Harish Rao condemns Allu Arjun’s arrest, questions Telangana govt accountability, questions Telangana govt accountability

Hyderabad: Senior Bharat Rashtra Samithi(BRS) leader Former Minister Harish Rao condemned the arrest of actor Allu Arjun, raising several critical questions about recent incidents in Telangana.

Rao questioned the permission process for benefit shows and film screenings in cognition with the stampede which led to the death of a woman named Revathi. He blamed the state government for the tragedy.

The former minister highlighted incidents demanding accountability from the current government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He referenced the suicide of former Sarpanch Sai Reddy from Kondareddypalli, who allegedly wrote a suicide note mentioning harassment by Revanth Reddy's brothers.

Rao highlighted the case of farmer Surender Reddy, who reportedly committed suicide at the Medchal Agriculture Office due to ration card and loan waiver issues. He further criticized including 49 student deaths due to alleged food poisoning, farmer deaths during the one-year rule, and destruction of tribal lives in the Pharma City project. "The law should respond not only in the case of Allu Arjun but also in the case of Enumula Revanth Reddy and brothers," Rao asserted.

Harish Rao blames state govt for mismanagement leading to Sandhya Theatre tragedy

Allu Arjun was arrested by Chikkadpally Police over the stampede during the Pushpa 2: The Rule premiere at Sandhya Theatre, RTC Crossroads, Hyderabad on December 4, 2024. According to the police, at around 9:30 p.m. when Allu Arjun arrived with his security team, the crowd gathered to see the actor caused overcrowding in the lower balcony, where Revathi and her son suffocated.

Magudampalli Bhaskar’s complaint stated that his wife Revathi and son Sai Tej couldn’t breathe and had fallen due to suffocation in the lower balcony hall. The police rescued them and took them to Durga Bai Deshmukh hospital, but hiswife was declared dead. After First-Aid, his son was shifted to KIMS Hospital, Begumpet for better treatment.

Bhaskar alleged, “The incident was caused by Sandhya 70 MM Theatre management, staff, and the crowd surged due to actor Allu Arjun and his security staff. Without prior arrangements, allowing the huge public into the theatre, and making us vacate the seats led to stampede, leading to my wife’s death and my son’s hospitalization.”

After the deceased woman's husband lodged a complaint, a case was filed against Allu Arjun, his security team, the theatre owner, and others. The case was registered under sections 105, 118(1) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Act.

Earlier, the Chikkadpally police arrested M. Sandeep (37), co-owner of Sandhya 70mm Theatre, M. Nagaraju (51), senior manager, and Gandhakam Vijay Chander (53), in charge of the lower balcony. After being presented in court, they were remanded to judicial custody.