Chargesheet Filed Nearly a Year After Fatal Stampede
In a significant development, the Chikkadpally police have formally filed a chargesheet in the tragic stampede case that occurred during a special screening of Pushpa in December 2024. The incident, which took place at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre, resulted in the death of a woman and left her eight-year-old son critically injured. The chargesheet names a total of 23 individuals and entities as accused, including renowned actor Allu Arjun and the management of the theatre.
Details of the Accused and Legal Proceedings
The comprehensive chargesheet lists not only the actor and theatre management but also eight bouncers and three managers associated with the venue. Four eyewitnesses are also named in the document. Following the event on December 4, 2024, cases were registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, citing alleged crowd mismanagement and the creation of a stampede-like situation triggered by Allu Arjun's surprise visit.
The legal journey has been complex. On December 6, Allu Arjun released a video expressing profound regret, announcing a donation of Rs 25 lakh and pledging to cover the medical expenses of the injured boy, Sri Tej. By December 9, Hyderabad police had arrested three individuals: the theatre owner, senior manager Nagraju, and manager Vijay Chandra.
The actor's legal team moved the Telangana High Court on December 12, seeking to quash the FIR against him, arguing he bore no direct responsibility. Despite this, police arrived at his Jubilee Hills residence for questioning on December 13. The High Court granted him interim bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 but remanded him to judicial custody, leading to a night spent at Chanchalguda Central Prison. He was released the following day, December 14.
Aftermath, Protests, and Ongoing Case
The aftermath of the tragedy saw several visits to the grieving family. Allu Arjun's father, Allu Aravind, and Pushpa director Sukumar visited the hospital where Sri Tej was treated, with Sukumar donating Rs 5 lakh to the family. However, the situation escalated when Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy accused the actor of continuing a roadshow after being informed of the stampede. Hyderabad police later released CCTV footage allegedly showing Allu Arjun hesitant to leave the venue post-incident.
Public anger manifested in protests, with demonstrators vandalising the actor's residence, burning his effigy, and demanding Rs 1 crore in compensation for the victim's family, identified as Revathi's kin. In response, Allu Arjun held a press conference, dismissing the allegations as baseless. Despite his public statements and the bail, the legal case against him continues as per the recently filed chargesheet, keeping the matter in active judicial scrutiny.
