Key Timeline of Events:
December 4: The Stampede- During the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’, Allu Arjun made an unannounced visit to the Sandhya Theatre.
- The venue was already crowded with fans. Upon his arrival, a stampede ensued as fans tried to catch a glimpse of him.
- In the chaos, many people fainted due to suffocation. Revathi and her son were crushed in the crowd.
- While her son survived, Revathi was declared dead at the hospital.
December 13: Arrest and Investigation Arrest
- Allu Arjun was arrested from his residence by the Chikkadapally police.
- He was taken to the police station for questioning and had his statement recorded.
- The actor underwent a medical examination at Osmania Hospital and was later presented in the Nampally Court.
- The court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
- Allu Arjun was booked under Section 304(A) of the IPC (Causing death by negligence) and Section 118(1) (Deliberate harm).
- These are non-bailable offenses, with penalties ranging from 5 to 10 years in prison, or life imprisonment in severe cases.
The Victim and Her Family
- Victim: Revathi (32), who had come to watch the movie with her husband and two children.
- Husband’s Statement: Revathi’s husband blamed Allu Arjun for negligence, citing that the lack of proper security measures and prior notification to the authorities caused the tragedy.
- The family demanded strict action to prevent such incidents in the future.
Legal and Public Reaction
Responsibility of Theater and Security- Three people, including theatre owner Sandeep, manager Nagaraju, and balcony supervisor, were also arrested for negligence.
- Allu Arjun expressed his grief over the tragedy and announced ₹25 lakh compensation for the victim’s family.
- In a video message, he assured his support to the family and described the incident as "deeply unfortunate."
Potential Consequences for Allu Arjun
- The charges against him include Section 304(A) of the IPC, which pertains to negligence causing death. Conviction under this section can lead to imprisonment for up to 10 years.
- His team and legal advisors are working to secure bail.