Celebs have rights too, SC says while granting reprieve to Shah Rukh Khan in 2017 stampede case

The Supreme Court, on Monday, refused to revive criminal charges against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in a case filed against him for allegedly causing a stampede in Gujarat's Vadodara in 2017.

The alleged incident took place at Vadodara railway station during the promotion of the movie, Raees. The actor was travelling in August Kranti Express on January 23, for the promotion of the movie when the stampede-like situation took place, during which a man had died of a heart attack. A few people sustained injuries during the incident.

The apex court sought to know what was the actor's fault in the matter. "Just because he is a celebrity, it doesn’t mean he has no rights,” the court observed, adding that Khan could not be expected to ensure the safety of everyone during the travel by train.

The apex court bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and C.T. Ravi Kumar affirmed an order of the Gujarat High Court which quashed the criminal case against Khan and said let the SC focus on more important subjects.

A celebrity has equal rights like every other citizen of the country, the SC bench observed.

After the incident, a local court had summoned the actor following a complaint filed against him under sections 336, 337 and 338 of the IPC. He was accused of allegedly committing acts endangering the life or personal safety of others.