What was meant to be a grand celebration of Pushpa 2: The Rule turned into a heart-wrenching tragedy. On December 4, 2024, fans flocked to Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre to see their favorite star, Allu Arjun. But the lack of adequate crowd management led to chaos, resulting in a stampede that tragically claimed the life of 35-year-old Revathi and left her eight-year-old son hospitalized.
Was this preventable? Sandhya Cine Enterprises had anticipated a large crowd and sought police assistance on December 2. However, the arrangements proved insufficient for the thousands of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the actor. The theatre, overwhelmed by the turnout, failed to ensure safety, and the situation spiraled out of control.
Revathi and her son found themselves trapped in the crowd surge. Reports confirm that she succumbed to asphyxiation caused by the stampede. The tragic mishap underscored the pressing need for better event security and crowd management.
A case was registered at the Chikkadpally Police Station against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management. The charges included negligence and failure to ensure public safety.
On December 8, the actor was arrested and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. His lawyer, however, argued that Arjun was merely attending the premiere and was not involved in organizing the event.
Drawing parallels to Shah Rukh Khan’s 2017 case, where similar accusations were dismissed, the defense emphasized that the tragic outcome was not a result of deliberate actions by the actor
Following his arrest, Allu Arjun was lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison as a “special class prisoner.” According to jail authorities, the actor was cooperative and calm. He was provided basic amenities, including a cot, table, and chair, as per the court’s orders.
Contrary to claims made by his legal team, prison officials clarified that there was no undue delay in his release. The High Court’s interim bail order arrived at the prison late at night, and as per the jail manual, prisoners cannot be released after 7 PM except under exceptional circumstances. Arjun was released early the next morning.
Granting interim bail on December 9, the Telangana High Court ruled that there was no evidence of malicious intent by Allu Arjun. The court allowed the actor four weeks of interim relief on a bail bond of ₹50,000 while investigations continue.
Revathi’s husband, Bhaskar, expressed his willingness to withdraw the case against Allu Arjun. He stated that he did not hold the actor responsible for the tragedy, emphasizing that the stampede was an unfortunate incident and not caused by Arjun’s actions.
This tragedy raises serious questions about the responsibility of both event organizers and celebrities.While Allu Arjun may not have directly caused the incident, his stardom undoubtedly played a role in attracting the massive crowd. The onus should be on event organizers to anticipate such situations and make proper arrangements.
