Allu Arjun Questioned for Over Three Hours in Theatre Stampede Incident
Click to start listening
Hyderabad, Dec 24 (NationPress) The police in Hyderabad conducted an extensive interrogation of Tollywood star Allu Arjun for more than three hours concerning the Sandhya Theatre stampede incident on Tuesday.
The actor, known for his role in Pushpa, departed for his home from Chikkadpally Police Station around 3 p.m. under strict security measures.
During the questioning, the police interviewed the actor in the presence of his legal counsel.
The interrogation was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Akshansh Yadav, alongside Assistant Commissioner of Police L. Ramesh Kumar and Inspector Raju Naik.
Investigators are believed to have focused on new CCTV evidence that emerged regarding the incident that occurred on December 4 during the premiere of Puspha 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre.
Allu Arjun was reportedly interrogated based on a 10-minute video compiled by police, which included CCTV footage of the event, as well as his previous statements made after his release from custody and on December 21.
It remains unclear whether the police have requested Allu Arjun to return for further questioning.
Earlier, the acclaimed actor, who has received a national award, arrived at Chikkadpally Police Station around 11 a.m., surrounded by heavy security.
On Monday, the police issued a formal notice to the actor, instructing him to appear for additional questioning. Security measures were heightened around the police station.
Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Arvind, and other family members, along with his legal team, were also present at the police station.
A tragic incident occurred during the premiere of Puspha 2: The Rule on December 4, resulting in a woman's death and her son's critical injuries in the stampede; the theatre management, Allu Arjun, and his crew are facing charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The actor, designated as accused number 11 by the police, was arrested on December 13. His statement was recorded at Chikkadpally Police Station before being presented to a city court, which subsequently ordered him to judicial custody for 14 days. However, on the same day, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks, and he was released from Chanchalguda Jail the following day.
The recent notice to Allu Arjun comes amidst reports that the police are contemplating approaching the High Court to annul his interim bail.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C. V. Anand indicated on Sunday that the police would determine the next steps in the investigation after obtaining legal counsel. The police chief also released detailed, minute-to-minute CCTV footage of the incident at Sandhya Theatre to counter Allu Arjun’s assertions. The video was compiled following an analysis of 1,000 video clips.
During a discussion in the Assembly on December 21, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy criticized Allu Arjun for visiting the theatre without police authorization and holding a ‘roadshow’ even after the stampede resulted in a fatality and severe injuries. Shortly afterward, Allu Arjun held a press conference, labeling the accusations as false and expressing that he felt victimized by character assassination. Nevertheless, the police released CCTV footage to disprove the actor's claims.
