CBI summons TVK leader Vijay to appear on Jan 12 in Karur stampede case

January 6, 2026

Chennai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued summons to Tamilaga Vetti Kazhagam (TVK) founder and president and actor-politician Vijay in connection with the Karur stampede case. The agency has directed him to appear in person at its New Delhi office on January 12th.

Stampede at TVK rally, 41 dead 

This tragic incident occurred on September 27th in Veluchamipuram, Karur district, where a large crowd had gathered for a political rally organized by TVK. Vijay, who recently entered active politics, addressed the rally.
Due to the larger-than-anticipated crowd, chaos erupted at the venue, leading to a stampede. Following widespread public outrage and demands for an impartial investigation, the investigation was transferred from the state police to the CBI.

Investigation into Crowd Management and the Organizers’ Role

The CBI is investigating crowd control arrangements, the permissions granted for the rally, and the role of the organizers and party officials. As part of the investigation, senior TVK officials Anand, Adhav Arjun, and Nirmal Kumar were questioned for approximately two hours in Delhi.

Following the questioning, Nirmal Kumar stated that video evidence related to the Karur stampede had been submitted to the investigating agency.

Significance of the summons amid his entry into politics

Although some TVK leaders had previously dismissed reports of Vijay being summoned as baseless, the CBI has now formally summoned him to provide explanations regarding the organization of the rally and crowd management. This summons comes at a time when Vijay’s upcoming film “Jana Nayakan” is scheduled to release on January 9th.
It’s worth noting that Vijay entered politics in February 2024 by founding the TVK. TVK is positioning itself as a new political force in Tamil Nadu after attracting large crowds at party events. The CBI has indicated that responsibility for crowd control and organizational lapses will be determined based on documentary evidence, video, and witnesses.