Allu Arjun Arrest: Telangana High Court Grants Interim Bail To Allu For 4 Weeks In Stampede Case

The Telangana High Court on Friday (December 13) granted interim bail for four weeks to actor Allu Arjun who had sought quashing of FIR in connection with a stampede which occurred outside a cinema hall in Hyderabad last week when the actor had an unscheduled visit, in which one woman also died.After hearing the arguments for around two hours Justice Juvvadi Sridevi while dictating the order said, "I'm inclined to give interim bail, for a limited period, following the Arnab Goswami case. Bonds to be given to the Jail superintendent since arrest is made". During the hearing, the bench while expressing its inclination to grant interim bail orally remarked, "It's actually bothering me. Just because he is an actor, can he be held like this? There are no ingredients...On this earth, he has the right to life and liberty. It can't be taken away by virtue of being an actor".The high court in its order noted, "A perusal of the remand case diary and record, it is apparent that Sandhya 70 M.M. management addressed a Letter dated 02.12.2024 to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chikkadpally Police Station and sought permission to provide security measures at Sandhya 70 MM Theatre in view of arrival of movie team which includes Hero, Heroin(e) and other actors and makers of the film. On the said letter, the Assistant Commissioner of Police has affixed their seal and endorsement. The film production unit addressed a Letter dated 04.12.2024 and sought permission to screening of premiere show with all safety precautions".It thereafter, referring to the decision of the Supreme Court in Arnab Manoranjan Goswami v. State of Maharastra and others, and taking note of the facts and circumstances of the case, granted interim bail to the actor subject to certain conditions. These include that the actor shall "cooperate with the investigation" shall not make any attempt to interfere with the ongoing probe or with the witnesses, in any manner. The court also directed the investigating officer to proceed with investigation.Earlier in the day, a lunch motion was moved before Justice Sridevi by the counsel appearing for the Actor, which was allowed. At the outset the public prosecutor appearing for the state before the high court said that the actor is not entitled to get any relief. He says that 7 people have been already arrested, and thereafter he sought time to file a response. When the matter was taken up at 4pm, senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy appearing for the actor argued before Justice Sridevi that to make out case for culpable homicide, there needs to be an intention. Meanwhile, as the hearing was going on in the high court, the actor was produced before a magistrate court and was remanded to judicial custody of 14 days. "When you read the FIR is does say that Allu Arjun knew some death was going to happen?Even the instructions given by the SHO doesn't say that there was a chance of a death to occur. Highest case there can be is of 'death by negligence'. Here the bench may note, is 'somebody doing a rash or negligent act'?," Reddy said. He recalled an incident when actor Shahrukh Khan was on a train journey to promote his film Raees. He said that the actor had thrown clothes at the station, which lead to a stampede; a case was filed and the court had held that the actor was not criminally liable in that case. Reddy claimed the deceased woman was on the ground floor where stampede occurred while the actor was on first floor. He further argued that not only the actor, but the Producer also wrote to the theatre informing them about the actor's visit."Actor was coming, everybody knew, the Police knew. Here the actor was not even proactively doing anything whereas in SRK's case, the actor threw balls, crowds jumped to grab them," Reddy said. He further argued charge under Section 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) BNS not made out. "It mandates use of dangerous weapons. On the face of it, it's not applicable".He thereafter said, "Even if S. 106 BNS (causing death by negligence) applies, what is the maximum punishment? 5 years? Arnesh Kumar case comes in. Arrest cannot be made like this (without notice). Sometimes tragic incidents happen. There are umpteen cases, where politicians hold rallies and accidents may happen.Now I'm coming to the next step. Now I am asking for interim bail". Reddy thereafter pointed to the judgment passed in the arrest of journalist Arnab Goswami and said, "In Arnab's case, court was approached after the arrest was made. I had approached the court prior to the arrest. SC says when there is no prima facie case, the court can grant interim bail". Reading from the judgment Reddy says, "Deprivation of liberty for even one day is one too many". Reddy also objected to PP opposing lunch motion. Says this is the law of the land and has been followed by Telangana HC in two cases."Our high court is not the only high court, a division bench of the Bombay High court has...

Allu Arjun Arrest: Telangana High Court Grants Interim Bail To Allu For 4 Weeks In Stampede Case

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