Karur stampede: TVK chief Vijay appears for CBI questioning

TVK chief and actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday as part of the ongoing probe into the Karur stampede case , which claimed 41 lives and injured several others during a political rally on September 27, 2025 . The stampede occurred during a campaign event organised by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur, Tamil Nadu, when a large crowd of supporters gathered to see Vijay. The incident triggered widespread public outrage and prompted judicial and legal scrutiny.

Vijay flew from Chennai on a chartered flight, accompanied by TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna , and the party requested security arrangements from Delhi police during his visit. He was questioned for several hours at the CBI headquarters. Investigators examined aspects of the rally, including the timeline of the event, the organisation of the programme, and the coordination between TVK organisers and local authorities. The agency is also reviewing documents related to permissions for the event , the internal structure of TVK, and the roles of party functionaries in planning and executing the programme.

The CBI is further probing whether any risk assessments were conducted in coordination with the district administration and whether basic arrangements such as drinking water facilities and designated entry and exit points were in place. The movement of Vijay’s modified campaign vehicle during the rally is also under examination, and the driver has been questioned.

The investigation had earlier been transferred from the Tamil Nadu police to the CBI by order of the Supreme Court , and several senior TVK functionaries have already been questioned. The party has submitted video footage to the agency, while the Tamil Nadu government had filed a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking to remove the CBI’s jurisdiction. TVK has challenged the state’s claims, stating that several statements in the counter-affidavit are false and misleading and could hinder the ongoing investigation.

The CBI has not issued any public findings yet. The inquiry continues to focus on event planning, organisational responsibilities, coordination with authorities, and safety arrangements, as the agency seeks to establish accountability for the tragedy and strengthen protocols for mass political gatherings.