The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to summon Vijay, the founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and a former actor turned politician, for questioning in January. This summons is in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred during one of his rallies in Karur district earlier this year. The stampede, which took place on September 27 in Velusamypuram, resulted in the loss of 41 lives and injuries to several others due to overcrowding at the campaign meeting.
The rally, part of Vijay’s political outreach in Tamil Nadu, faced severe overcrowding issues that led to the unfortunate incident. Following public outcry and demands for accountability, the case was transferred to the CBI for investigation. The agency has since been meticulously examining the circumstances surrounding the stampede, including site inspections, gathering evidence, and questioning over 200 individuals involved in the event.
As part of the ongoing probe, senior members of TVK were already questioned in New Delhi by the CBI for nearly nine hours. The focus of the questioning revolved around permissions for the rally, crowd management strategies, security measures, and the party’s hierarchy during the event. The CBI is particularly looking into potential breaches of safety protocols and the level of coordination between event organizers and local authorities.
The investigative agency is now contemplating summoning Vijay himself for questioning in the upcoming phase of the inquiry, scheduled for January. Although no formal notice has been issued yet, officials have hinted that Vijay’s statement will be crucial in determining accountability at the leadership level. Vijay, who established TVK in October 2024 as a new political entity in Tamil Nadu, has expressed willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation despite the stampede incident posing significant challenges for his party.
