Vijay’s TVK Moves Madras HC, Alleges “Conspiracy Plot” in Karur Rally Stampede | 40 Dead
CHENNAI: In a major political escalation following the deadly stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has approached the Madras High Court alleging a “conspiracy plot” behind the tragedy that has claimed 40 lives.
The death toll in the unfortunate incident, which occurred during a public gathering in Karur on Saturday, has risen to 40, including women and children, with nearly 100 people reported injured. Post-mortem reports have confirmed suffocation as the primary cause of death.
TVK Moves Court, Demands Independent Probe
The TVK, led by its joint general secretary, C T Nirmal Kumar, filed an urgent mention before the Madras High Court on Sunday, seeking either a Suo Motu cognisance of the tragedy or an independent investigation by a central agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The High Court has agreed to hear the plea, which is likely to be taken up by the Madurai Bench on Monday afternoon.
The core of the TVK’s petition is the allegation that the stampede was not an accident but a planned event. The party has cited evidence of “stone-pelting” in the crowd and a subsequent “police lathi-charge” at the venue, suggesting these actions were engineered to trigger chaos.
Legal and Government Response
The move by TVK comes amidst intense scrutiny and swift action from the state government and police:
- Judicial Probe: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a judicial inquiry into the incident, to be headed by retired High Court Judge Aruna Jagadeesan.
- Police Cases: State Police have filed cases against top TVK functionaries, including district secretary Mathiazhagan and general secretary Bussy Anand, under stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
- Compensation: CM Stalin has announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for the injured.
Victim Seeks Ban on Future TVK Rallies
In a parallel development, the Madras High Court is scheduled to hear an urgent petition filed by an injured victim of the stampede today (Sunday). The plea seeks to restrain the Tamil Nadu police from granting permission for any future TVK public gatherings until the judicial inquiry is completed. The petitioner argues that the tragedy was a “direct result of reckless planning, gross mismanagement, and complete disregard for public safety” by the organisers.
Contributing Factors and Vijay’s Grief
Eyewitness accounts suggest a combination of factors led to the tragedy: a large crowd estimated to be far exceeding the permitted limit, narrow approach roads, a prolonged power cut, and a sudden surge of people following actor Vijay’s delayed arrival at the venue.
Meanwhile, actor Vijay released a heartfelt statement expressing his anguish, saying his “heart is broken” over the irreparable loss. He personally announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹20 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured, assuring continuous support from the party workers. The political and legal battle surrounding the deadly rally is expected to intensify as the High Court proceeds with the hearings this week.
