In the aftermath of the tragic stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur on September 27 — which left at least 41 people dead and scores injured — the Madras High Court has raised serious questions about police conduct, event management, and accountability.
Latest Developments & Key Issues
- High Court’s Inquiry into Vehicle Seizure
The Madras High Court has publicly asked why Vijay’s campaign vehicle was never seized by authorities following the disaster.
The court’s challenge suggests concern over whether vital evidence (such as the bus or convoy vehicle) is being preserved adequately. - Formation of Special Investigation Team (SIT)
Over petitions seeking stronger judicial intervention, the High Court ordered the constitution of an SIT, to be headed by Asra Garg, IGP (North Zone), to probe the stampede thoroughly.
The court criticized Vijay and his political party (TVK) for “vanishing” from the site after the incident and described their leadership as “poor quality.” - Court’s Orders for Further Legal Action
The court has directed that all CCTV footage (inside and outside the bus) be seized and preserved.
It ordered registration of a hit-and-run case against Vijay when his campaign vehicle struck two bikes during the rally, but did not stop to assist.
The court also barred political roadshows and rallies along state and national highways until standard operating procedures (SOPs) are formally adopted.
- Refusal for CBI Probe, But Notices Issued
Several petitions demanding a central (CBI) investigation were dismissed by the High Court, which asserted that it will not let itself become a “political arena.”
However, the court issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government and Vijay’s party (TVK) to respond to claims and demands for compensation within two weeks. - Allegations of Political Shielding & FIR Omissions
A writ petition filed in the Madras High Court has accused the state government of shielding Vijay by not including his name in the FIR, despite him being physically present at the rally.
Critics argue this exclusion undermines the credibility of the investigation and denies justice to the victims’ families. - FIR Details & Charges
The FIR states that Vijay remained inside the campaign vehicle for an extended time, contributing to crowd restlessness and overcrowding.
The FIR does not name Vijay himself as an accused — instead naming TVK leaders such as Mathiazhagan (Karur North district secretary), Bussy Anand (state general secretary), and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar (deputy general secretary).
They are charged under sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, endangerment of life, and disobedience to lawful orders. - Police vs TVK Claims Over Cause
TVK has alleged that stone pelting triggered the stampede, possibly as part of a conspiracy.
The police denied this, stating there was no evidence of stone-pelting and that the party leadership failed to heed suggestions to limit crowd size and restrict unsafe areas. - Judicial Reaction to Party’s Conduct
The High Court scolded the party for leaving behind their own cadres and supporters in chaos after the event.
It also dismissed anticipatory bail pleas of two TVK members (Anand and Nirmal Kumar), who were named in the FIR.
