Karur Stampede: Injured Man Moves Madras HC To Ban Vijay’s Rallies; TVK Demands CBI Probe

Chennai: Legal proceedings have intensified following the tragic stampede at actor-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay’s rally on Saturday in Karur that claimed 40 lives. A man injured in the incident has approached the Madras High Court against any future rallies by the party till the probe into the incident is complete.

The petitioner, N. Senthilkannan of Karur district, has urged the court to direct the Tamil Nadu DGP to halt permissions for any further public meetings or rallies by Vijay until the tragedy is fully investigated, responsibility is fixed, and safety measures are enforced.

Meanwhile, actor-politician Vijay and his party have sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the stampede. The Madras High Court has asked for a formal petition to be filed, with hearings scheduled on Monday.

Senthilkannan alleged that the stampede occurred due to the organisers' mismanagement and security lapses, as the police had permitted Vijay to campaign beyond the permitted time of 12 noon, despite his arrival at 7 pm.

“Due to this, a large number of people joined the crowd that had already gathered to see him. Later, a section of the crowd was trapped in the stampede, resulting in the death of 40 people so far, including 10 children,” he said. “Many of the seriously injured are undergoing treatment in hospitals. The incident has caused great shock and sadness throughout Tamil Nadu.”

Despite the large number of volunteers coming to TVK leader Vijay’s meeting, the police did not impose adequate restrictions, the petitioner claimed.

“No barriers were set up to control the crowd. As a result, 40 people, including children, women and adults, died tragically. The reason for this loss of life is the lack of adequate preparations and administrative incompetence. The police should take strict action against the accused in this case and the organisers of the event. The police should not grant permission for actor Vijay’s political campaign until the investigation into the stampede death is completed,” he said.

He said permitting further rallies by the TVK and its founder-leader, Vijay, at a time when the Karur tragedy remains under investigation, would amount to placing countless other lives in peril. The public confidence in the State and its machinery would be shaken if, despite the deaths of 40 innocent people, no effective steps were taken to prevent recurrence.

He said the ex-gratia announced by the government (Rs 10 lakh) and the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry under Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, though steps in the right direction, were not sufficient to address the recurring danger.

Unless strict directions were issued to forbear the DGP from granting permissions for further political rallies by the same party and leader until accountability was fixed and adequate safety mechanisms were enforced, another tragedy of equal or greater magnitude may occur, he added.

Though a mention was made by senior counsel G Sankaran, appearing for the petitioner before Justice N Senthil Kumar, to take up the petition for an early hearing on Sunday evening, it was not done so since it was not numbered.

The Karur city police have registered a case under four sections and are conducting an investigation. The factum of deaths and injuries has been duly recorded in the file of Karur Town Police Station, where an FIR has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and Section 106 (causing death by negligence).

Furthermore, a one-man commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagatheesan has been formed to investigate the matter. (With inputs from agencies)

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