Actor-turned-politician Vijay, also the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, has been called by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appear in New Delhi on Tuesday regarding the Karur stampede case. This summons arises amidst speculation about potential alliance talks between the BJP and Vijay’s party in Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The CBI has requested Vijay to attend for further questioning related to the tragic stampede during his rally in Karur in September 2025.
The incident resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, sparking criticism over crowd management and security measures at the event. Vijay had previously been interrogated twice this year by the CBI, with the first session lasting over six hours on January 12 in New Delhi. During these sessions, officials probed into the rally’s planning, organization, permissions obtained, and crowd management arrangements.
Vijay returned for a second round of questioning on January 19, where he highlighted inadequate police presence at the venue as a significant factor contributing to the chaos leading to the stampede. He emphasized that the authorities’ arrangements were insufficient given the large crowd size. Investigators also inquired about adherence to police guidelines for public gatherings and rallies.
As part of the investigation, Vijay submitted event-related documents, including the rally permission application and communications with local authorities. The CBI took over the case from a Special Investigation Team following a Supreme Court directive for an independent inquiry. Sources suggest that the upcoming questioning session may conclude the agency’s interactions with Vijay in this case, though further witnesses and evidence could still be examined.
