Karur stampede: SC orders CBI probe into tragedy during TVK chief and actor Vijay’s rally

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into the Karur stampede during TVK chief and actor Vijay’s rally on September 27, which left 41 people dead and several others injured.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria also ordered a three-member committee to be headed by a former Supreme Court judge, Justice Ajay Rastogi to monitor the CBI probe for a fair and impartial investigation into the tragedy.

On Friday, the top court, while reserving its orders, had questioned the Madras High Court for constituting a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the stampede and wondered how it had proceeded with the matter.


The TVK had sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.

The plea had objected to the high court constituting an SIT only with officers of the Tamil Nadu Police. It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.

The plea also took exception to the scathing remarks of the high court against the party and the actor-politician, that they abandoned the place after the incident and did not express any remorse.

Earlier, the police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.