Hyderabad: A Hyderabad court on Friday sent actor Allu Arjun to judicial custody for 14 days in connection with a stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. The tragic incident, which occurred on December 4, claimed the life of a woman and left her son critically injured.
The Ninth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at the Nampally Criminal Court ordered the actor’s custody till December 27. The police are now preparing to transfer Allu Arjun to Chanchalguda Jail under tight security.
Allu Arjun, who recently won a National Award, was arrested from his residence in Jubilee Hills by a police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Akanksh Yadav. The actor was taken to the Chikkadpally Police Station, where his statement was recorded, followed by a medical check-up at Gandhi Hospital.
The arrest came shortly after Arjun returned from Delhi, where he had attended the success meet of Pushpa 2. His father, veteran filmmaker Allu Arvind, brother Allu Sirish, and other family members were present during the arrest.
The case, filed at Chikkadpally Police Station on December 5, alleges negligence by Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC.
The stampede occurred during the premiere show attended by Allu Arjun, allegedly without prior intimation to the theatre management or local authorities. This lack of coordination resulted in inadequate security arrangements to manage the large crowd.
Police stated that neither the theatre management nor the actor’s team had communicated about his visit. On December 8, the theatre owner, general manager, and security manager were also arrested for their role in the incident.
The deceased woman’s husband filed a formal complaint, holding Allu Arjun and the theatre management accountable for the tragedy. Eyewitnesses revealed that the overcrowding and lack of proper crowd control measures led to the deadly stampede.
Allu Arjun’s judicial custody has sent shockwaves through the Tollywood industry, with fans and supporters expressing disbelief. The court’s decision highlights the importance of accountability in large-scale public events, especially those involving high-profile personalities.
Further investigations are underway as the police continue to probe the lapses in security and planning that led to the fatal incident.