Chennai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has called in 306 people for questioning over the Karur stampede that left 41 dead and more than 60 injured during a public event attended by TVK leader and actor Vijay on September 27.
The tragedy unfolded in Veluchamipuram, Karur district, triggering widespread outrage and scrutiny over crowd safety and event management. The CBI team, led by officer Praveen Kumar and operating from a temporary camp in Karur, is conducting the investigation under the supervision of retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi and ADGPs Sonal Mishra and Sumit Saran.
Investigators have carried out detailed site inspections and spoken to witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events. Officials said the team assessed the venue’s crowd capacity to check compliance with safety norms and interviewed local traders near the site for eyewitness accounts.
Sources confirmed that the probe is focused on lapses in crowd control, event planning, and the role of officials who authorised the gathering. Karur City Police Inspector Manivannan, who granted permission for the event, was questioned for over two hours regarding safety arrangements and coordination with organisers.
Among those summoned are family members of victims and the injured, as well as members of TVK’s Thamizhaga Rashtriya Peravai (TRP), who were involved in mobilising attendees. Investigators believe these testimonies will help establish accountability across various levels, including possible negligence by organisers and law enforcement.
The CBI also plans to conduct inquiries at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, to examine the chain of command and directives issued ahead of the event.
The Karur stampede stands as one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest public gathering incidents in recent years, raising urgent questions about safety protocols and political responsibility.
(Inputs from IANS)