The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: The Telangana high court on Friday (December 13) has granted interim bail to Telugu film actor Allu Arjun in connection with the stampede at the premiere of his film Pushpa 2, which resulted in the death of a woman. The court ordered Arjun to execute a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
The court’s decision came after Arjun’s counsel argued that the actor had taken permission to attend the premiere and was not responsible for the stampede. The counsel also pointed out that the police had acknowledged receiving information about Arjun’s attendance in advance.
The public prosecutor opposed the bail plea, arguing that Arjun had knowledge of the potential risk of a large crowd at the screening and attended “knowing fully well that an untoward incident may occur if he attends the event”. However, the court rejected this argument, stating that Arjun had taken permission and was not responsible for the tragedy.
“Is he responsible for the tragedy that happened? What knowledge he is having? He has taken permission,” Justice Juvvadi Sridevi was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.
The judge added: “Because he is an actor, he cannot be deprived of his right. As a citizen of this earth, he too has right to life and liberty.”
“What is this that he ‘knows untoward incident’? He’s a cinema actor, he took permission and he has gone,” the judge said.
“Where is the written material informing the actor and actress to not visit the theatre,” the court asked, as per Bar and Bench.
The government pleader (GP) replied saying, “Prior to the incident, SHO had informed them… I will produce documents.”
After hearing both the parties, the court granted bail to Arjun and two other accused.
Arjun was arrested earlier in the day by the Hyderabad police commissioner’s task force and was remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. However, the high court’s order granting interim bail superseded the lower court’s decision.
An FIR was filed against him at Chikkadpally police station – following a complaint lodged by the family of M. Revathi, the woman who lost her life in the stampede – for offences under Section 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Section 118(1) r/w 3(5) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The case will continue to be heard in court, with the next hearing scheduled for a later date.