Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay is scheduled to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday. This appearance is in connection with the investigation into the Karur campaign stampede that resulted in the loss of 41 lives last year. Vijay, cited as a witness in the case, will be deposing at around 11 a.m. following a summons issued by the CBI on January 6.
Legal experts have advised Vijay that if any issues arise during the questioning, appropriate remedies can be sought before the court. After consultations with senior legal counsel and party functionaries, Vijay has decided to fully cooperate with the investigation and comply with the summons. The CBI took over the probe into the stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, at Velusamipuram in Karur district during a TVK election campaign event.
As part of the investigation, the CBI has already examined several TVK office-bearers and recorded statements from the Karur District Collector and the Superintendent of Police. The agency conducted these examinations over December 29, 30, and 31, recording nearly 19.5 hours of testimony. In a related development, teams from the CBI, the Union Home Ministry, and the Central Forensic Science Laboratories inspected the campaign bus used by Vijay during the Karur event.
The bus, brought from Chennai and parked at the PWD guest house in Karur, was examined for its CCTV systems and other onboard facilities. The driver of the bus, Bharanidharan (34), was also questioned. Officials checked the quality and positioning of the cameras on the bus, with the entire inspection process being video recorded. This inspection was prompted by reports indicating the installation of high-resolution cameras on the vehicle used during the campaign.
