HYDERABAD, India — Allu Arjun, a leading actor in the Telugu film industry, was arrested on Friday in connection with a deadly crowd surge during the premiere of his latest movie, police said.
The incident, which occurred on December 4, claimed the life of a 39-year-old woman and left her 9-year-old son critically injured.
Arjun, a beloved figure in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, made an unannounced appearance at the Hyderabad premiere, drawing an overwhelming crowd of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the star. The crush led to chaos, resulting in the fatal injuries.
Earlier this week, authorities arrested the owner of the theater where the tragedy unfolded. Arjun was detained at his residence on Friday but was granted bail by a local court within hours. His lawyer said he was expected to be released from custody soon.
The incident has raised concerns about crowd management at high-profile events in India, particularly in regions where film stars are idolized with fervent devotion.
