Entertainment

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; June 19: The Nampally Criminal Court in Hyderabad has issued summons to popular Telugu actor Allu Arjun, directing him to appear in person in connection with the ongoing legal proceedings related to the Pushpa 2: The Rule stampede case. The court has asked the actor to be present on June 22 as the matter moves closer to trial.

The case stems from the tragic incident that occurred on December 4, 2024, during a special screening of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad’s RTC X Roads area. A massive crowd surge outside the venue led to a stampede, in which a woman lost her life and her young son sustained critical injuries. The incident triggered widespread outrage and raised serious questions over crowd management and security arrangements at public events.

Allu Arjun has been named Accused No. 11 (A11) in the charge sheet filed in the case. The theatre management and several members of the actor’s security team have also been included among the accused. In total, authorities have listed multiple individuals connected to the organisation of the event and the crowd control arrangements.

The summons issued by the Nampally Court also extends to several other accused persons, with reports indicating that around 19 individuals have been directed to appear before the court. The trial process is expected to begin once all accused are present for judicial proceedings.

The incident occurred when large crowds gathered at Sandhya Theatre following the actor’s arrival for the premiere show. The sudden surge of fans reportedly overwhelmed security arrangements, leading to chaos at the venue. The victim, identified as Revathi, died in the stampede, while her son Sri Teja suffered severe injuries and continues to receive medical care.

Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Allu Arjun, his security team, and theatre management. The actor was arrested on December 13, 2024, and later granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court the same day. He was subsequently released, and later granted regular bail.

The legal proceedings have continued over the past year, with multiple rounds of investigation, questioning, and judicial review. Authorities had earlier examined CCTV footage and witness accounts to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.

The Nampally Court now issuing fresh summons, the case is expected to move into a crucial phase, where issues of responsibility, crowd control negligence, and liability of organisers and participants will be examined in detail. Legal experts say the outcome of the proceedings could set an important precedent regarding celebrity appearances at public screenings and associated safety obligations.