Police have filed a case against Sandhya Theater management, actor Allu Arjun and his security team after a 39-year-old woman died in a stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad.
Akshansh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central Zone, Hyderabad Police, told The Indian Express, “The case has been registered under BNS Sections 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) R/W3. (5) Person (causing voluntary hurt or grievous hurt) at Chikkadapally Police Station on complaint of family members of deceased. It is being investigated. Anyone who causes chaos inside the theater will be severely punished according to the law. Death of one person and injury to otherssaid the DCP.
M. Revathi died in the incident while her nine-year-old son’s condition is critical.
In a statement, the DCP said the theater failed to inform the police about the arrival of the lead actor and other actors there.
Station House Officer (SHO) B Raju Naik of Chikkadapally police station said a large crowd had gathered outside the theater to watch the film and catch a glimpse of the film’s lead actors.
“However, the police had no information about the time when the theater management or the team of actors would visit them. The theater management has not made any additional security arrangements for crowd management. Although the theater management was aware of their arrival, there was no separate entrance or exit for the troupe of actors. At around 9:30 pm, when actor Allu Arjun entered the theater under personal security, everyone gathered there tried to enter with him. His personal security team started pushing the crowd, which worsened the situation as it was already a large gathering. Taking advantage of the situation, along with the actor and his security team, a large number of people entered the lower balcony area,” the SHO said.
“Revathi and her son Sritej felt suffocated due to the public rush. Immediately, the police on duty took them out of the public from the lower balcony. They performed CPR on the son and immediately shifted him to the nearby Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. Doctors declared her dead and advised to shift her son to another hospital for better treatment,” the SHO said.
Regarding the child’s condition, the hospital said, “The critical condition is believed to be the result of prolonged unresponsiveness, possibly due to severe hypoxia and possible lung injury from aspiration or contusion. Prompt CPR provided by bystanders and police helped revive the child, with further medical intervention Enabling.