Sandhya theatre stampede case: Hyderabad police file chargesheet against Allu Arjun, 22 others
The case pertains to a stampede reported during the premiere show of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre in December last year
By - Sistla Dakshina Murthy
Film actor Allu Arjun (File Photo)
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Police have completed the investigation into the stampede at Sandhya 70mm Theatre and filed a chargesheet against 23 persons, including file actor Allu Arjun, theatre owners and eight bouncers before the Court on December 24.
The police filed the chargesheet in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case in which a 39-year-old woman was killed during the Pushpa 2 premiere in December 2024.
Hyderabad Commissioner of Police VC Sajjanar on Saturday said that the probe fixed responsibility on multiple stakeholders after a detailed examination of the incident.
23 accused named; 14 arrested
The CP further said that a total of 23 persons have been charge sheeted. Of these, 14 were arrested, while nine accused, who secured anticipatory bail, were served notices in accordance with procedure.
Findings: Lapses across multiple levels
The investigation found serious shortcomings in planning, crowd management, security deployment and inter-agency coordination. Police said the failures involved the theatre management, event organisers, private security staff and others responsible for on-ground arrangements during the programme.
Actor and associates among accused
Film actor Allu Arjun, along with his managers, personal security guards and fan association representatives, has been named in the chargesheet, along with theatre partners, staff, event organisers and bouncers.
Background of the case
What happened
The case pertains to a stampede reported during the premiere show of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre in December last year. The incident occurred when a large number of fans gathered at the venue for a special screening attended by the lead actor and other film personalities.
Woman killed, son injured
The victim, M. Revathi (39), had come to the theatre along with her husband and children to watch the premiere. Police said that as fans noticed the arrival of the actor, crowd behaviour turned chaotic, resulting in a sudden surge inside the theatre premises. Revathi died in the stampede, while her son sustained injuries and has been undergoing treatment.
Case registered by Chikkadpally Police
Following the incident, the Chikkadpally police registered a case against Allu Arjun, the theatre management and the bouncers who accompanied the actor to the venue. As part of the investigation, the actor and others were arrested and remanded, police said.
Probe points to crowd management lapses
Investigators found lapses related to crowd control, security deployment and coordination during the high-profile screening. Statements of witnesses, CCTV footage and event-related arrangements were examined before filing the chargesheet.
Case to proceed as per Law
Hyderabad Police said the prosecution will proceed strictly as per law, and further judicial proceedings will follow based on the evidence placed before the court.
