The Central Bureau of Investigation has summoned actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay again for questioning on January 19 in connection with the inquiry into a stampede at his rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district that left 41 persons dead, The Hindu quoted unidentified officials as saying on Tuesday.

The central agency had recorded his statement in the matter for over six hours on Monday and wanted to continue the questioning the next day.

However, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader CTR Nirmal Kumar said that the party had sought a different date due to the festival of Pongal and other political meetings, The Times of India reported.

Advertisement

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 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.

Advertisement

The Supreme Court had ordered an inquiry by the CBI into the stampede on October 13. The bench had also constituted a three-member supervisory committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to ensure that the investigation was impartial.

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