The tragic incident left 41 people dead and over 60 injured. The court also rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of two senior TVK leaders and criticised both the party and the police over the mishap
The HC also held the TVK event organisers, the party leadership, and police responsible for lapses that contributed to the stampede. Representational pic
The Madras High Court (HC) on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the September 27 stampede at a political rally of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay, news agency PTI reported.
The tragic incident left 41 people dead and over 60 injured.
The court also rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of two senior TVK leaders and criticised both the party and the police over the mishap. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident was also dismissed, with the bench directing her to approach the Madurai court instead, PTI reported.
Chief Minister MK Stalin and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) launched political attacks, blaming the BJP and TVK respectively. While Stalin accused the BJP of attempting to exploit the tragedy for political gains, the DMK slammed Vijay for his “arrogance, hunger for money, publicity mania and the desire for chair”. The party said his challenge to the state government to arrest him was an attempt to divert attention from the deaths of 41 people.
The SIT has been formed under senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Inspector General, North Zone, Asra Garg, PTI reported.
The HC also held the TVK event organisers, the party leadership, and police responsible for lapses that contributed to the stampede, which claimed the lives of several children.
The anticipatory bail pleas of TVK state General Secretary Bussy N Anand and Deputy General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar were dismissed. Both have been named in the first information report (FIR), along with a local party leader who has since been arrested. They face charges under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others), and 223 (disobedience to order) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court also rejected the anticipatory bail petition of TVK Namakkal district secretary Sathish Kumar, linked to an attack on a private hospital during Vijay’s public meeting in Namakkal.
Meanwhile, Stalin alleged that the BJP and the Union government “show no genuine concern” over the stampede and are attempting to “capitalise” ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections.
“Why was a delegation of NDA MPs sent to Karur urgently, while no teams were dispatched for Manipur riots, Morbi bridge collapse, or Kumbh Mela stampede?” he questioned.
The DMK also targeted Vijay. Its party organ Murasoli said, “Vijay’s arrogance, responsible for the deaths of 41 persons, and his hunger for money, publicity mania and desire for chair, has not subsided yet.” It claimed that his Rs 20 lakh solatium announcement for victims’ families was prompted by pressure, adding, “By mounting a challenge to arrest him, he is trying to divert the issue of the deaths of 41 persons.”
The government has already disbursed solatium to the victims’ families, while the DMK criticised TVK leaders for arriving late to designated campaign spots, leaving supporters exhausted.
(With PTI inputs)
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