3 min readHyderabadUpdated: Dec 5, 2024 10:10 PM IST
In a statement, the DCP said that the theatre failed to inform police that the lead actor and other cast members were going to come there. (File Photo)
Following the death of a 39-year-old woman in a stampede at the premiere of the film Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad, police have filed a case against the Sandhya Theatre management, actor Allu Arjun, and his security team.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Central Zone, Hyderabad Police, Akshansh Yadav told The Indian Express, “A case has been filed under BNS section 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) r/w 3(5) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt) at Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint of the family members of the deceased person. It is being investigated. Stringent action as per law will be taken against all the persons responsible for the chaotic situation inside the theatre leading to the death of a person and injury to others,” the DCP said.
While M Revathi died in the incident, her nine-year-old son is critical.
In a statement, the DCP said that the theatre failed to inform police that the lead actor and other cast members were going to come there.
Station House Officer (SHO) of Chikkadpally police station, B Raju Naik, said that a huge crowd had gathered outside the theatre to watch the movie as well as in anticipation of getting a glimpse of the film’s lead actors.
“However, there was no intimation to police from the side of theatre management or the actors’ team about what time they would visit. The theatre management did not make any additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd. There was no separate entry or exit for the actors’ team though the theatre management had information about their arrival. Around 9:30 pm, actor Allu Arjun came to the theatre with his personal security and all the people gathered there tried to enter with him. His personal security team started pushing the public, which further aggravated the situation as there was already a huge gathering. Taking advantage of this 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 Sreethej felt suffocated due to the large public influx. Immediately the police personnel who were on duty pulled them out of the public from the lower balcony. They performed CPR on her son and immediately shifted them to the nearby Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. The doctors informed that she was dead and her son was advised to be shifted to another hospital for better treatment,” the SHO said.
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On the child’s condition, the hospital said, “The critical condition is believed to be a result of prolonged unresponsiveness, likely causing severe hypoxia and potential lung injury from aspiration or contusions. Prompt CPR provided by bystanders and the police was instrumental in reviving the child, enabling further medical intervention.”
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
