Allu Arjun
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: A year after the tragic Sandhya Theatre stampede that claimed one life and left a child critically injured, Hyderabad police have filed a charge sheet before the 9th Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) at Nampally Court. The chargesheet named Tollywood star Allu Arjun as Accused No. 11, along with 22 others, including members of his personal staff and the management of Sandhya Theatre.
The incident occurred on the night of December 4, 2024, during the premiere of Pushpa 2, when a massive crowd gathered at the Sandhya 70mm Theatre at RTC X Roads to catch a glimpse of the actor. The chaos led to a stampede that killed 35 year old M Revathi and left her nine year old son, Sritej, critically injured due to oxygen deprivation.
“Investigation into the Sandhya Theatre stampede case has been completed. Following a comprehensive and detailed probe, a chargesheet was filed before the court on December 24. A total of 23 accused persons have been chargesheeted. Of these, 14 have been arrested, while nine others who secured anticipatory bail were served notices,” said Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar on Saturday.
The investigation highlighted serious lapses in event planning, crowd management, and security arrangements. According to police, the tragedy resulted from gross negligence and failure to adhere to prescribed safety protocols. The probe also revealed that despite police denying permission for Allu Arjun’s appearance, the actor allegedly proceeded with the visit without proper coordination with local authorities.
Apart from the actor, the chargesheet named his personal manager, staff members, and eight private security personnel whose actions reportedly worsened the situation. The theatre management has also been accused of negligence, particularly for failing to ensure separate entry and exit points for VIP guests.
Charges under Section 304 -A of the Indian Penal Code (causing death by negligence) and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to causing hurt and endangering public safety have been invoked.
Allu Arjun was briefly arrested in December last year and spent a night in judicial custody before being granted bail. With the filing of the chargesheet, the case has now entered the trial phase.