 "The case was registered under Sections 105 and 118(1) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. Image courtesy: Instagram/@alluarjunonline")
Chaos unfolded on Wednesday at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre during a screening of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, when a woman died and her child was critically injured in a stampede.
Hyderabad Police have now filed a case against actor Allu Arjun and his security team after the Pushpa 2 star arrived at the theatre without prior intimation for the premiere show.
ALSO READ | How Pushpa 2 film screening led to stampede in Hyderabad that killed 1 and injured a child
The stampede reportedly broke out as large crowds gathered outside the venue to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun.
Why Allu Arjun has been charged in the case?
Allu Arjun was charged in connection with the stampede incident after the deceased woman’s family filed a complaint at the Chikkadapally Police Station. The case was registered under Sections 105 and 118(1) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.
In a statement, Central Zone DCP Akshansh Yadav, said, “The theatre management did not make any additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd. Nor was there any separate entry or exit for the actors’ team though the theatre management had information about their arrival.”
According to the police, the situation escalated after Allu Arjun arrived at the theatre when several people tried to follow him inside, which led to chaos. “His personal security team started pushing the public which further aggravated the situation as there was already a huge gathering at the theatre,” the statement said.
DCP Yadav stated that the investigation would focus on identifying the members of the actor’s security team involved. He further said that they would try to determine who in the security team was present the previous day and who had pushed people, leading to the situation. “…Our deployment was there, and there is no lapse on the police’s part. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
In a statement, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand said, “Stringent action as per law will be taken against all the persons responsible for the chaotic situation inside the theatre leading to the death of a person and injury to others," according to NDTV.
What caused the stampede?
Revathi, the woman who died life in the incident, had gone to the screening with her husband Bhaskar, their son, and their younger child. The stampede took place as the family was leaving the theatre.
The chaos erupted as over one lakh fans gathered at the venue. Tensions escalated when Allu Arjun’s security team allegedly used aggressive measures to manage the crowd, causing people to fall and leading to a stampede. Further, the actor’s team reportedly entered through a densely packed area, breaking established crowd management protocols, News18 reported.
The police said in a statement, “In this, one Revathi and her son felt suffocated… the police personnel pulled them out of the public… and performed CPR to her, son and immediately shifted to the nearby Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. The doctor informed that she was dead and son was advised to be shifted to another hospital for better treatment.”
Eyewitnesses stated that chaos erupted after news of Allu Arjun’s arrival spread, according to the report. A large crowd gathered, leading to pandemonium as fans rushed to get closer to the star.
The police, who were already on site, used a mild lathi charge to try and disperse the crowd. However, the situation worsened, and Revathi and her son were trampled in the chaos. Notably, the officials sealed off the area, locked the theatre gates, and called in more forces to control the crowd.
Allu Arjun was seen leaving the venue soon after, escorted by a strong security presence and police. He waved briefly at fans from the sunroof and urged them to clear the path for the vehicles.
Victim’s husband speaks up
Speaking to the media, Bhaskar, the husband of the deceased Revathi, said that doctors have advised waiting 48 hours to assess his son’s condition.
Describing the chaotic scene, Bhaskar said that a stampede-like situation unfolded at the theatre. His wife and son were pushed ahead in the surging crowd, while he stayed back with their daughter.
Unable to locate them, he dropped his daughter at a nearby relative’s house and returned to the theatre to search, he said. He later got to know about his wife’s death and his son’s hospitalisation.
Having undergone a liver transplant a year ago, Bhaskar emotionally said, “I owe her my life. She gave me courage and support.”
Pushpa 2’s production house issues statement
Mythri Movie Makers, the production company behind Pushpa 2: The Rule, has expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
In a statement, the company said, “We are extremely heartbroken by the tragic incident during last night’s screening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the young child undergoing medical treatment.”
“We are committed to standing by them and extending all possible support during this difficult time,” it said.
ALSO READ | Pushpa 2: The Rule movie review
‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ hits theatres
Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2: The Rule had a special premiere on Wednesday night in select theatres across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Bengaluru, ahead of its nationwide release on Thursday.
The film made a historic opening at the box office, reportedly earning over Rs 170 crores on its first day, surpassing the previous record set by SS Rajamouli’s RRR, according to Sacnilk.com.
The sequel, released on over 10,000 screens in 2D and 4DX formats, features Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, with Fahadh Faasil reprising his role. Anasuya Bharadwaj, Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, and Daali Dhananjaya also star in key roles.
Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, the film’s music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad.
With inputs from agencies