“The actor walks free after being granted interim bail; legal team calls overnight detention illegal as debates over accountability continue.”
Hyderabad (Telangana), December 14: After spending a night in jail, Telugu superstar Allu Arjun was released this morning from Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad. The actor had been granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court following his 14-day judicial custody order issued by a lower court in connection with the Sandhya Theatre stampede incident.
The High Court granted bail upon the furnishing of a ₹50,000 bond. However, despite receiving the court order, the actor’s release was delayed until the next morning, drawing criticism from his legal team. Speaking to reporters, Allu Arjun’s lawyer Ashok Reddy called the overnight detention illegal and hinted at pursuing legal action.
“They received the order copy from the High Court but did not release the accused (Allu Arjun)…this is illegal detention. We will take legal action, but for now, he has been released,” Reddy said.
Heavy security was deployed outside the jail prior to Allu Arjun’s release, and his father-in-law, Kancharla Chandrasekhar Reddy, was present to receive him.
The Sandhya Theatre Incident
The stampede occurred on December 4, when Allu Arjun visited Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad for the screening of his upcoming film Pushpa 2: The Rule. Large crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, resulting in a tragic incident that claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her son injured.
The police allege that Allu Arjun’s actions contributed to the chaos. “He came out of the sunroof of his vehicle and waved to the public gathered there. This gesture attracted the crowd to the theatre’s main gate. His private security pushed people to clear a path, aggravating the situation,” police said. They also stated that his team ignored warnings to leave, with the actor staying inside the theatre for over two hours despite the large public gathering.
Reactions and Support
The incident has sparked widespread debate over accountability, with several political leaders and film personalities condemning the arrest. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized the move, alleging it was a deflection from poor crowd management by local authorities. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K.T. Rama Rao also spoke against the arrest.
Film stars Rashmika Mandanna and Varun Dhawan extended their support to Allu Arjun. The actor himself expressed shock at the incident during a success meet for Pushpa 2 on December 7, where he announced financial aid for the deceased woman’s family.
“The incident at Sandhya Theatre is deeply unfortunate. It took me hours to process what had happened. We were all blank when we heard the news,” Allu Arjun had said.
