Allu Arjun ignoring 'Pushpa 2' stampede victim's father's aid plea?
What's the story
Exactly a year after the tragic stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre during the release of Pushpa 2: The Rule, the family of one of the victims is still struggling. Sritej, who was eight at that time, was critically injured in the incident, and his mother Revathi died. Despite being promised ₹2 crore in ex gratia by actor Allu Arjun, Sritej's father Magudampalli Bhaskar says he's facing financial difficulties.
Financial struggles
Sritej's father seeks Arjun's help for son's treatment
Bhaskar, who has been taking care of his son, daughter, and aged mother alone since the incident, told ABN that Sritej needs ₹90,000 for treatment every month. Total expenditure monthly goes up to ₹1.25L. He also revealed that he had to quit his job at a gold shop to look after his son. Despite the ₹2 crore deposit made by Arjun's family, Bhaskar said they are still struggling financially as the interest isn't enough to cover their expenses.
Unanswered pleas
'Pushpa 2' stampede victim's father claims actor ignored him
Bhaskar said he tried to reach out to Arjun and his team for more help, as they had promised to take care of Sritej's rehabilitation. However, he claims they haven't responded. He also revealed that ₹3 lakh was spent on surgeries on his son's legs alone this year. "I have been trying to reach out to them but there has been no response," Bhaskar told Hindustan Times.
Team's statement
Arjun's team responds to allegations of neglect
When contacted by Hindustan Times, a spokesperson for Arjun said they stand by the statement made by producer Bunny Vas at an event on Thursday. Vas was asked if reports of Arjun ignoring Bhaskar's plea for help were true, and he replied, "This is not the stage, please." He added that Sritej's family can get in touch with the 'pedda manushulu (respectable people)' involved at any time and that Arjun has no direct contact with them.
Incident recap
'Pushpa 2' stampede aftermath: Legal and financial developments
Following the tragic incident on December 4, 2024, Arjun was arrested by the Hyderabad police and produced before the court on December 13. He was granted interim bail from the Telangana High Court that same day but had to spend a night in jail as his bail formalities weren't completed on time. Later that month, his father producer Allu Aravind announced an ex gratia payment of ₹2 crore to the victim's family.