Karur stampede case: CBI summons TVK's Vijay for questioning
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Karur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday issued a notice to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay, asking him to appear for questioning in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials said.
The CBI has already questioned several office bearers of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in relation to the case, sources added. Following Vijay’s questioning, the agency may decide on filing a charge sheet.
The CBI took over the investigation from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after a Supreme Court order, and has been collecting evidence related to the stampede that occurred during a political meeting addressed by Vijay on September 27 in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
On that day, 41 people, including 18 women and 10 children, died during the stampede at a TVK rally. The victims were from Karur, Erode, Dindigul, Tiruppur, and Salem districts. The crowd had gathered at Velusamypuram along the Karur–Erode Highway for a “people’s rally,” when chaos broke out near the exit after Vijay’s address.
Earlier, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices J K Maheswari and N V Anjaria had set up a three-member supervisory committee, headed by retired judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to oversee the probe into the stampede. The bench said the matter “has a bearing on the fundamental rights of citizens and the incident has shaken national conscience,” emphasising the need for a “fair and impartial investigation.”