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CBI Summons TVK Chief Vijay for Questioning in Karur Stampede Case
New Delhi, January 6, 2026 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a summons to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and leader Vijay, directing him to appear for questioning on January 12 in connection with the deadly stampede that occurred during a party rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, last year.
The notice requires the actor-turned-politician to present himself at the CBI headquarters in Delhi as part of the agency’s ongoing probe into the September 27, 2025, incident, which claimed the lives of 41 people—including women and children—and injured over 100 others.
The tragedy unfolded at a massive public gathering in Velusamypuram, Karur district, where thousands of supporters had assembled for Vijay’s address. Reports indicate the crowd far exceeded the venue’s capacity of around 10,000, swelling to nearly 30,000 attendees. Contributing factors included a significant delay in Vijay’s arrival—originally scheduled for noon but occurring around 7 p.m.—leading to prolonged waiting in hot conditions with inadequate provisions for water, food, and crowd management. As excitement peaked upon his arrival, pushing and chaos ensued near barricades, resulting in the fatal crush.
Following widespread outrage and demands for an impartial investigation, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance and transferred the case to the CBI in October 2025, overriding the initial probe by a state Special Investigation Team (SIT). The apex court also constituted a three-member oversight committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to monitor the investigation for fairness and transparency.
The CBI has already questioned several senior TVK functionaries, including general secretary Bussy Anand, joint secretaries CTR Nirmal Kumar and Aadhav Arjuna, and Karur West district secretary VP Mathiyazhagan, who appeared before investigators in Delhi in late December. One local party official was briefly arrested in the aftermath but later released.
In response to the tragedy, Vijay announced compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured, while suspending his statewide political tour. He later met with victims’ families in Mamallapuram near Chennai to express condolences and apologize for the delay in visiting the site.
TVK has attributed the incident primarily to administrative and police lapses, while cooperating with authorities. The case has drawn intense political scrutiny in Tamil Nadu, ahead of the state’s Assembly elections expected in 2026, with TVK positioning itself as a significant new force in regional politics.
This development marks a key phase in the high-profile inquiry, with Vijay’s questioning expected to focus on organizational decisions, event planning, and security arrangements. The CBI has not yet indicated whether charges will be filed following the interrogation.
By Foundingeditor Samaran
Worldnow.co
