The Supreme Court on October 13 ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into the Karur stampede, which occurred on September 27 during a rally organized by actor Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), claiming 41 lives.
A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria pronounced the verdict at 10:30 AM, ruling that a fair and impartial investigation is a constitutional right of citizens. The Court also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, along with two senior IPS officers, to monitor the progress of the CBI probe.
The decision came after multiple petitions, including one filed by TVK, which had challenged the Madras High Court’s October 3 order constituting an SIT of Tamil Nadu Police officers. TVK argued that the High Court’s order was biased and failed to ensure an independent probe, given the state’s involvement in the event.
The bench expressed concern over several aspects of the incident, including:
- Permission granted to TVK for the rally, even though AIADMK was denied permission at the same venue due to narrow access roads.
- Postmortem procedures of 30–40 victims conducted at midnight, followed by cremations at 4 a.m., raising questions about transparency.
- The Madras High Court’s jurisdiction, noting that the principal bench in Chennai passed orders even though Karur falls under the Madurai bench’s purview.
The Supreme Court’s directive aligns with the principles laid down in the State of West Bengal case on protecting democratic and fundamental rights, emphasizing accountability and impartial investigation in cases involving mass casualties and political events.
The CBI will now conduct a comprehensive investigation, with oversight from the SIT headed by Justice Ajay Rastogi, ensuring transparency and fairness in uncovering the cause and accountability behind the tragedy.
Case Details:
- Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam v. P.H. Dinesh & Ors | Diary No. 58048/2025
- Panneerselvam Pitchaimuthu v. Union of India & Ors | Diary No. 57588/2025
- S. Prabakaran v. State of Tamil Nadu & Ors | W.P.(Crl.) No. 412/2025
- Selvaraj P.A. v. State of Tamil Nadu & Ors | W.P.(Crl.) No. 413/2025
- G.S. Mani v. Government of Tamil Nadu & Ors | SLP (Crl.) No. 16081/2025
Disclaimer:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
