A tragic stampede during the screening of Allu Arjun’s highly anticipated film, Pushpa 2: The Rise, at Sandhya Theatre on December 4 resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her eight-year-old son, Sri Tej, critically injured. CCTV footage has surfaced, revealing the chaos and confusion moments before the incident.
The Chaotic Scene
The 14-second clip, timestamped at around 9:15 PM, shows a throng of fans pushing and shoving to enter the venue. The metal gates were torn from their hinges, and the ground was littered with trampled debris, including paper and plastic bottles.
Police reports state that the stampede occurred after news spread of Allu Arjun’s unannounced arrival at the theatre. Fans rushed to catch a glimpse of the star, creating a crush at the entrance. The stampede occurred 15 minutes before the actor’s arrival.
Legal Actions
Allu Arjun, along with his security team, the theatre owner, and its general and security managers, has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The actor was arrested nine days after the incident and was initially sent to judicial custody for 14 days by a lower court. However, in a dramatic turn, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail, citing his right to liberty.
Despite the bail order, the late issuance meant Arjun spent the night in jail. The actor appeared at Chikkadpally Police Station today for nearly four hours to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Allu Arjun Denies Responsibility
Addressing reporters, Allu Arjun expressed his condolences, calling the incident “very unfortunate.” He rejected allegations of his involvement in the tragedy, accusing critics of spreading “misinformation” and engaging in “character assassination.”
Public Reaction
The tragic stampede has drawn attention to crowd management and safety measures at large public events. Authorities have been urged to implement stricter protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. Meanwhile, the incident continues to spark debates over accountability and the responsibilities of celebrities during public appearances.
Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.
Sources By Agencies