The Tamil Nadu government informed the Supreme Court that two petitioners denied to file petitions seeking a CBI investigation into the Karur stampede, highlighting ongoing legal hurdles in pursuing a central probe.
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TAMIL NADU: The State of Tamil Nadu informed the Supreme Court that two petitioners, whose pleas seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe had been considered by the Court, have denied ever filing the petitions.
During the hearing, senior advocates representing the State highlighted the seriousness of the matter.
“Two of the petitioners say that they did not file the petitions. The petitions on which your lordships were persuaded to pass the order were not even filed by the two persons,”
submitted Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
The two petitions in question were filed by Paneerselvam Pithaimuthu and Selvaraj P, both seeking a CBI investigation into the tragedy. According to the State’s lawyers, the petitioner in Item 1504 (P Selvaraj v Union of India) sent a letter to the Supreme Court Registry clarifying that he had not filed the petition. Meanwhile, in Item 1502 (Paneerselvam Pithaimuthu), it was stated that the mother of a deceased child was named as the petitioner, but she clarified that she was raising the child and had not filed any petition.
Senior Advocate P. Wilson, also representing the State, stressed the gravity of the situation, describing it as a “serious issue” that the Court should examine.
However, the bench led by Justice J.K. Maheshwari indicated that this anomaly may not affect the interim direction for a CBI investigation.
“We will look into it, but there are other SLPs, CBI prayer was there. So it (issue of petitions filed without petitioners’ knowledge) may not affect… if that is the issue situation, we will take cognizance,”
said Justice Maheshwari.
He further clarified that the order to transfer the investigation from the SIT of Tamil Nadu Police Officers, formed by the Madras High Court, to the CBI, was an interim measure based on prima facie observations and will be subject to final scrutiny.
The Supreme Court has received a total of five petitions on the matter, including one filed by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), all seeking an independent investigation into the deadly stampede.
Background
The incident on September 27, during a TVK rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, resulted in 41 deaths and numerous injuries. The chaos, including incidents involving Vijay’s campaign vehicle, triggered scrutiny of the party’s management of the event. Vijay himself was not named in any FIR, but the rally’s handling and aftermath became the focus of legal and political debates.
On October 3, Justice N. Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court issued a critical order against TVK, noting the State’s investigation was “not up to mark” and directing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. The High Court underscored its constitutional duty to intervene when investigations are inadequate.
TVK approached the Supreme Court, challenging this order, questioning both the criticism of the party and the SIT directive. Meanwhile, families of victims and other petitioners continue to demand a CBI investigation, though the Madurai Bench of the High Court had earlier declined such a transfer, noting the State investigation was still ongoing and that the petitioners were not directly affected.
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Case Title:
TAMILAGA VETTRI KAZHAGAM V P.H. DINESH AND ORS.
Diary No. 58048-2025
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