Nampally Court postpones Allu Arjun’s bail hearing in Sandhya Theatre stampede case
Hyderabad: The Nampally Court postponed the hearing on actor Allu Arjun’s bail petition on December 27, 2024, in connection with the stampede incident at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The hearing, initially scheduled for December 27, 2024, has been rescheduled to December 30, 2024, after the police requested more time to file their counter.
Allu Arjun’s 14-day judicial remand, imposed on December 13, 2024, concluded today. Following the procedure, the actor appeared virtually before the court for the proceedings.
In addition, the court has rescheduled the hearing related to the stampede incident for January 10, 2025, when further details regarding the actor’s remand status are expected to be discussed.
The actor was arrested by Chikkadpally Police on December 13, 2024, following the tragic stampede on December 4, 2024, during the Pushpa 2 premiere at Sandhya Theatre. The incident occurred as a large crowd gathered to see the actor, leading to overcrowding in the lower balcony of the theatre. This resulted in the suffocation of a woman named Revathi, who died, while her son, Sai Tej, was hospitalized.
Revathi’s husband, Magudampalli Bhaskar, filed a complaint alleging that the stampede was caused by Allu Arjun’s arrival and the lack of proper crowd control at the venue. Following the incident, Chikkadpally Police arrested three individuals, including the co-owner of Sandhya Theatre, M. Sandeep, along with other staff members, who were remanded to judicial custody.
A case has been filed against Allu Arjun, his security staff, the theatre management, and others involved under sections 105, 118(1) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Act.
On December 13, 2024, the Telangana High Court granted Allu Arjun interim bail for a limited period. His legal team, led by Senior Advocate S. Niranjan Reddy, argued that the charges lacked the necessary intent for culpable homicide, pointing out that the FIR did not indicate that the actor had knowledge of or intended harm. The defense also drew a comparison to a similar case involving Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, in which the court ruled that he was not criminally liable for a stampede at a promotional event.
The prosecution had opposed the interim bail, arguing that the case was not urgent. However, the defense highlighted the infringement on the actor’s personal liberty and questioned the need for custodial detention. Justice Juvvadi Sridevi, while granting the interim bail, expressed concerns about the actor’s treatment, stating that personal liberty should not be deprived solely because of his celebrity status.
The Nampally Court will revisit the bail issue and other legal proceedings in the coming weeks.
