In a move that is set to send shockwaves through Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, the CBI has officially summoned actor-turned-politician Vijay. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder has been asked to appear on January 12 to answer questions regarding the Karur stampede, a tragedy that has shadowed his entry into full-time politics.
The incident occurred back on September 27, 2025, during a massive rally in Veluswamypuram. What was supposed to be a show of strength for the budding party turned into a nightmare when a crowd surge left 41 people dead and dozens of others seriously injured.
First, the Tamil Nadu government resisted, trying to retain the probe within its own boundaries by constituting a Special Investigation Team and arguing that law and order was strictly a state subject. It was only later that the Supreme Court intervened on the plea of the affected parties to rule that since the tragedy had "shaken the national conscience", an independent investigation by the CBI was called for.
Since taking the reins, federal investigators have been meticulously dissecting every detail of that day— from the initial permits and police deployment to the emergency response protocols that clearly failed. Several high-ranking TVK members, including Bussy Anand and Adhav Arjun, have already been grilled by the agency. Vijay’s summons suggests the probe has now reached the very top of the party's leadership.
While the CBI digs into the criminal aspects of the case, the Madras High Court is also pushing for structural change, demanding that the state government finalize a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political rallies. The goal is to ensure that no other public meeting in the state ever results in such a devastating loss of life again.
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