SC orders CBI probe into stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered an inquiry by the Central Board of Investigation into the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, which left 41 persons dead, Live Law reported.

A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria passed the interim order on a petition filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and other parties.

The court also constituted a three-member supervisory committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to ensure that the investigation is impartial, Live Law reported.

Rastogi has been asked to select two senior Indian Police Services officers, not below the rank of inspector general of police. The officers can be from the Tamil Nadu cadre, but should not be natives of the state.

The committee has been tasked with monitoring the CBI investigation. The agency will have to submit monthly reports to the committee on the progress in the investigation, according to Live Law.

The stampede took place on September 27 at Veluchamy Puram in Karur, shortly after 7.30 pm, when Vijay was addressing supporters from his campaign vehicle.

Several of those who attended the rally fainted due to overcrowding. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief’s speech was interrupted twice as ambulances were brought in to take those who collapsed.

The first information report filed in the matter alleged that while permission had been granted for 10,000 attendees, more than 25,000 persons gathered at the venue. Among those who died were 18 women and nine children.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s petition had challenged an October 3 Madras High Court order that had constituted a Special Investigation Team of Tamil Nadu Police officers to probe the stampede.

The party also sought an independent investigation into the stampede monitored by the Supreme Court.

It took objection to the High Court forming a Special Investigation Team comprising only officers from the Tamil Nadu Police.

The petition claimed there was a possibility of a “pre-planned conspiracy” by “miscreants” behind the stampede. It argued that an independent investigation was unlikely if it was carried out by the state police.

At the hearing on Monday, the Supreme Court asked why the Madras High Court entertained petitions related to the stampede in Karur even though it was not in its jurisdiction and for ordering an inquiry by the Special Investigation Team without any formal petition for it, Bar and Bench reported.

The bench questioned how Justice N Senthilkumar at the principal seat of the High Court expanded the scope of the petitions filed the aftermath of the stampede, which had sought guidelines and a standard operating procedure for rallies and road shows.

The single-judge had entertained the petitions even as the Madurai bench of the High Court was already hearing the case.

The Supreme Court noted that there was “no occasion” for the single judge of the main seat to entertain the petitions without orders of the chief justice when petitions seeking an investigation into the incident were pending before the Madurai bench, Bar and Bench reported.

The Supreme Court also said that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam was not made party to the petitions by the single judge. However, observations were made against the party without granting them an opportunity to be heard, it added.

“The judgment is completely silent about how single-judge arrived at such conclusion, what material was perused by the court,” the bench said according to Bar and Bench. “The said order merely refers to the submissions made by the additional advocate general.”

In the High Court on October 3, Senthilkumar verbally criticised the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s “attitude” of “abandoning” the site after the incident. The judge said that the party did not express remorse after the stampede.