NEW DELHI (AP) — A popular actor in southern India was released from jail on bail on Saturday, a day after he was arrested by police in connection with a stampede that led to the death of a woman at the premiere of his movie earlier this month.
A 35-year-old woman died and her 8-year-old son was critically injured in the stampede, which occurred during the screening of Allu Arjun’s release for “Pushpa 2: The Rule” in southern Telangana state's Hyderabad city on Dec. 4.
Arjun was arrested after the woman’s husband filed a case against him, his security team and the theater's management for not informing police of the actor’s plan to attend the screening, which resulted in a larger-than-expected crowd. Police charged the actor, his security team and the theater’s management staff with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Police have already arrested the theater’s owner and two of his employees in connection with the case.
A local court on Friday ordered the actor to spend 14 days in jail, but within hours the Telangana High Court granted him bail. However, the actor had to spend the night in jail because prison authorities did not receive a copy of the bail until late Friday, the Press Trust of India reported.
The accident happened after the 41-year-old actor made a surprise appearance at a local theater where the movie was being screened. As his fans surged toward the venue, the theater’s main gate collapsed, resulting in the stampede.
The actor did not comment on the police charges or his arrest. But shortly after the accident, Arjun wrote on the social platform X that he was “heartbroken by the tragic incident.” He later announced financial assistance of $29,000 for the woman’s family and promised to take care of the medical expenses for her injured son.
Deadly stampedes are relatively common in India, where large crowds gather in small areas with shoddy infrastructure and few crowd safety measures.
Indian Southern film actor Allu Arjun, center, greets his fans in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, as he leaves a hospital where he was taken for medical checkup by policemen before arresting him after his appearance at a film screening allegedly led to a crush of fans in which a woman died. (AP Photo)
Indian Southern film actor Allu Arjun, center, greets his fans in Hyderabad, India, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, as he leaves a hospital where he was taken for medical checkup by policemen before arresting him after his appearance at a film screening allegedly led to a crush of fans in which a woman died. (AP Photo)
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney safely negotiated a stop-and-start first session of the third cricket test against India at a rainy and soggy Gabba on Saturday.
It turned out to be the only session of the day when rain and soggy grounds washed out the remainder of play. With more rain showing on the weather radar, umpires made the decision to call off play for the day about an hour before scheduled stumps.
The series is level at 1-1. India won the first test by 295 runs at Perth, Western Australia while Australia came back to win the second day-night test in Adelaide by 10 wickets.
After India won the toss and sent Australia in to bat, rain first halted play for about 30 minutes in the sixth over. The showers returned about a half-hour later and until the scheduled lunch break.
Khawaja was on 19 and McSweeney 4 and Australia was 28-0 after 13.2 overs, the only action of the day.
At the toss, India made two changes — Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep were back in the side, replacing Harshit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Australia earlier said Josh Hazlewood would return to the starting X1 for the Brisbane test after missing Adelaide with a side strain. Fellow fast bowler Scott Boland was the man dropped in the only change for Australia.
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India's Ravindra Jadeja walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Virat Kohli, right, walks back to his fielding position during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah bowls a delivery during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Mohammed Siraj tosses the ball as he prepares to bowl on the day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Nathan McSweeney bats during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah, left, bowls a delivery as Australia's Nathan McSweeney watches from the non-strikers end during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Akash Deep, center, appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Australia's Nathan McSweeney during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
General view of covers on the pitch as it rain during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah reaches out to field the ball during play on day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Alex Carey looks on ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Travis Head, right, chats with teammate Alex Carey ahead of day one of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
