Pushpa 2 screening leads to arrest of fugitive gangster

A notorious gangster with 27 criminal cases, including two murders, was arrested by Nagpur police during a late-night screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Vishal Meshram, a fugitive for over ten months, was apprehended at a local multiplex in a carefully orchestrated operation. Reports from the Times of India revealed that Vishal Meshram was a fan of Allu Arjun’s character in the film, which played a crucial role in leading police to him.

Known for his violent record, including assaults on police officers, Vishal Meshram had also been booked twice under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and was involved in MD drug peddling.

Authorities learned of Vishal Meshram’s fascination with Pushpa 2 and monitored his activities closely. On the night of the screening, police identified his Thar vehicle parked outside the theatre and deflated its tyres to prevent his escape. Officers then spread out across the cinema hall to ensure his capture.

As the film played on, a tactical team moved in quietly after midnight. “Two officers grabbed him from behind while others flanked him from the sides, ensuring he had no chance to fight back,” a police source stated.

Vishal Meshram was taken into custody without incident and later transferred to Nagpur Central Jail. Authorities plan to move him to Nashik for further investigations and trials.

This dramatic arrest coincided with the phenomenal success of Pushpa 2: The Rule, which has broken several box office records. Directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, the sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa.

The film, which portrays Allu Arjun as the labourer-turned-sandalwood smuggler Pushpa Raj, has resonated widely with audiences across multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, and Malayalam. It has become one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.

The premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule turned tragic when a stampede claimed the life of a woman during its screening. The stampede has raised serious concerns over crowd management at high-profile events.

The incident resulted in the death of Mogudampalli Revathi, and left the child with severe brain damage.

The actor, who was briefly detained in Hyderabad and released, publicly apologised for the tragedy during a media interaction.

Earlier students from Osmania University, staged a protest at the residence of Telugu actor Allu Arjun on Sunday evening. The demonstrators demanded compensation for the victim's family. Protesters tried to storm the actor’s property, damaging flower pots and pelting tomatoes at the compound.

Meanwhile, Pushpa 2: The Rule continues its record-breaking streak at the box office, with total occupancy figures ranging between 17% and 19% across cinemas.