Pushpa 2 premiere tragedy: Allu Arjun named accused in stampede case

Charge sheet filed in Hyderabad court over deadly stampede during Pushpa 2: The Rule premiere; actor Allu Arjun and 23 others booked for alleged negligence.

A charge sheet has been filed before the 9th ACJM Court in Nampally in connection with the deadly stampede that occurred during the premiere screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad on December 4, 2024. Actor Allu Arjun has been named as one of the accused, along with 23 others, in the case linked to the tragic incident.

The incident took place at Sandhya Theatre on RTC X Road, where a massive crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Tollywood superstar during the film’s premiere show. The uncontrolled rush led to a stampede, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Revathi. Her minor son, Sritej, suffered severe oxygen deprivation during the chaos and has been bedridden for nearly a year following the incident.

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According to the charge sheet, the tragedy occurred due to serious lapses in safety planning and crowd control. Police investigations concluded that adequate precautionary measures were not put in place despite prior knowledge of Allu Arjun’s presence at the theatre. The failure to manage the swelling crowd was cited as a key reason for the fatal incident.

The theatre management and owners have also been named as accused for allegedly not arranging sufficient security or emergency measures even after being aware of the expected large turnout. The charge sheet further states that the screening continued despite dangerous overcrowding conditions.

Allu Arjun’s name has been included in the list of accused on the grounds that the event proceeded without intervention even as the crowd situation worsened. Investigators stated that the situation escalated due to irresponsible conduct and lack of coordination among those involved in managing the event.

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In total, 24 individuals have been booked in the case, including Allu Arjun’s personal manager, staff members, and eight private bouncers. Authorities concluded that collective negligence and failure to act responsibly led to the loss of life and critical injury to a minor.

The case has now moved to the trial stage following the submission of the charge sheet, marking a significant development in one of Tollywood’s most serious crowd-related tragedies.