The Nampally Court in Hyderabad has returned the chargesheet filed by the police in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case, citing procedural and technical errors. The court observed that several key pieces of evidence and official documents were not attached to the file.
Among the major issues highlighted were the lack of proper supporting documents and the failure to submit digital evidence such as hard disks, CDs, and pen drives. The court stated that returning a file with such shortcomings is a standard legal procedure followed under established judicial norms.
What Happened at Sandhya Theatre?
On December 4, 2024, a massive crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad for the premiere of a popular film. During the chaos that followed, 35-year-old Revathi lost her life. Her 9-year-old son, Sreetej, suffered serious injuries and underwent treatment.
A case was registered at Chikkadapalli Police Station. The main allegations include security lapses, failure in crowd control, and poor technical management. A total of 23 people have been named in the chargesheet, including actor Allu Arjun, members of the private security team, and theatre management officials.
Chargesheet Returned Again
Police officials stated that the investigation has been completed. However, the chargesheet was returned because the errors pointed out by the court were not properly rectified. They have now claimed that all necessary evidence and documents have been attached and the chargesheet has been resubmitted.
This is the second time the same chargesheet has been returned by the court in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case. Earlier, too, it was sent back due to technical mistakes. After making the required corrections, the police have submitted it once again.
Legal experts believe that the court is likely to begin hearings soon on the revised chargesheet. During the next hearing, the court is expected to carefully examine all the submitted evidence in accordance with legal standards.
