GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th Oct: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the stampede during actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district last month, which claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured.
A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria also appointed a three-member monitoring committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi to oversee the investigation. The committee will include two IPS officers—preferably from the Tamil Nadu cadre, but not natives of the state—to ensure impartiality.
The apex court expressed surprise that a single judge of the Madras High Court’s Chennai bench, who had earlier dismissed pleas seeking a CBI probe, later took cognisance of the tragedy and termed it an incident that “shook the nation.”
The stampede occurred on September 27 when around 30,000 people gathered at a venue with a capacity of just 10,000 to attend Vijay’s political rally. Officials said security guidelines were flouted, and inadequate arrangements for food and drinking water worsened the situation.
Vijay, who was expected to arrive at noon, reached the venue around 7 p.m., triggering a massive crowd surge. As thousands pushed forward to catch a glimpse of him, chaos ensued. Some people climbed trees and rooftops while others fainted amid the suffocating crowd. Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the mob.
A day after the tragedy, Vijay announced ₹20 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured, while suspending his statewide tour.
Police have since arrested TVK Karur West District Secretary Mathiyazhagan for alleged lapses in crowd management. Cases have also been registered against General Secretary Bussy Anand and Joint General Secretary Nirmal Sekar, both currently absconding.
On October 7, Vijay spoke to the victims’ families via video call, expressing grief and assuring them that he would visit Karur soon.
