Karur stampede: Madras HC constitutes SIT; PIL petitioner alleges death threats from Vijay’s TVK

The Madras High Court on Friday (October 3) ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the stampede that occurred during actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK rally in Karur on September 27. On the other hand, the petitioner who requested a ban on road shows claimed to have received a death threat from a TVK manager.

The court ordered the formation of the SIR under the leadership of senior IPS officer Asra Garg, who is currently the Inspector General of Police, North Zone, news agency PTI reported.

The stampede cost the lives of 41 people and left more than 60 injured.

The bench of Justice N Sethilkumar was hearing the writ petition filed in the case and wondered why Vijay was not named in the first information report (FIR) filed in the case.

Justice Sethilkumar also criticized the TVK leaders and observed that “they abandoned the scene of events” while failing to take moral or legal responsibility, according to News18.

“The court cannot turn a blind eye and shirk its responsibilities,” the bench observed, adding that the TVK party had not even expressed remorse following the accident. “This shows the mental state of the leader,” added the magistrate.

PIL petitioner alleges death threats from TVK

The petitioner who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court, seeking a ban on gatherings during road shows, allegedly received a death threat from TVK district secretary Vinoth.

Amaravel Pandian, the petitioner’s lawyer, told reporters on October 3 that this happened after today’s court hearing.

“After today’s hearing, a person named Vinoth, the TVK secretary of Bhoothagudi, went straight to the house of my client Kathiresan and threatened to kill him. As soon as Kathiresan contacted me, Vinoth and the others fled the spot,” he said, according to PTI.

“We have now filed a fresh complaint before the Madurai bench of the High Court, citing intimidation and death threats,” Pandian added.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction restraining political parties from organizing public events or meetings on state and national highways in Tamil Nadu until standard operating procedures (SOPs) are framed in the matter, news agency ANI reported.

The order was passed during the hearing of four PILs seeking directions to frame SOPs for mass gatherings to prevent Karur-like accidents.

Noting that a similar case regarding SOPs is pending before the Madras principal bench, the judges allowed the petitioners to be impleaded in the case, according to ANI.

The government also reportedly assured the court that no meetings would be allowed, except at designated places, until the SOPs were finalized.

SBI investigation requests rejected

Another court, hearing various petitions seeking that the investigation into the Karur stampede be heard by the Central Bureau of India (CBI), noted that the investigation into the case by the Tamil Nadu police was still in its early stages and dismissed the pleas.

“If any aggrieved people come before this court, we will save them. Who are you? Don’t treat this court as a political arena. If during the course of investigation, something goes wrong, you come. This is the first step,” division judges M Dhandapani and M Jothiraman were quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

The court further ordered the government and political parties to ensure that drinking water and sanitation facilities are properly provided during their rallies or meetings.

Tamil Nadu is expected to hold parliamentary elections by the first half of 2026.