Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, 41, found himself at the center of a police investigation into the tragic stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, which left a 35-year-old woman dead and her eight-year-old son critically injured. The incident occurred during a special screening of his latest film, sparking outrage and raising questions about accountability.

The police summoned the actor on Monday, and he appeared for questioning on Tuesday. Among the critical questions posed to him were:

• Was he aware that police had denied permission for his presence at the premiere?
• Who made the decision to proceed with the event despite the lack of authorization?
• Was he informed about the chaos outside the theatre?
• When did he learn about the tragic death?

These inquiries, according to police sources, align with the broader focus of the investigation, which seeks to determine whether Allu Arjun had proper permissions to attend the event and interact with fans, as well as the role of his actions in triggering the fatal stampede.

Timeline of events

The incident unfolded on December 4 when hundreds of fans gathered at Sandhya Theatre for the special screening. Arjun reportedly arrived at 9:30 PM, using the main entrance and spending 15-20 minutes engaging with fans. His unannounced appearance caused a massive surge in the crowd, leading to panic and chaos. The police allege that the security team and theatre bouncers aggravated the situation by aggressively managing the crowd.

In the ensuing melee, a woman named Revathi and her son were trapped under the stampede. Police officers on the scene provided emergency first aid and rushed them to the hospital, but Revathi succumbed to her injuries.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13, nine days after the incident. He was initially sent to judicial custody for 14 days but was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court the same day. The court cited concerns about police overreach, asserting that “just because he is an actor… he cannot be held like this.”

Actor denies responsibility

The actor has vehemently denied allegations of wrongdoing. “I just waved to people and went inside. No cop asked me to leave,” he stated during questioning, adding that his manager had advised him to exit due to the crowd.

Arjun’s office released a letter dated two days before the screening, allegedly informing the police about his visit and requesting security arrangements. However, the police maintain that the letter lacked necessary details and that proper protocols for such events were not followed.

Legal implications

The police have charged Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre’s management with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. While the theatre owner and staff were among six arrested earlier, all have since secured bail.

Fellow actors have rallied behind Arjun, asserting that the actor cannot be held accountable for the actions of others. Meanwhile, Arjun has criticized what he termed as “misinformation” and “character assassination” against him. At a press conference, he described the incident as “unfortunate” and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

Moving forward

The investigation remains ongoing, with the focus on whether negligence by the actor or event organizers contributed to the tragedy. As public scrutiny intensifies, the case highlights the need for stricter regulations and safety protocols for high-profile events to prevent such avoidable tragedies.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge have recorded their dissent over the selection of the chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the grounds that the process adopted was flawed and a pre-determined exercise that ignored mutual consultation and consensus.

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge had proposed the names of Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph for the position of NHRC chairperson. Nonetheless, former Supreme Court judge V Ramasubramanian was appointed as the chief of the human rights panel.

The Congress leaders in a dissent note said that the balance of region, religion and caste was not kept in mind while appointing the NHRC chairperson. The leaders further alleged that such a selection process showed the dismissive approach of the government.

They also recommended the names of Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Akil Abdulhamid Qureshi for the position of NHRC members and said both had exemplary track records in upholding human rights. The note stated that their inclusion would contribute to the NHRC’s effectiveness and its commitment to diversity.

Prior to Justice (retd) Ramasubramanian’s appointment, the post of NHRC chairperson had been lying vacant since Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra completed his tenure on June 1. Following Mishra’s retirement, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani became the acting chairperson of the human rights panel.

Earlier on December 18, a high-powered committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to select the next chairperson of the NHRC. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the meeting.

As per the law governing NHRC, while the committee which selects the NHRC chief is headed by the prime minister, it has the Lok Sabha Speaker, home minister, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha and deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha as its members.

Notably, a former Chief Justice of India or a retired judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as NHRC chairperson by the president on the recommendation of the selection committee.

The NHRC on Monday said that the President of India appointed Justice V Ramasubramanian (retd) as the chairperson, and Priyank Kanoongo and Dr Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi (retd.) as the members of the NHRC, India. Priyank Kanoongo earlier served as a chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Monday affirmed that there was no security lapse on its part during the scuffle that broke out between NDA and INDIA bloc MPs last Thursday. The CISF was tasked to guard the Parliament House Complex.

Addressing a press conference, CISF Deputy Inspector General (operations) Shrikant Kishore said that there was no lapse on the part of the force. He also clarified that no weapons were allowed.

When asked about the counter-allegations made by the parliamentarians on who pushed whom, Shrikant Kishore said that the force will choose to keep quiet when the MPs make allegations. He also added that the CISF was not conducting any inquiry into the incident that took place at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House Complex.

Earlier on Thursday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs staged protests in the Parliament complex, demanding an apology and resignation from Union home minister Amit Shah over his remarks about Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

During a face-off with NDA MPs, two BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput sustained head injuries. Following the incident, the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of pushing the two lawmakers.

Pratap Sarangi, the 70-year-old MP from Balasore Odisha, claimed that Rahul Gandhi shoved Mukesh Rajput, causing both MPs to fall. Sarangi reportedly sustained injuries to his forehead and knee during the incident. The BJP MPs were later admitted to ICU in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. They have now been discharged from hospital.

The Congress strongly denied the claim, alleging that BJP MPs pushed its chief Mallikarjun Kharge and physically manhandled Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Reportedly, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, hours after the BJP filed a complaint, accusing him of physical assault and incitement.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi narrated that they were going to the House, when the BJP MPs were standing at the gate to stop us. He added that the Home Minister should resign and apologise, and that the government wants to divert attention.