Why Allu Arjun was condemned for the death of a woman during the stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2 | I explained

Latest update:December 5, 2024, 9:38 PM IST

Pushpa 2: The Rule starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna is a sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise.

Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna at Pushpa 2 Pre Release Event.

On the night of December 4, 2024, chaos erupted during the premiere of Pushpa 2 at the Sandhya 70mm Theater in Chikkadapally, Hyderabad. A huge crowd gathered to see the screening and maybe catch a glimpse of the actors in the film. Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. However, the situation spiraled out of control, leading to a tragic stampede that claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and injured her 13-year-old son.

How did the tragedy unfold?

Despite no prior information from Allu Arjun’s team about his visit, the crowd swelled beyond manageable limits in anticipation of his arrival. Theater management, reportedly aware of the actor’s expected presence, did not take adequate security measures or create separate entry and exit points for the group of actors.

At around 9:30 PM, Allu Arjun accompanied by his wife Rashmika Mandanna and music director Devi Sri Prasad arrived at the venue. His personal security team reportedly began pushing the crowd to leave, worsening the already chaotic situation. Fans tried to follow the actor inside, flooding the lower balcony of the theater.

In the commotion that ensued, Revathi and her son got caught in the crowd. It is reported that they suffocated heavily before being pulled out by other police officers. Despite immediate medical attention, Revathi was declared brought dead at Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital and her son was sent for intensive care.

What are the charges?

Following the incident, the victim’s family lodged a complaint with the Chikkadapally police station. A case was registered under Sections 105 and 118(1) read with 3(5) of the BNS Act. DCP Central Zone Akshansh Yadav said, “According to the complaint, theater management, actor Allu Arjun and his security team have been made accused… We have to identify who among his security team was present yesterday and who was pushing people creating this situation… Our deployment was there, and no mistake from the side there is no police. The investigation is ongoing.”

What led to the stampede?

Over a lakh fans had thronged the venue and tensions flared when Allu Arjun’s security team allegedly used aggressive force to control the crowd. This action knocked down many people, which led to a stampede. The chaos was compounded by the actor’s team reportedly entering through the already crowded area, violating crowd control norms.

About Pushpa 2

Pushpa 2: Rulestarring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles, is a sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. Directed by Sukumar, the film continues the gritty story of Pushpa Raj, a smuggler who fights for power in the sandalwood mafia. The franchise caused a massive response, and its premiere became one of the most anticipated events of the year.

What will happen next?

The authorities assured that strict measures have been taken against all the culprits. An investigation is underway to determine responsibility, including mistakes by theater management and the actor’s security.