Vijay Summoned by CBI: Karur Stampede Controversy Deepens

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Chief Vijay is summoned by the CBI for questioning on the Karur stampede case that claimed 41 lives. The probe, following a Supreme Court directive, scrutinizes the event's timeline and crowd management amidst claims of a significant delay and massive crowd swell.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay for questioning as part of its ongoing investigation into the Karur stampede incident, sources revealed. The tragic event, which occurred during a public outreach program led by Vijay in Karur on September 27 last year, resulted in 41 fatalities.

In January, several police officers who were assigned security duties during the event were interrogated at the Karur CBI office. During this session, the TVK Chief was also questioned at the CBI's Delhi office. The CBI explored the details of the security deployment, sequence of events, and overall crowd control measures undertaken during the event, which drew over 30,000 people—far exceeding expectations.

The CBI continues to delve into the factors leading to the stampede, with a particular focus on the delayed start of Vijay's appearance, which potentially contributed to the overwhelming crowd size. Investigators are assessing whether the delay, along with inadequate coordination between party workers and local authorities, played a crucial role in the disaster.

(With inputs from agencies.)