Police file chargesheet in Pushpa 2 stampede case, naming 24 people, including Allu Arjun, as accused

Hyderabad: Hyderabad police have filed their chargesheet in the case of the stampede that occurred during a special screening of the film Pushpa 2. A total of 24 people, including actor Allu Arjun, have been named as accused. The chargesheet, filed by Chikkadpally police, names actor Allu Arjun as A-11, along with the owner of Sandhya Theatre (A-1), the theater management, Allu Arjun’s manager, personal staff, and eight bouncers.

Accident due to negligence
The police stated in the chargesheet that the stampede occurred due to the negligence of the Sandhya Theatre management. Despite knowing that a large crowd of fans would gather to see Allu Arjun, adequate arrangements were not made. The theater owner has been charged under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. According to investigators, Allu Arjun was named as an accused and arrested for proceeding to the theater despite the risk of crowding. In the incident, a woman died and her minor son was seriously injured.

On December 4, 2024, a large crowd gathered at the Shaam Theatre on RTC X Roads in Hyderabad to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun during the premiere screening. This led to a stampede, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Revathi and her minor son, Sritej, suffering from oxygen deprivation, leading to serious complications. The police investigation concluded that the tragedy was the result of gross negligence and a failure to follow safety protocols.

The management and owners of the Shaam Theatre have been named in the chargesheet for failing to implement crowd control measures despite being aware of the actor’s visit. Actor Allu Arjun has also been named for allegedly proceeding with the tour despite the high-risk crowd situation and for lack of coordination with local authorities.

The list of 24 individuals includes Allu Arjun’s personal manager, members of his staff, and eight personal bouncers whose actions allegedly aggravated the chaos. The police report highlights several serious lapses that led to the fatal incident. The theater management is accused of negligence because they failed to provide separate entry and exit points for VIP guests. During the investigation, it was noted that the police specifically denied permission for the actor’s presence due to security concerns.

Investigators allege that the movement of private security teams and certain gestures made toward the crowd led to the escalation. The theater owners have been charged under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for causing hurt and endangering public safety, along with other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).