Allu Arjun denies he went to Sandhya Theatre without permission; insists that he followed police instructions

Allu Arjun said it was an unfortunate accident and that nobody was at fault. He expressed his deep regret over the loss of life but stressed that he never intended to harm anyone

Hyderabad: Actor Allu Arjun on Saturday broke his silence over the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre earlier this month in which a woman died and her son was grievously injured in a stampede when he visited the theatre for a benefit show of his recent release ‘Pushpa- 2: The Rule’.

Offering an apology and clarifying multiple misconceptions surrounding the death of the 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and her 8-year-old son Sritej being grievously injured in a stampede-like situation at the theatre, Allu Arjun said it was an unfortunate accident and that nobody was at fault. He expressed his deep regret over the loss of life but stressed that he never intended to harm anyone.

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“The primary reason for this press conference is to make it clear that I do not blame anyone, neither the government nor the officials. The incident was purely unfortunate,” he said, adding that he had remained silent so far in order to avoid further speculation and misinformation.

In the press conference, which came a few hours after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy squarely blamed the actor for the mishap and accused him of going to the theatre without permission and also of refusing to leave without watching the movie, Allu Arjun denied any involvement in a “roadshow” or “procession”.

“I followed all police instructions and did not go anywhere without permission,” he clarified, stating that he had come out of his car to wave at fans in an attempt to clear the crowd and ensure safe access to the theatre. He also confirmed that he left the theatre when requested by the police and theater management due to the overwhelming crowd.

Contradicting the Chief Minister’s claim that he had not left the theatre till threatened with an arrest and that he waved at his fans even after knowing about the death of a woman, Allu Arjun revealed that he was unaware of the tragic death until the following morning. Upon learning about the incident, he immediately instructed his team to reach out to the family. He added that due to legal restrictions, he was currently unable to meet the bereaved family in person but was providing support through his team. He was also getting hourly updates on the condition of the child, he said.

The actor also conveyed his gratitude towards the government and expressed his disappointment over the damage to his character. “Please do not assassinate my character. I have always aimed to entertain, not harm,” he said, before concluding without taking questions citing legal restrictions.

Even after the death of a woman in a stampede, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, CM alleged.