Nidhhi Agerwal mobbing case: Lulu Mall management, Shreyas Media summoned for questioning

Two members of Lulu Mall’s management and an event organiser from Shreyas Media were summoned by the Kukatpally Housing Board (KPHB) police for questioning on Friday in connection with the mobbing of actor Nidhhi Agerwal during the launch of a song from the upcoming film The Raja Saab on Wednesday.

The accused are being questioned about the failure to obtain prior permissions for the event, the lapses in crowd control and security arrangements.

The questioning followed the registration of a suo motu case by the police on Thursday after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Notices under the Section 35 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) were issued to the accused.

Actor reluctant to file case

Sources close to the investigation said the case was taken up after the actor expressed reluctance to file a formal complaint, prompting the police to act on their own. “We spoke to her and she said she does not want to file a complaint,” said an official.

The police booked a case under Sections 223 (disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 292 (public nuisance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against two members of the mall’s management and one representative of the event management company for organising the event without prior permissions, citing ‘chance of stampede’ at the venue.

According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred as Agerwal was exiting the venue after the event. Police said the crowd swelled around her near the exit point, with fans attempting to take photographs and interact with the actor. During this time, she allegedly tried to shake hands with one of the fans, triggering a sudden surge as others rushed forward to do the same.

The situation quickly spiralled out of control as the crowd closed in from all sides, leaving the actor hemmed in and struggling to move.

Visuals showed her being jostled repeatedly while attempting to make her way to her car, with security personnel finding it difficult to create a safe passage through the crowd.

Officials said the accused are likely to be called again for further questioning on Saturday. Investigators are also analysing CCTV footage from the mall premises to identify individuals involved in the mobbing and to assess whether there were lapses in crowd management and security arrangements during the event.