“After being remanded for 14 days, Allu Arjun secures interim bail as case takes a twist with the complainant withdrawing the charges.”
Hyderabad, December 13: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, arrested on Friday over the tragic stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule, was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court hours after his arrest. The court emphasized his right to liberty, stating, “Just because he is an actor… he cannot be held like this.”
Allu Arjun was taken into custody from his Jubilee Hills residence and brought to the Chikkadpally Police Station earlier in the day. The actor alleged that police entered his bedroom during the arrest. His father, noted filmmaker Allu Aravind, and other family members were present at the time.
The stampede, which occurred on December 4, led to the death of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her nine-year-old son severely injured. Hyderabad Police filed charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, against the actor, members of his security team, and the Sandhya Theatre management.
The complaint, filed by Revathi’s husband Bhaskar, alleged negligence in informing police about the actor’s planned appearance at the theatre. However, Allu Arjun’s team and theatre officials released a letter indicating the police had been informed about the event. The letter mentioned that the actor and co-star Rashmika Mandanna would visit the theatre at 9:30 PM.
In a dramatic development, Bhaskar later announced his intention to withdraw the complaint. Speaking to reporters, he said, “I was not aware of the arrest. Allu Arjun has nothing to do with the stampede in which my wife passed away.”
The stampede reportedly began when a large crowd gathered after hearing about Allu Arjun’s arrival at the theatre, which lacked designated entry and exit routes. Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand noted that no prior intimation had been given by the actor’s team or the theatre management.
The Telangana High Court’s interim bail decision has provided temporary relief to the National Award-winning actor, who earlier filed a plea to quash the FIR against him. The investigation will now focus on whether the actor had official permission for the theatre visit and the subsequent crowd interaction.
