The Madras High Court is set to hear a plea filed by actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party regarding the deadly stampede in Karur that claimed more than 40 lives. The TVK is demanding an independent probe into the Tamil Nadu crowd crush on September 27, which left nearly 100 people injured.
The Dussehra vacation Bench of Justices M Jothiraman and M Dhandapani will take up the matter. But the larger question being asked is: where is the 51-year-old movie star? Since the stampede broke out on Saturday, Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar - popularly known as Vijay - has remained at his Chennai residence. He issued a statement saying his "heart was writhing in pain." Later, reports suggested he had moved to another house, also in Chennai.
Later, he also announced Rs 20 lakh relief for the families who lost their loved ones and Rs 2 lakh for the injured. Amid no-show by Vijay, TVK has alleged a political conspiracy in the Saturday stampede.
On Sunday night, Chennai Police received a threat call claiming explosives had been planted at the actor's home. After an intensive search, the call was declared a hoax.
Since the tragedy, Vijay has neither visited the site of the stampede nor met victims at the hospital - a no-show that has drawn criticism from many quarters.
To add to the troubles for the actor’s party, a victim of the stampede has also moved the Madras High Court seeking restraining order against TVK for holding any public rally until proper safety protocols are not set in place. The victim, who has been identified as Senthilkannan, said that the there was no planning for the rally with complete mismanagement for the crowd control.
The petitioner also said that allowing Vijay to hold rallies in future would put public lives at risk. The petition also mentioned the FIR by the Karur Police under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mk Stalin has issued a statement urging people to maintain calm and not post provoking messages on social media. "Do not spread defamation and rumors on social media regarding the tragedy that occurred in Karur. Everyone must behave responsibly," Stalin said in the video message.
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