The Supreme Court is scheduled to issue a ruling on October 13, 2025, regarding petitions seeking an independent investigation into the Karur stampede that resulted in the deaths of 41 people. A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria will pronounce the order.
The petitions were filed by various parties, including Tamil actor Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and others. TVK has requested a probe supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge, arguing that a fair investigation by the Tamil Nadu police is unlikely. Other petitioners, including BJP leader G.S. Mani, have sought a CBI probe into the incident.
The Karur stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during a rally organized by Vijay's party. Initial police reports stated that the rally attracted approximately 27,000 attendees, significantly exceeding the anticipated 10,000. Authorities attributed the tragedy, in part, to a seven-hour delay in Vijay's arrival at the venue.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court questioned the Madras High Court's decision to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the stampede. The court raised concerns about the propriety of the Chennai bench issuing orders when Karur falls under the jurisdiction of the Madurai bench. Furthermore, the Supreme Court questioned the basis for the SIT investigation, which stemmed from a petition seeking a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political rallies.
The TVK has also objected to what it perceives as scathing remarks from the High Court, alleging that the party and Vijay abandoned the site after the incident and failed to express remorse. The party argues that these observations were made without affording them a proper hearing. TVK's plea asserts the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy that led to the stampede. They contend that investigations were compromised by official apathy and potential political interference, leaving unanswered questions regarding the rally's permission and the response following the incident.
Senior Advocate Wilson, representing the Tamil Nadu government, argued that victims cannot dictate the investigating agency and that a CBI probe is unwarranted in this case, as such investigations are reserved for exceptional circumstances. The Supreme Court also questioned the state on granting permission for the rally and how post-mortem examinations of all victims were completed within hours of the incident. The court also addressed conflicting orders from the High Court, one rejecting a CBI probe and another directing an SIT probe.
