The Madras High Court has rapped Tamil actor Vijay and his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), for their handling of a rally in Karur that resulted in a tragic stampede. The incident, which occurred on 27 September, claimed the lives of at least 41 people and has sparked widespread public outrage.
In a scathing observation, Justice Senthilkumar remarked that Vijay and his party leaders "abandoned" the victims and fled the scene without showing any remorse or accountability. “They showed no remorse, no responsibility, and no regret after the incident,” the court observed.
The judge also criticised the organisers for failing to act when disaster struck, noting that the people who had gathered to see the popular actor were left to fend for themselves. The High Court expressed dismay that the TVK failed to assist or comfort those affected during or after the incident.
In connection with a related hit-and-run case, the court ordered the seizure of the TVK’s campaign bus, citing video evidence allegedly showing the vehicle involved in an accident. The judge further directed authorities to confiscate all CCTV footage from the rally, particularly recordings from both inside and outside Vijay’s campaign bus to support the ongoing investigation.
The court has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tragedy in detail. Inspector General of Police Asra Garg will lead the SIT, and the court has instructed the Tamil Nadu state government to provide full cooperation to the team.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the progress of the local police investigation, the court stated that authorities appeared to be “showing leniency” towards TVK leaders. It questioned the police's inaction, asking pointedly why no case had been filed against actor Vijay himself, despite the scale of the incident and his central role in the event.
So far, two senior members of TVK, Vijay’s close aide and party second-in-command, N 'Bussy' Anand, along with CT Nirmal Kumar have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
At a separate hearing, a Madurai bench denied anticipatory bail to both men, citing the early stage of the investigation and the seriousness of the allegations. “Bail cannot be granted as the investigation is in its preliminary stage,” the bench ruled.
Two petitions seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the stampede were also rejected by the court. One was filed by a politician unconnected to the victims, while the other was dismissed as not legally maintainable.
The court underscored that the safety of citizens lies with the government and insisted that such tragedies must not be allowed to repeat. “It is the state’s duty to protect lives,” the court stressed.
Initial reports from the police stated that around 27,000 people attended the rally, nearly three times the expected 10,000. Authorities also noted that a seven-hour delay in Vijay’s arrival may have contributed to the chaotic conditions that led to the stampede
