Actor Vijay not named in Karur stampede FIR: Is Stalin-led DMK playing safe?

Stampede at Vijay's Karur political rally took lives of at least 40 people

The FIR filed after the Karur stampede that killed 40 people left out actor Vijay, even as it named second- and third-tier leaders of his fledgling party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

On Saturday night, Karur Town police booked TVK’s Karur West district secretary, VP Mathiyazhagan, under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing violations of campaign norms at Velusamypuram.

By Sunday, state general secretary N Anand alias ‘Bussy’ Anand and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar were also booked. The FIR invoked sections related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder (109), acts endangering life (125b), and disobedience of orders (223), besides the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.

But the names of Vijay, his close aide Aadhav Arjuna and general secretary (elections) and son-in-law of lottery baron Santiago Martin were missing from the FIR. Police officers told The Indian Express that the case may expand further depending on “evidence of organisational lapses.”

According to a report in The Indian Express, the decision to keep Vijay out of the FIR may have been part of a deliberate political strategy by DMK.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, who visited victims’ families in Karur early Sunday, restricted his comments to condolences and procedure. Asked if Vijay would be arrested, he said he would not answer questions with “political motives,” stressing that action would follow Justice Aruna Jagadeesan’s inquiry. Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin echoed the sentiment, saying, “All leaders have the right to campaign,” but insisted that responsibility lay with organisers and second-tier leaders.

Senior officials told The Indian Express that the Tamil Nadu chief minister will not take the risk of arresting a popular filmstar ahead of the elections.

“Unlike the late Jayalalithaa, who took bold calls, Stalin will think 100 times before risking the optics of arresting a filmstar with mass popularity. It could boomerang. Better to let the courts or the commission provide cover,” one officer told The Indian Express.

The state has set up a one-woman commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to probe the incident. With the Madras High Court expected to take suo motu cognisance, officials believe it is safer to wait for judicial or commission findings. A CBI probe is also possible, with some petitioners, including those linked to the BJP, pressing for it.

Meanwhile, Vijay released a statement on Sunday calling the tragedy an “irreparable loss” and announcing Rs 20 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. “This amount is not significant in the face of such a loss,” he said. “But it is my duty as one who belongs to your family to stand by you.”

Yet, his decision to leave Karur soon after the tragedy has drawn criticism. He flew out of Trichy on a late-night flight to Chennai, avoiding cameras and the press. TVK itself appeared paralysed, with its Karur office locked and senior leaders unreachable. None of the 40 dead were TVK workers — most were ordinary fans. Ten victims were under 18, nine were aged 40-60, and the rest between 18-40.

By Sunday evening, Justice Jagadeesan visited the stampede site, with the Chief Minister asking her to submit the report “as early as possible.” Two patients remain critical, and 81 others are still under treatment.