In a major development in the Karur stampede case that claimed 41 lives during actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on September 27, 2025, the Supreme Court on October 13, ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, observing that the tragedy involved questions of citizens’ fundamental rights and required an independent, impartial inquiry.
Accepting petitions seeking a CBI probe into the Karur stampede, in which 41 people including women and children were killed on September 27 during Joseph Vijay’s TVK party public outreach programme in the run-up to next year’s State Assembly elections, the Supreme Court on October 10 reserved orders on a batch of petitions seeking an independent investigation into the incident.
A Bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice N.V. Anjaria heard the matter for over two hours and posed sharp questions to the Tamil Nadu Government and the Madras High Court over the manner in which the case was handled and the investigation ordered. While the TVK sought an investigation monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge, others wanted a probe by the CBI.
Today, the same Bench, reasoning its decision to go for a CBI fair probe, said, “Looking at the facts, the issue has a bearing on the fundamental rights of the citizens. The directions are to hand over the investigation to the CBI. In order to allay the concern of parties, we propose to set up a three-member committee. We have requested Justice Ajay Rastogi to head the committee. Two officers of the Indian Police Service, who may be of Tamil Nadu cadre but not natives of the State, will be part of the panel. The officers, not below the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), will be chosen by Justice Rastogi. We direct that the committee shall devise its own procedure as per the directions of the retired judge. The CBI has been ordered to submit a monthly report of the investigation before the panel.”
The Bench said, “It is a matter of concern and requires to be explained by the High Court as to how the formation of the SOP for political parties would fall within criminal jurisdiction. We seek an explanation from the Registrar General and ask that the order be brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of the High Court.”
The Bench observed, “The learned single judge did not have any occasion to entertain and take cognisance during the pendency of the Madurai Bench, and ignoring the Chief Minister, which constituted a one-man single commission. The single judge, while dealing with the matter, suo motu referred to the SIT without referring to any materials. Such recourse ignores propriety.”
As per media reports, the Bench said, “The learned single judge made some observations about the Karur stampede in which TVK was not made a party, and as a result, the court took suo motu cognisance and directed the constitution of the SIT. The judgment is completely silent on how the single judge arrived at that conclusion. In the above two writ petitions, the court entertained prayers and extended the scope which was not before it. Karur falls within the jurisdiction of the Madurai Bench, and such being the case, there was no reason why the single judge should have entertained it.”
Justice Maheshwari said, “Let us understand, if that is the situation, we will take cognisance. We have seriously observed the functioning of the High Court. We have asked for reports from the Registrar General of the Madras High Court on how the case before the Principal Judge’s Bench, which constituted the SIT, was registered as a criminal writ petition.”
The Bench said, “We have referred to the judgment of the State of West Bengal on protecting democratic rights, and looking at the situation which has raised concerns over fundamental rights, hand over the investigation to the CBI. There can be no doubt that a fair and impartial investigation is the right of the citizens. The SIT Committee shall monitor the investigation, which is to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge and two IPS officers. It shall monitor the investigation to be carried out by the CBI.”
Earlier, a Bench led by the Chief Justice of India had also agreed to hear a plea filed by BJP leader Uma Anandan, who had challenged the Madras High Court’s refusal to order a CBI investigation into the September 27 incident.
TVK argued that a fair and impartial inquiry “would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police,” adding, “a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants” was behind the stampede, questioning the objectivity of a state-led SIT. The Apex Court heard a batch of petitions, including one by TVK General Secretary (Election Strategy) Aadhav Arjuna seeking to quash the Madras High Court order constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
