Vijay's party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam moves SC seeking independent investigation into Karur stampede

Actor Vijay

Actor-politician Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has moved the Supreme Court against an order passed by the Madras High Court constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the stampede that took place in Karur, Bar and Bench reported on Wednesday. Forty-one people lost their lives in the incident.

Live Law reported that TVK's petition was mentioned before Chief Justice of India BR Gavai for urgent listing. The CJI listed the matter for hearing on Friday.

According to Live Law, the petition was filed by the party's secretary, Aadhav Arjuna, and demanded that an independent investigation be conducted under the monitoring of the Supreme Court, alleging that there might have been a pre-planned conspiracy by miscreants during the Karur stampede.

The Karur stampede took place on September 27 at Veluchamy Puram around 7:30 pm, when Vijay was addressing his supporters from his campaign vehicle. Several people who were attending the rally fainted due to overcrowding, after which ambulances arrived to transport those who had collapsed to the hospital.

An FIR filed shortly after the incident stated that permission had been granted for 10,000 attendees, while more than 25,000 people had gathered at the campaign venue.

Officials investigating the incident cited multiple lapses at the campaign venue, including crowd mismanagement, inadequate water and food supply and the violation of safety protocols, as key factors behind the deadly stampede.

18 women and nine children were amongst the victims of the stampede. Meanwhile, after the SIT was formed for the probe, the High Court criticised the party's "attitude" and said that it "abandoned" the site after the stampede.

On Tuesday, Vijay reached out to the families of those who lost their lives in the Karur stampede.

According to officials, Vijay spoke to at least five families through WhatsApp video calls, offering condolences, along with assuring financial and emotional support. He also promised to visit Karur soon to meet the bereaved families in person.