The apex court has declined to hear a plea filed by the DMK against TVK leader and Chief Minister Joseph Vijay over statements related to the Karur stampede. The order comes as a major setback for the DMK, which is yet to recover from its rout in the April 2026 Assembly elections.
On July 7, the apex court refused to entertain an application filed by DMK leader R.S. Bharathi seeking to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and other accused persons from meeting the families of the victims of the Karur stampede, observing that the Court could not be converted into a forum for political disputes while a CBI investigation was underway.
A Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe heard the application during proceedings in the Karur stampede matter. During the hearing, Bharathi’s counsel, Senior Advocate Ranjith Kumar, submitted that the accused were attempting to build a public narrative by visiting victims’ families, offering compensation and making public statements while the CBI probe was in progress. He argued that such interactions could potentially influence witnesses in the ongoing investigation.
Justice K.V. Viswanathan asked, “You want the Chief Minister’s visit to be regulated by the Supreme Court? You want an injunction on free speech? How does the Supreme Court, in a matter where the CBI has been appointed to enquire, give orders one after the other on political rivalry’s statements?”
Adding further, the Court said, “That may amount to an injunction on free speech. Which law sanctions it? You also make your speeches; you counter free speech with more speech.” The Court also questioned the propriety of entertaining a DMK petition for impleadment in a case in which it had ordered a CBI investigation and was monitoring its progress.
The Court further observed, “So you want us to impose an injunction on free speech? You counter their speech with your speech. How does the Supreme Court, in a matter where it ordered a CBI probe, allow the impleadment of a political rival?” When the petitioner cited the case in which Arvind Kejriwal was asked not to make statements on a case and argued that a similar order should be passed against CM Vijay, the Bench noted that the Chief Minister was not an accused in the present case.
The Bench remarked, “Who is accused number one? Even your application and your FIR registered by the previous government do not refer to the Chief Minister as an accused. Please check your facts. I may be wrong.” Respondent’s counsel, Senior Advocate Neera Kishan Kaul, affirmed that Vijay was not an accused in the case.
CM Vijay is scheduled to visit Karur on July 10, his first visit since the 2025 stampede in which 41 people died, to meet the families of the victims. He is expected to distribute compassionate appointments and other assistance to the families of those killed and injured.
The petition stated that the victims’ families are material witnesses in the CBI investigation and that direct interaction with them by those connected to the case or members of the political executive could raise concerns over the fairness of the investigation.
Referring to the petitioner’s reliance on the Chief Minister’s proposed meetings with victims’ families and speeches made by ministers, the Bench observed that compassionate appointments had already been handed over and asked, “What’s the sequitur of this?”
The Bench also observed that “Vijay was not arraigned as an accused either in the FIRs or in the DMK’s own application.”
The Court indicated its unwillingness to entertain the application, telling the petitioner, “This application, you are better advised not to press here. We are inclined to dismiss this application.” Following this, the petitioner agreed to withdraw the petition.
