CBI has asked actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay to appear before it on March 15 in connection with the Karur stampede case.
According to officials, the agency had earlier questioned Vijay twice in January as part of its probe. He was again summoned on March 9, but the actor requested that the questioning be deferred by 15 days. Vijay also urged the agency to conduct the questioning in Chennai or any office in Tamil Nadu, citing political engagements related to the upcoming Assembly elections.
However, the CBI has now directed him to appear on March 15 at its headquarters in New Delhi. The central probe agency has also summoned V. Senthil Balaji, a legislator from the DMK, to appear for questioning on March 17.
Balaji, a former state minister, said in a message posted in Tamil on X that he intends to appear before the CBI and provide clarification regarding the Karur stampede incident.
The CBI took over the investigation from a Special Investigation Team after a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The case relates to a stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, during Vijay’s political rally in Karur. The incident claimed the lives of 41 people and left more than 60 injured.
In October last year, the Supreme Court directed the CBI director to appoint a senior officer to lead the probe. The apex court also set up a supervisory committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the progress of the investigation.
A bench comprising Justices J. K. Maheshwari and N. V. Anjaria observed that the tragedy had left a deep impact on citizens across the country. The court noted that the incident carried wide implications regarding the safety and rights of citizens, especially the families of those who lost their lives.
The bench emphasised that restoring public faith in the criminal justice system was essential, adding that ensuring a completely impartial, independent, and unbiased investigation was crucial in achieving that goal.
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