HYDERABAD: Accusing actor Allu Arjun and the production team of being “inhuman” towards Revathi’s family and her son Sri Tej, who is battling for his life in a hospital after the Sandhya theatre stampede, chief minister A Revanth Reddy Saturday questioned whether any special laws exist for film stars, superstars, and political figures that exempt them from prosecution.
Launching a blistering attack on the actor in the assembly, the CM stressed that as long as he is in office, his primary responsibility is to protect the lives of people, and govt would not spare anyone involved, directly or indirectly, in the Sandhya theatre incident. The stampede claimed the life of Revathi, while her son Sri Tej remains in critical condition.
Revanth also condemned the behaviour of film personalities who queued up at Allu Arjun’s residence after he was released from jail, as if he had been injured in the incident, claiming to have fractured his legs, arms, or lost a kidney. In contrast, these same people did not visit Revathi’s grieving family or offer support to the nine-year-old Sri Tej, who remains in a coma, the CM said.
“Some people are criticizing the govt and me over the arrest of the film star in connection with the stampede. But, is there a special law in our Constitution for film and political stars that exempts them from prosecution, or allows them to avoid being booked for a crime – even if they are responsible for someone’s death?” the CM said.
“As per Ambedkar’s law, there are no separate laws for anyone – whether for Revanth Reddy’s family or anyone else. All are equal, and those involved in the Sandhya incident will be dealt with according to the law,” the CM stated.
He also responded to criticisms regarding the delay in Allu Arjun’s release after receiving bail, saying: “There are rules for jail authorities, and they cannot release an accused person at midnight just because he is a film hero. This is not my house where I can act on whims. We follow the law, not personal preferences.”
The CM advised the film fraternity to focus on producing films, running their businesses, earning incentives, and making money – but to do so with consideration for society.
He pointed out that the state govt had approved benefit shows and allowed a raise in ticket prices for the first week of the film’s release. He further highlighted the tragic reality faced by Revathi’s family, with Revathi’s husband earning only Rs 30,000 a month, yet spending Rs 12,000 on tickets to watch the film, as their son was an ardent fan of Allu Arjun.
The CM also responded to claims that the film star’s arrest was politically motivated, due to his association with a politician, who was a minister for 10 years. “This govt will go by the law and the rules, regardless of any political connections,” he asserted.
Explaining the sequence of events on Dec 4, the CM said Sandhya theatre management had approached Chikkadpally police for permission to hold the premiere of Pushpa 2 with Allu Arjun and the film crew in attendance. However, police denied the request in writing, citing concerns over crowd control due to the presence of multiple theatres in the RTC crossroads area, the CM said.
“Despite the police denial, Allu Arjun and the production team went ahead with the event, leading to thousands of fans gathering outside the theatre. The situation turned chaotic when bouncers pushed people aside to make way for Allu Arjun. In the chaos, Revathi and her son were among those who fell unconscious. Even at that moment, Revathi did not let go of her son’s hand,” Revanth said.
The theatre management initially prevented the assistant commissioner of police from entering to inform Allu Arjun that he needed to leave due to the crowd. The ACP requested the actor to leave, but Allu Arjun insisted on staying to watch the entire film. Eventually, the deputy commissioner of police warned that Allu Arjun would be arrested if he did not leave the premises. The CM said even when cops went to the actor’s house before his arrest, Allu Arjun displayed disrespect towards police.
The CM outlined two violations committed by Allu Arjun and the production team: The first violation was the actor attending the event despite police denying permission, and the second was his participation in a rally, waving to the crowd from the sunroof of his car. “These actions not only flouted the law but directly contributed to the tragic events that followed,” he said.
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