Updated: Bollywood superstar Allu Arjun was granted interim bail for four weeks on Friday evening, just hours after he was arrested in connection with the deadly stampede at a Hyderabad theater that was showing the film “Pushpa 2: The Rise”.
The Telangana High Court ordered his release, saying: “Since he is an actor, he cannot be deprived of his right. As a citizen of this earth, he also has the right to life and liberty.” The ruling came after a lower court ordered 14 days of judicial custody and rejected his plea for deferred detention. Until Monday.
previously: Bollywood superstar Allu Arjun has been detained from his Jubilee Hills residence in connection with a deadly stampede during a theater show in Hyderabad. The actor immediately filed a petition requesting that his arrest be postponed until Monday, a request that was rejected, and he was ordered to be placed in judicial custody for 14 days.
Family members, including his father, famous director Allu Arvind, were present when police reached the house. The actor claimed that law enforcement entered his bedroom during the arrest before taking him to Chikkadpally police station.
The arrest came after a Dec. 4 incident at the Sandia Theater that left one person dead. Charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder were brought following a complaint from the victim’s husband, who allegedly failed to notify police of the planned celebrity appearance.
However, the case has taken a new turn with the release of documents indicating that the authorities were, in fact, aware of the scheduled appearance of Arjun and co-star Rashmika Mandanna on the show at 9:30 pm. The Actor’s Office and Theater Management confirm that they followed proper notification procedures.
Before his arrest, Arjun approached the Telangana High Court on December 11 seeking quashing of the case.
previously: Hyderabad police arrested superstar Allu Arjun on Friday in connection with the December 4 stampede that claimed the life of a woman at the city’s Sandia Theatre.
The incident occurred during an impromptu appearance – according to police – by the actor at a screening of his latest film “Pushpa 2: The Rule”. The arrest comes after authorities filed charges including premeditated murder not amounting to murder against the 42-year-old actor, his security detail and the theater management.
According to police reports, the tragedy occurred when Arjun arrived at the spot at 9:30 pm without prior notice to the local authorities. The actor’s presence at the main entrance sparked a wave of crowds, as hundreds of fans rushed to catch a glimpse of the star. The situation escalated when security forces tried to control the gathering.
“There was no indication from the theater management or the cast… that they would visit the theatre,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand said at the time. He pointed out that the place failed to arrange separate entry and exit points despite prior knowledge of the visit.
The victim, identified as Revathi, 35, and her nine-year-old son were caught in the stampede. They were recovered by police officers who provided emergency aid before taking them to hospital. The child was injured and his condition was described as critical.
After the incident, Arjun posted on X: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred at Sandia Theatre. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them that they are not the only ones experiencing this pain and they will meet the family in person. While I respect their need for space to grieve, I am committed to providing all possible assistance to help them navigate this difficult journey.
The actress pledged INR 2.5 million ($29,480) to help the family of the deceased and committed to covering the medical expenses of her injured son.
Meanwhile, Pushpa 2: The Rule is a box office phenomenon, grossing $125.8 million in seven days of release.