Thu Dec 26 06:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Telangana Chief Minister Cracks Down on Film Industry After “Pushpa 2” Stampede

**Hyderabad, India** – Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy issued a stern warning to the Telugu film industry Thursday, following the death of a woman and injury of her son in a stampede at a “Pushpa 2” screening. The incident, which resulted in the arrest of actor Allu Arjun, has significantly strained relations between the state government and the film fraternity.

In a high-level meeting with prominent actors, directors, and producers, including Allu Arjun’s father Allu Arvind and Dil Raju, the Chief Minister emphasized that maintaining law and order is a shared responsibility. He stressed that celebrities have a duty to cooperate with police to control crowds during public appearances, referencing Allu Arjun’s visit to Sandhya Theatre on December 4th, which allegedly triggered the stampede.

Reddy announced a temporary ban on benefit shows and special screenings, citing concerns about crowd management. He also issued a warning to private security personnel, particularly those employed by high-profile actors, following police allegations that aggressive actions by Allu Arjun’s bouncers exacerbated the stampede.

The stampede resulted in the death of 35-year-old Revathi and serious injuries to her 8-year-old son, Sri Tej, who was recently removed from a ventilator. Allu Arvind has pledged Rs 2 crore (approximately $240,000 USD) in compensation to the family.

While police claim Allu Arjun’s unannounced appearance led to the uncontrolled surge of fans, the actor’s team disputes this, presenting a letter allegedly sent to authorities 48 hours prior, detailing his planned visit. However, police maintain that this letter was insufficient and should have been accompanied by direct coordination with authorities and theatre management.

Police allege that Allu Arjun engaged in an impromptu roadshow before entering the theatre, further contributing to the escalating crowd. CCTV footage reportedly shows police escorting him out of the theatre after the incident. Allu Arjun denies responsibility, attributing the stampede to the actions of others and claiming misinformation and character assassination against him. The investigation continues.

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