A local court in Hyderabad has issued summons to Tollywood actor Allu Arjun and 22 other accused in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case, nearly six months after the Hyderabad police filed a chargesheet. The case pertains to a tragic stampede at the theatre that resulted in the death of a woman and serious injuries to her son. The accused have been directed to appear before the court on June 22.
Court Proceedings
The IX Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate directed the 23 accused to appear before the court. In the last week of December 2024, the Chikkadpally police filed a charge sheet before the Nampally court, naming 23 accused, including Allu Arjun as Accused No. 11, in connection with the incident that occurred on December 4, 2024, during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2’ at Sandhya Theatre. The court recently took cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the investigating officer and subsequently issued summons to the accused.
Incident Details
Thirty-five-year-old Revathi died in the stampede, while her son, Sri Tej, sustained injuries. Investigators alleged that the stampede occurred following the actor’s arrival at the theatre despite the police having denied permission for the visit. They further alleged that the theatre management was ill-prepared to handle the crowd, leading to the stampede. The prime accused in the case is Sandhya 70 MM Cine Enterprises and its partner, Agamati Ram Reddy.
Legal Context
This development marks a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding the incident. The accused include individuals and entities responsible for the event's organisation and security. The court's summons underscores the seriousness of the charges, which involve negligence and failure to ensure public safety.
