Allu Arjun Released on Interim Bail Hours After ‘Pushpa 2’ Stampede Arrest
UPDATED: Indian superstar Allu Arjun secured interim bail for four weeks Friday evening, just hours after his arrest in connection with a fatal stampede at a Hyderabad theater screening of “Pushpa 2: The Rise.”
The Telangana High Court ordered his release, stating “Saying that he is an actor, he cannot be deprived of his right. As a citizen of this earth, he too has the right to life and liberty.” The ruling came after a lower court had ordered 14 days of judicial custody and rejected his petition to delay the arrest until Monday.
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PREVIOUSLY: Indian superstar Allu Arjun was taken into custody from his Jubilee Hills residence in connection with a deadly stampede at a Hyderabad theater screening. The actor had immediately filed a petition seeking to delay his arrest until Monday, which was dismissed, and had ordered that he be in judicial custody for 14 days.
Family members, including his father, noted filmmaker Allu Arvind, were present when police arrived at the residence. The actor alleged law enforcement entered his bedroom during the arrest before transporting him to Chikkadpally Police Station.
The arrest stems from a Dec. 4 incident at Sandhya Theatre that resulted in one fatality. Charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder were filed following a complaint by the victim’s husband, who alleged failure to notify police of the planned celebrity appearance.
However, the case has taken a new turn with the release of documentation suggesting authorities were, in fact, informed of scheduled appearances by Arjun and co-star Rashmika Mandana at the 9:30pm screening. The actor’s office and theater management maintain they followed proper notification procedures.
Prior to his arrest, Arjun had approached the Telangana High Court on December 11 seeking to quash the case.
EARLIER: Indian superstar Allu Arjun was taken into custody by Hyderabad police on Friday in connection with a Dec. 4 stampede that claimed the life of a woman at the city’s Sandhya Theatre.
The incident occurred during an impromptu appearance – according to the police – by the actor at a screening of his latest blockbuster “Pushpa 2: The Rule.” The arrest comes after authorities filed charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the 42-year-old actor, his security detail, and theater management.
According to police reports, the tragedy unfolded when Arjun arrived at the venue at 9:30pm without prior notification to local authorities. The actor’s presence at the main entrance sparked a surge in the crowd, with hundreds of fans rushing to catch a glimpse of the star. The situation escalated when security personnel attempted to control the gathering.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand had said at the time: “There was no intimation from the side of theatre management or actors’ team… that they will be visiting the theatre.” He noted the venue failed to arrange separate entry and exit points despite advance knowledge of the visit.
The victim, identified as Revathi, 35, and her nine-year-old son were caught in the crush. They were extracted by police officers who administered emergency aid before hospital transport. The child sustained injuries and was listed in critical condition.
Following the incident, Arjun posted on X: “Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey.”
The actor pledged INR2.5 million ($29,480) in assistance to the deceased’s family and committed to covering medical expenses for her injured son.
Meanwhile, “Pushpa 2: The Rule” is a box office phenomenon, with a $125.8 million gross in seven days of release.
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