actor said.
The actor thanked his fans for their unwavering support during this challenging period, acknowledging it was a difficult time for him and his family. He expressed regret over the stampede incident, which claimed the life of a 39-year-old woman, describing it as an "unintentional" tragedy.
"For the past 20 years, I have been going to theatres to watch movies, including those of my uncles. This has always been a joyful experience, but this time, things took an unexpected turn," Allu Arjun explained.
"I would like to once again express my condolences to the family. It was an unfortunate incident. We are sorry for what happened, which was totally out of our control," he added.
Also Read: 'Pushpa' actor Allu Arjun arrested!
The stampede occurred on December 4 at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s blockbuster film 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', as thousands of fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor. The tragic event also left an eight-year-old boy hospitalized.
Following the incident, Hyderabad police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management based on a complaint from the deceased woman’s family. The actor was arrested on Friday morning and initially sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a lower court. However, the Telangana High Court later granted him interim bail, observing that he had the constitutional right to life and liberty as a citizen.
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi stated that the actor could not be held prima facie responsible for the tragedy, as he was simply attending the movie premiere. The court granted him interim bail for four weeks. However, due to delays in processing the bail order, Allu Arjun had to spend Friday night in jail.
The arrest sparked political controversy, with the BJP and BRS criticizing the Congress-led Telangana government over its handling of the case. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy defended the administration’s actions in an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak, stating, “The law is equal for everyone and will take its course.”
