Hyderabad’s Nampally court on Friday summoned Telugu icon Allu Arjun in connection with the stampede which occurred during the premiere screening of his blockbuster film, “Pushpa 2: The Rule.” The court has directed the actor to appear in person on June 22 as part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to the incident, which left a woman dead and a child grievously injured. 

Several months after the police filed a chargesheet naming the actor among those accused in connection with the incident dating back to December 2024 at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, the summons were issued on Friday, marking a fresh development in the case. 

Court issues summons to 19 accused including Arjun

As per reports, the Nampally Court has issued summons to 19 people linked to the case. The police said they have already filed a chargesheet against 23 people, including theatre officials, security personnel and others connected to the incident. 

The cops have named Allu Arjun as Accused No. 11 (A11), while the Sandhya theatre management has been listed as Accused Nos. 1 to 10. The actor’s legal team confirmed the development, saying that the court has instructed him to be present for the hearing scheduled on Monday. 

The case has drawn numerous eyeballs due to the actor’s stardom and the circumstances surrounding the swelling of the crowd during the film’s special screening. 

Details of the stampede incident

For the unversed, the incident occurred on December 4, 2024, during a special premiere screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre. Thousands of fans and admirers of the actor reportedly congregated outside the venue after coming to know that Allu Arjun would be attending the screening.

The police probe revealed that the actor’s visit had not been communicated officially to the authorities in advance. Consequently, adequate security arrangements and crowd-control measures were allegedly not put in place. 

As a huge crowd surged towards the theatre entrance in a bid to catch a glimpse of the star, a stampede unfolded, resulting in the death of a woman aged 35, identified as Revathi. Her son Sritej (8), sustained grievous injuries and was rushed for treatment. 

Police probe, legal proceedings continue

In the aftermath of the incident, police initiated legal action against multiple persons, including the theatre management personnel, security staff and others associated with the event. Authorities have been probing whether negligence, inadequate planning and failure to implement proper safety measures contributed to the stampede.

Meanwhile, on the professional front, Arjun is buckling up for his upcoming film with director Atlee, tentatively titled Raaka. Deepika Padukone will likely feature in the lead role, with reports indicating that Rashmika Mandanna, Mrunal Thakur and Janhvi Kapoor will also be part of the ensemble cast.