CBI panel member visits Karur as probe into deadly stampede intensifies

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the devastating Karur stampede entered a critical phase on Monday as IPS officer Sumit Sharan, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed oversight committee, arrived at the CBI’s local office to review progress. Sharan is part of the three-member panel headed by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Ajay Rastogi, alongside Sonal V. Mishra, Inspector General (Provisioning), CRPF. The committee has been tasked with monitoring every stage of the inquiry and ensuring accountability in the investigation.

The incident occurred on September 27 during a public meeting organised by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur. A massive crowd had gathered near Velusamipuram to hear the party chief speak. The turnout reportedly far exceeded the planned capacity, triggering a sudden crowd surge. In the chaos that followed, 41 people lost their lives and more than 110 were injured, making it one of Tamil Nadu’s worst public-event disasters in recent years.

Allegations of poor crowd management, inadequate safety arrangements and miscommunication among organisers and authorities prompted widespread criticism. The Supreme Court subsequently transferred the case from the state SIT to the CBI and set up a supervisory committee to ensure impartial investigation.

CBI teams stationed in Karur have intensified their inquiries over the past two weeks. Investigators have collected testimonies from families of the deceased, injured survivors, ambulance personnel, police officers, TVK functionaries, and local administrators. Officials have so far questioned the families of 12 victims, documenting their accounts of how the tragedy unfolded.

The probe also includes detailed interactions with residents and business owners from the Velusamipuram area including a petrol bunk owner, textile and mobile shop owners, and a mechanic. Their statements were recorded at the Circuit House in Karur.

As part of the forensic reconstruction, the agency conducted 3D laser scanning and detailed measurements across nearly 700 meters in and around the venue to analyse crowd movement patterns, entry-exit bottlenecks and structural conditions at the site.

CBI sources indicate that more than 100 individuals connected to the event have been summoned so far, including members of TVK’s legal team and the party’s Trichy Zonal Joint Coordinator, Arasu. The agency is expected to examine organisational lapses, security arrangements, permissions granted for the event, and possible negligence that may have contributed to the deaths.

TVK chief Vijay, who was present at the rally on the day of the tragedy, has in recent weeks initiated multiple efforts to reach out to affected families. Shortly after the incident, he spoke to several bereaved families over video calls, expressing grief and assuring assistance. His party subsequently transferred financial relief of ₹20 lakh to each of the deceased victims’ families as part of a welfare fund.

About a month after the tragedy, Vijay met many of the bereaved families in person at a private venue near Chennai. During the interaction, he reportedly apologised for delays in meeting them directly and assured continued support, including help with education, employment and household needs. TVK has also indicated that further visits to individual homes in Karur will take place in the coming weeks.

With the Supreme Court closely monitoring the process, the CBI is expected to submit periodic progress reports to the oversight committee. The investigation is likely to scrutinise event planning, crowd-control lapses, communication failures, and the roles of organisers, local police and district officials.

For the families who lost loved ones, justice will hinge not only on identifying the failures that led to the stampede but also on ensuring long-term support and transparency as the probe advances. The tragedy remains a stark reminder of the human cost of inadequate safety measures at large public gatherings.