Today, On 7th July, The Supreme Court questioned the DMK over its plea in the Karur stampede case involving Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and the ruling TVK. The Court asked, “You want the Supreme Court to dictate what a chief minister should do?”
The Supreme Court rebuked the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after it filed a plea relating to the September 2025 Karur stampede case, involving Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and the ruling TVK.
A bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe expressed dissatisfaction with the DMK’s request to regulate the chief minister’s speeches and visits.
The court also criticised the opposition party for approaching the apex court to settle political scores.
The court asked,
“What exactly are you trying to say? You want the CM’s visit to be regulated by the Supreme Court?”
Questioning DMK’s intention court further said,
“Chief Minister Vijay is not an accused.”
The bench asked DMK General Secretary RS Bharathi,
“You want injunction on free speech? You make your own speech… how does the Supreme Court, in a matter where the CBI has been appointed to investigate, give orders against a political rival’s statement?”
Following this, the DMK sought permission to withdraw the plea, and the court agreed.
Earlier, DMK counsel had argued that a “narrative is being built by those accused”.
On Monday, the court had agreed to take up the plea on an urgent basis after the petitioner claimed that Vijay and other members of the Tamila Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) the actor-politician’s fledgling party that had reportedly secured a surprise victory in the April–May election could potentially influence witnesses.
The court proceedings were linked to a proposed July 10 visit by the chief minister to Karur.
The DMK alleged that the planned programme reportedly involving Vijay handing over job letters and financial aid to the families of those killed could be viewed as influencing witnesses who may be part of the ongoing federal investigation.
The opposition party also objected to TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna’s July 2 remarks, in which he allegedly said that “there is a score to settle” over the Karur stampede. He was also reported to have claimed that the DMK then in power during the incident “killed (the people of) Karur through the police”.
The Karur stampede case involves a tragic incident in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district in September last year, in which 41 people died while a crowd waited for Vijay’s campaign speech. The tragedy led to intense political backlash against Vijay and his party.
In March, Vijay then still a chief ministerial candidate appeared before the CBI for a third round of questioning. The federal agency took over the investigation a month after the stampede, following directions from the Supreme Court.
The DMK has told the court that the stampede occurred due to reckless and uncoordinated actions by the organisers and TVK workers. At the same time, Tamil Nadu Police according to the First Information Report had alleged that a deliberate display of political power by Vijay contributed to the 41 deaths.
Vijay and the TVK have denied the allegations, claiming a conspiracy was behind the case, allegedly hatched by the DMK.
The case related to the September 27, 2025, Karur stampede that occurred during a TVK political rally. The incident resulted in 41 deaths and left 142 others injured.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the investigation to be transferred from the Tamil Nadu Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Court also directed that the probe be overseen by a three-member committee led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi.
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Through its organising secretary RS Bharathi, the DMK had filed an application subsequently withdrawn seeking permission to be impleaded in the ongoing proceedings connected to the stampede.
In the application, Bharathi urged the Supreme Court to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C Joseph Vijay, along with TVK ministers Aadhav Arjuna, Bussy Anand, CT Nirmal Kumar, and others associated with the matter, from making public statements on the merits of the investigation being conducted by the CBI.
The plea also requested safeguards to be put in place before the State government disbursed benefits, issued government orders, or made compassionate appointments for the families of those killed or injured.
Click Here To Read More Report On Karur Stampede