Wait, Is This the Pushpa 3 Teaser?

On December 4, 2024, chaos erupted at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the screening of Allu Arjun’s highly anticipated film Pushpa 2: The Rule. Overcrowding led to a stampede, claiming the life of a woman and injuring her child. The tragic incident sparked outrage, with blame directed toward the theatre management, law enforcement, and the actor himself, whose presence at the screening allegedly exacerbated the situation.

The Chikkadpally police registered an FIR against Allu Arjun under Sections 105, 118(1), read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (B.N.S.). The actor was accused of recklessly attending the premiere despite knowing the risks, an action the police claimed contributed to the fatal stampede.

The Arrest and Initial Custody

On the morning of December 13, 2024, Allu Arjun was arrested from his residence in Jubilee Hills. The arrest unfolded amidst high drama, with fans gathering outside the Chikkadpally police station in support of the actor. Following his interrogation, Arjun was taken for a mandatory medical examination and subsequently presented before a local court. Despite his legal team’s arguments for bail, the court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

Interim Bail: A Judgement Rooted in Liberty

However, his legal team, led by Senior Advocate S. Niranjan Reddy, swiftly filed an urgent petition before the Telangana High Court, seeking interim bail.

By the evening of December 13, the Telangana High Court heard Allu Arjun’s bail plea. Justice Juvvadi Sridevi, presiding over the matter, delivered an order that emphasised the judiciary’s role in safeguarding personal liberty, even amid serious allegations.

The defense argued that Arjun’s presence at the event was not accompanied by any mens rea, emphasizing that he had attended the screening with prior intimation to the theatre management and the police. They contended that attributing criminal liability to him for the tragedy was “an abuse of the process of law.” The defense further relied on the Supreme Court’s decision in Arnab Manoranjan Goswami v. State of Maharashtra (2021) 2 SCC 427, where the Court held:

“Deprivation of liberty even for a single day is one day too many.”

Justice Sridevi, reflecting on these principles, observed that while the incident was undeniably tragic, the allegations against Arjun did not establish sufficient grounds for prolonged custody. The court’s order emphasized:

“In the said facts and circumstances of the case, and in view of the settled principle of law laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court of India, this Court is of the considered view that it is a fit case for grant of interim bail for a period of four weeks.”

The court granted bail subject to the certain conditions.

The High Court’s order was promptly communicated to Chanchalguda Central Jail, ensuring Arjun’s release early the next morning. The efficient progression—from arrest to bail—stood in stark contrast to the procedural delays typically faced by underprivileged undertrials.