Pushpa fame and actor Allu Arjun has been placed under 14-day judicial custody in connection with the tragic death of a woman during a stampede at Sandhya Theatre, Hyderabad.
To be sure, the unfortunate stampede incident occurred on December 4 during a fan gathering for the screening of his blockbuster movie. The stampede led to the death of a 35-year-old woman. Her eight-year-old son was critically injured in the incident.
Arjun had filed a petition in the Telangana High Court to quash the criminal case against him, which alleged his involvement in the stampede.
Despite his legal teamโs efforts, the actor was taken into police custody on December 13.
In a recent twist, Bhaskar, the husband of the victim, Revathi, expressed his willingness to withdraw the case. “I am ready to withdraw the case. I was not aware of the arrest, and Allu Arjun has nothing to do with the stampede that claimed my wifeโs life,” Bhaskar stated.
The Telangana High Court addressed the actorโs plea during its post-lunch session on Friday after rejecting an earlier request to expedite the hearing. The Public Prosecutor opposed the lunch motion timing, arguing that other cases had not been prioritized similarly. Justice Sridevi ultimately agreed to hear the case at 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police intensified their investigation, arresting three individuals linked to the incident, including the co-owner of Sandhya Theatre, a senior manager, and the in-charge of the lower balcony. Cases have been registered under sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management.
