Lagatar24 Desk
Hyderabad: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun was granted interim bail for four weeks by the Telangana High Court in connection with the tragic stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during the screening of his film Pushpa 2. The incident claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman and left her nine-year-old son injured.
During the hearing, parallels were drawn to a similar incident involving Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan during the promotion of his film Raees. Allu Arjun’s lawyer cited the Raees stampede case to argue against criminal liability, stating that “in SRK’s case, the actor threw t-shirts and balls at fans, which led to a stampede, yet he was not found liable.”
Court Observations and Bail Decision
The High Court ruled in favor of Allu Arjun, emphasizing that his popularity as an actor could not undermine his fundamental rights. “Just because he is an actor… he cannot be held like this,” the court observed.
The defense also countered police claims that Arjun’s visit to the theatre was unscheduled and without proper intimation. A letter was later produced showing prior notice had been given to the police about the actor’s plan to attend the screening at 9:30 pm.
Pushpa 2 Stampede: What Happened?
The stampede occurred on December 4, 2023, when Allu Arjun arrived at the theatre, leading to a sudden influx of fans attempting to catch a glimpse of him. Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand alleged that the theatre management and the actor’s team had failed to inform authorities of the visit, resulting in insufficient crowd control measures.
The situation worsened as Allu Arjun used the main entrance and spent 15–20 minutes outside the theatre. The crowd swelled, and security personnel’s attempts to manage the chaos allegedly aggravated the situation, leading to the fatal stampede.
The deceased, identified as Revathi, and her son were pulled out of the suffocating crowd by police and rushed to a nearby hospital. However, Revathi succumbed to her injuries.
SRK’s Raees Case: A Precedent
The defense referenced the 2017 Raees stampede incident in Gujarat, where Shah Rukh Khan’s promotional event at Vadodara Railway Station led to a similar tragedy. The Gujarat High Court had quashed criminal proceedings against SRK in 2022, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court.
Allu Arjun’s legal team used this precedent to argue that he should not be held criminally liable, emphasizing that his actions did not directly cause the stampede.
Looking Ahead
The court’s decision to grant bail has temporarily relieved Allu Arjun, but questions around accountability remain. The case highlights the importance of meticulous crowd management and communication between event organizers, authorities, and law enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
