The Madras High Court will hear a petition seeking to include actor and TVK chief Vijay as an accused in the Karur stampede case, which left 41 dead, alleging negligence and violation of safety laws.
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NEW DELHI: The Madras High Court is set to hear a petition on Friday concerning the tragic Karur stampede incident, which claimed the lives of 41 people last month. The petition, filed by advocate C. Selvakumar, seeks to alter the existing police case to include actor and Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay as an accused.
The Petition
The plea alleges that the police invoked only mild charges in the case and excluded Vijay’s name to allow him to escape legal scrutiny. It requests that the case be enhanced to include stringent charges such as:
- Death by negligence (Section 304A IPC)
- Endangering life and personal safety (Section 336 IPC)
- Violations under the Juvenile Justice Act
- Offences under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act
According to the petitioner, the rally that led to the stampede was “unlawfully organised” by Vijay’s party, drawing thousands of people, including minors and pregnant women, in violation of safety norms and citizens’ fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
The Karur Tragedy
The incident occurred in Karur district, Tamil Nadu, during a public event organised by the TVK. Initial reports suggest that chaos erupted when Vijay arrived several hours late, leading to an uncontrollable rush among attendees.
While the state government and police have pointed to poor crowd management, the TVK leadership insists the tragedy was due to local administrative failure, dismissing allegations against the actor as “politically motivated” and part of a vendetta.
Supreme Court and CBI Involvement
In response to the scale and sensitivity of the tragedy, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation into the incident, to be monitored by a retired judge. A special team has already arrived in Karur and is expected to take over the probe shortly.
Arrests and Current Status
So far, two TVK functionaries have been arrested. They face serious charges, including:
- Attempt to murder (Section 307 IPC)
- Culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 IPC)
- Endangering public safety
The petition further seeks directions for the Election Commission to consider derecognising the TVK, a move that could have major political ramifications ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. It also urges the court to bar the police from granting permission for any future TVK rallies or roadshows until the case is resolved.
