Tamil leader Vijay's party TVK has questioned the impartiality of the police SIT in the Karur stampede case. The party has demanded an independent investigation from the Supreme Court. 27,000 people were present at the rally, and 41 people died due to indiscipline.
Karur Stampede: Tamil actor and leader Vijay's political party, Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), has questioned the police-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Karur stampede case and demanded an independent inquiry from the Supreme Court. The High Court had already ordered the formation of an SIT led by an Inspector General of Police in this matter, but TVK argues that the police are investigating themselves, which raises doubts about impartiality. The party has appealed to the apex court for intervention, calling for a completely independent investigation.
Petition Filed in Supreme Court
This petition has been filed on behalf of TVK through advocates Dikshita Gohil, Pranjal Agrawal, and Yash S Vijay. The petition states that an SIT investigation conducted under police supervision will not be able to uncover the truth of the incident. Therefore, a request has been made to the Supreme Court to issue an order for an independent investigation instead of a police-led one. The Court has scheduled the hearing for this petition on October 10.
Madras High Court Order
The Madras High Court on October 3 had directed the formation of an SIT led by an Inspector General of Police to investigate the Karur stampede case. According to this order, the SIT was to conduct a thorough review of every aspect of the incident, identify those responsible, and submit a report. The High Court issued this order amidst severe criticism regarding the mismanagement of the rally, which resulted in the deaths of 41 people.
Reason for the Stampede at the Rally
On September 27, approximately 27,000 people were present at the rally organized by Vijay's party in Karur. This number was three times more than the estimated capacity. Officials stated that a seven-hour delay by the police in reaching the venue was also a major cause of the chaos. Due to indiscipline and shortcomings in security arrangements during the rally, a stampede broke out, claiming the lives of many.
Demand for CBI Investigation
A total of three petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court concerning the Karur stampede case so far. In addition to TVK's petition, advocate G.S. Mani has also filed a petition in court, demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This petition has been primarily filed with the objective of ensuring an impartial investigation into the matter.
What the Party Said
TVK states that only an independent investigation, rather than a police-led SIT, can bring out the real reasons behind the incident. The party has challenged the High Court's order and urged the Supreme Court to issue an order for a just and impartial investigation. According to the party, the accident occurred due to mismanagement at the rally and a failure in crowd control.
Officials reported that more than three times the estimated capacity of people had gathered at the rally venue. Due to the massive crowd, security arrangements completely failed. A lack of coordination between the police and organizers further exacerbated the situation. The absence of proper guidance and emergency measures during the rally led to the stampede.
Expectations from the Supreme Court
TVK's lawyers state that the Supreme Court can intervene in this matter and approve an independent investigation. This will not only bring out the actual causes of the incident but also help prevent such accidents in the future. After judicial intervention, the investigation will be completely impartial and transparent, ensuring justice for the victim's families.
