- By Priyanka Koul
- Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C V Anand on Monday issued an apology for his comments about national media in relation to its coverage of the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre. In a social media post, Anand explained that he had lost his temper when faced with persistent and provoking questions regarding the ongoing investigation into the incident.
I apologise for losing my cool when asked continuous provoking questions on ongoing investigations and making unnecessary general remarks about national media . I feel bad that I got provoked and it was wrong and should have kept calm .I withdraw my remarks wholeheartedly 🙏🏻
— CV Anand IPS (@CVAnandIPS) December 22, 2024
During a media interaction, Anand had accused the national media of being "bought over," which led to a strong response from journalists and news outlets. In his apology, the Police Commissioner stated, "I regret losing my cool when asked continuous provoking questions on the ongoing investigations and making unnecessary comments about the national media. It was wrong, and I should have remained calm. I fully withdraw my remarks."
#WATCH | Telangana | Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City, CV Anand says, "In the recent incident of Sandhya theatre, we saw 40-50 bouncers and how reckless they are. There was public, police and everyone but they pushed everyone...They think only about the VIP. It is a warning… pic.twitter.com/WM72T5mcP3
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2024
The incident unfolded when reporters pressed Anand for updates on the investigation into the December 4 stampede at Sandhya Theatre, which occurred during the premiere of the movie Pushpa 2: The Rule. The stampede tragically led to the death of a woman and left her eight-year-old son severely injured. The investigation also involved a case against actor Allu Arjun, who was linked to the incident.
Anand became visibly frustrated with the questions and remarked, "I know how the national media behaves. They’re all bought over—no shame." These comments were directed at the media's coverage of the case.
The police released detailed CCTV footage of the incident, showing the chaotic moments that led to the tragedy. The Police Commissioner assured the public that the investigation was ongoing and that they would seek legal advice on the next steps.
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A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was filed against the theatre management, Allu Arjun, and his team. Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 and presented in court, where he was initially sent to judicial custody for 14 days. However, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail on the same day, and he was released from jail the following day.