Allu Arjun, the Telugu superstar, has been released on bail after being arrested in connection with the tragic death of a woman during a stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the Pushpa 2 premiere on December 4. The actor had sought interim bail, which was granted by the Telangana High Court. However, delays in paperwork resulted in him spending a night in jail. He has now been released, bringing temporary relief for him as investigations into the incident continue.
The actor's lawyer, Ashok Reddy, questioned the delay in his release despite the court order. "They received an order copy from the High Court, but despite that, they didn't release him...they will have to answer...this is illegal detention, we will take legal action...as of now, he has been released..." Ashok Reddy said. The actor was released from Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad on Saturday morning, following a night of protests by hundreds of fans outside the prison.
The stampede incident, which occurred on December 4, left a 35-year-old woman dead and her eight-year-old son hospitalized. The city police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The arrest, which took place at his residence, was followed by a 14-day judicial custody order by a lower court.
The Telangana High Court granted Allu Arjun interim bail for four weeks, observing that the actor had a right to life and liberty as a citizen. Justice Juvvadi Sridevi noted that the actor could not be held prima facie responsible for the stampede, as he had merely attended the event for the premiere. As the investigations continue, fans of Allu Arjun are relieved that he has been released on bail, but the incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of fans at public events.