The Madras High Court has strongly criticized actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), over the tragic stampede during a rally in Karur on September 27, 2025, which resulted in 41 deaths. Justice N. Senthilkumar condemned the actions of Vijay and senior TVK leaders, stating they fled the scene without showing remorse, describing their conduct as indicative of their “mental state.”
In response to the incident, the court ordered the seizure of Vijay’s campaign bus, which was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run-like incident during the rally. Police have been directed to collect all surveillance footage from inside and outside the vehicle as part of the investigation.
The court also established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Inspector General of Police Asra Garg to conduct a thorough probe into the tragedy. Justice Senthilkumar expressed dissatisfaction with the Karur district police for not naming Vijay in any of the FIRs, despite his central role in the rally.
Two senior TVK leaders, N. “Bussy” Anand and C.T. Nirmal Kumar, have been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Their anticipatory bail pleas were dismissed by the Madurai bench of the court, which noted that the investigation was still in its early stages.
The court rejected petitions to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), deeming one petition politically motivated and another not maintainable.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister also assured that the state would develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for managing public gatherings, which would serve as a model for the entire country.
The tragic incident has sparked widespread public outrage and calls for accountability, with political leaders across the spectrum demanding justice for the victims and their families.
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