Bhubaneswar: When the Telangana High Court has granted 4-weeks interim bail to star actor Allu Arjun in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case, and as the interim bail period will be ending anytime soon on around Januray 10, 2025, the moot question here is will the actor Allu Arjun be arrested again by the Hyderabad Police?
The Sandhya Theatre stampede case is becoming intense day by day. The issue takes a new turn when Sunday Hyderabad Police released a complied video series of Sandhya theatre at a press conference.
Though the Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand neither did he pass his judgement nor commented on the star’s anticipatory bail given by Telangana HC, after releasing the video footage of the fateful day on Dec 4, the CP said, “I cannot say anything about the progress of the case. We have compiled a 10 minute video after collecting the footage from television channels and social media platforms.”
But the statement “No one is above law” and the purpose of the video footage released by the CP Hyderabad assume significance.
WHAT THE VIDEO SHOWS?
The video footage shown at the PC shows police have reconstructed the sequence of events on Dec 4 that led to death of 35 year old woman Revathy in a stampede leaving his 9-YO son critically injured. The police presented the sequenced timeline from actor Allu Arjun’s entry to exit.
#Hyderabad : #alluarjunarrested issue
Here is the collection of #CCTV footage and Videos of #Stampede at #Sandhya70mm theatre, during #AlluArjun 's visit for special show #Pushpa2TheRule , released by #hyderabadpolice , which are not at all matching with Allu Arjun's claims :… pic.twitter.com/E79KknIhDE— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) December 22, 2024
- DECEMBER 4 (9:30PM): After crossing Musheerabad Metro Station, the actor Allu Arjun started a rally from RTC crossroads. Coming out of the sunroof of his car, the star actor waved at the huge crowd gathered, Police says the crowd behaviour then has been unruly.
- 9:40PM clip shows, entering of the actor and his family members, including father in law, into the theatre in different cars. Crowd swelled bigger by the time.
- Inside theatre, Police claim that it is seen in the video the actor instructing his staff to close the doors, which led to surge of crowd towards the inner balcony.
- The video also shows a worried Revathi with her son Teja waiting outside the theatre. (see the main image)
- The video footage shows she and her family seated in the lower balcony.
- Post the entry of star All Arjun into the balcony, the over enthusiastic crowd in the lower balcony started climbing on the seats to take a glimpse of Allu Arjun
- This ensued chaos trapping the mother –son duo inside the lower balcony, her husband and daughter spared as they were outside the lower balcony.
- 9:50PM: Video footage shows an unconscious Revathi and her son brought to the lobby of the theatre by the Police.
- Police tried to resuscitate them first, then rushed to hospital where Revathi declared brought dead.
- While the stampede has happened at around 9:35-9:40PM, the video footage timeline released by police shows
- 11:30PM: Police tried to reach out to the actor. As per ACP L Ramesh Kumar, he approached the actor’s manager Santosh and informed him about Revathi’s death and the gravity of the situation. The manager allegedly did not inform the actor.
- The ACP then said, “I went inside the theatre and informed the actor about the stampede and asked him to leave the premises immediately. I had also informed about the death of a woman. But he refused to leave and insisted on watching the full film.
- After this I informed to DCP.
- 11:45PM: Video shows DCP (central zone), ACP and SHO Chikkadpally approaching Allu Arjun and asked him to leave following the exigency situation outside Sandhya theatre.
- 12:10AM: Video footage shows Police escorting Allu Arjun, his wife, the actress Rashmika Mandanna out of the Sandhya theatre
- While leaving, video footage shows the actor is seen blowing flying kisses at the large public gathered outside and exited waving to them
WHAT THE POLICE WISH TO SAY?
A look at the 10-min video timeline issued by Hyderabad police leads to following conclusions.
- The Police wish to state that actor Allu Arjun’s rally from RTC Crossroad to Sandhya Theatres led to huge turnout grow unruly and chaotic.
- Actor asking his staff to close the door led to crowd surge into the inner balcony leading to stampede.
- Police video is to refute the actor’s claim that he learnt about the death of 35YO Revathi in the next day morning.
- How the actors bouncers were seen pushing unruly crowd as well as policemen.
BOTTOMLINE: The release of video footage by Police has now added another dimension to the Sandhya Theatre stampede. The police seem trying to build their case strong against the actor by portraying how the actor’s rally to the theatre made the situation uncontrollable.
Moreover, police claimed that they had advised the officials of Sandhya Theatres not to host the actor as it could lead to some unforeseen consequences.
