With TVK founder Joseph Vijay scheduled to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 19, following the Pongal festival, the inquiry is set to resume in connection with the Supreme Court–ordered probe into the September Karur stampede, in which nearly 41 lives were lost. The notice summoning Vijay had been issued earlier. The CBI has also summoned Tamil Nadu police personnel for questioning as part of its investigation into the September 2025 Karur stampede case. The agency is also probing other cases involving Tamil Nadu police personnel, including a 2024 custodial death case.
Actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay had earlier appeared before CBI officers in Delhi on January 12 and returned to Chennai the next day.
Sources indicate that he sought time citing engagements related to the release formalities of his film before the Censor Board, as well as proceedings linked to the Supreme Court case. It is learnt that during his earlier appearance, Vijay responded to questions largely in a monosyllabic ‘yes or no’ manner. At the same time, he placed the blame squarely on the Tamil Nadu police and the DMK government, holding them responsible for the stampede that occurred on September 27 last year. He alleged that poor crowd management, inadequate police deployment, and the allotment of a smaller venue for the public rally contributed to the tragedy.
According to sources, Vijay raised doubts before the CBI over a single doctor conducting post-mortems on 41 bodies within a four-hour period during the night, and alleged that the victims’ families were threatened against pursuing the issue. It was purportedly made to appear that the families themselves had sought urgent autopsies, leading to the procedures being carried out overnight. Post-dated letters are alleged to have been obtained from the families. TVK has submitted documentary evidence to substantiate its allegations against the police and the DMK government.
Speaking to media, TVK general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, who had accompanied Vijay during his earlier Delhi appearance, said the party sought time on different dates due to Pongal festival–related programmes and political meetings, as well as discussions connected with the release of Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, which is scheduled for release this week.
TVK has made submissions to the CBI alleging that lapses on the part of the DMK government and the police resulted in the stampede. The party has also highlighted what it described as contradictions in official statements. While Chief Minister M K Stalin told the State Assembly that over 607 police personnel were deployed at the venue, DGP (Armed Police) Davidson Devasirvatham cited the number as 500, prompting questions over which figure is correct.
TVK sources said the party informed the CBI about inadequate police deployment and the failure to clear roadblocks, which delayed access to the venue and led to traffic congestion.
During his earlier appearance, Joseph Vijay was asked to narrate the sequence of events and respond to 35 questions, apart from follow-up queries. He denied allegations against him, describing them as a conspiracy targeting him and his party. He was also questioned about crowd density, expected footfall, and the police baton charge during the public meeting.
The CBI has re-registered the case following orders from the Supreme Court and has already questioned several TVK office-bearers in connection with the matter. The agency took over the probe from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and has been collecting evidence related to the Karur stampede that occurred during a political rally addressed by Vijay on September 27, which claimed 41 lives, including 18 women and 10 children.
It is learnt that the CBI has questioned several senior officials from Karur district, including District Magistrate M Thangavel and Superintendent of Police K Jose Thangaiah, along with TVK functionaries such as general secretaries B Anand and CTR Nirmal Kumar, and Karur district secretary Mathiazhagan.
The CBI team has also visited the venue to take measurements and inspected the caravan used during the rally. A Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team has already examined Vijay’s campaign van and questioned its driver as part of efforts to assess logistical factors that may have contributed to the stampede. The agency has also questioned S Davidson Devasirvatham, who was serving as ADGP (Law and Order) at the time. He is now reportedly under consideration for promotion to the rank of DGP or for appointment as the next DGP, replacing the acting DGP Venkataraman.
