Sandhya Theatre Stampede: Nampally Court to pronounce verdict on Allu Arjun’s bail
Hyderabad: The Nampally Court is set to deliver its verdict today, January 3, 2025, on actor Allu Arjun’s bail plea following the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The court had earlier reserved its decision after concluding arguments on December 30, 2024.
Allu Arjun is currently out on interim bail, which the Telangana High Court granted on December 13, 2024. His judicial remand ended on December 27, 2024, and he appeared virtually for proceedings in court.
The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, when a large crowd gathered to see Allu Arjun at the premiere, leading to overcrowding in the theatre’s lower balcony. This resulted in the suffocation of 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 the actor’s arrival and the theatre’s lack of crowd control.
Following the incident, Chikkadpally Police arrested three individuals, including the co-owner of Sandhya Theatre, M. Sandeep, along with other staff members. A case has been filed against Allu Arjun, his security staff, and others involved under sections 105, 118(1) r/w 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Act.
Allu Arjun’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate S. Niranjan Reddy, argued that the charges did not meet the criteria for culpable homicide. The defense pointed out that the FIR did not indicate that the actor had prior knowledge or intent to cause harm. They also referred to a similar case involving Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, where the court ruled that he was not criminally liable for a stampede at a promotional event.
The prosecution had opposed the interim bail, asserting that the case was not urgent. However, the defense highlighted the infringement on the actor’s personal liberty, questioning the need for custodial detention. The Telangana High Court, 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.
