Supreme Court Declines to Hear DMK Plea Against TVK Leaders’ Remarks in Karur Stampede Case

July 7, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) seeking directions to restrain leaders of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Minister Aadhav Arjuna, from making public statements related to the ongoing Karur stampede case.

A Bench comprising Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe indicated that it was not inclined to hear the application. Following the court’s observations, the DMK withdrew its plea with the liberty to pursue other legal remedies.

Court Allows DMK to Withdraw Plea

During the hearing, the Bench observed that the application was not fit to be pursued before the apex court and indicated it would dismiss the plea if pressed further.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the DMK, requested permission to withdraw the application with the liberty to seek other remedies available under the law. The court accepted the request and dismissed the application as withdrawn.

What the DMK Requested

The application was filed by DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi, who sought to be impleaded in the ongoing proceedings related to the Karur stampede.

The plea requested the Supreme Court to restrain TVK leaders from making public comments on the case until the completion of the court-monitored CBI investigation. It also sought the registration of an FIR against Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

The DMK alleged that public remarks made by Arjuna, who is also an accused in the case, along with the proposed distribution of government benefits to victims’ families, could influence material witnesses and affect the fairness of the investigation.

Statements Cited in the Plea

The plea referred to a speech delivered by Aadhav Arjuna on July 2, in which he allegedly blamed the previous DMK government for the Karur tragedy despite being under investigation himself.

It also cited reports that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was expected to visit Karur to distribute government benefits, including compassionate appointments, to the families of those killed in the stampede. While not objecting to welfare measures, the DMK argued that direct interaction with victims’ families—who are material witnesses could raise concerns over the independence of the investigation.

Background of the Case

The case relates to the September 27, 2025 Karur stampede, in which 41 people lost their lives and 142 others were injured during a TVK rally.

Earlier, the Supreme Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the supervision of a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, expressing concern over the handling of the case and observing that “something is wrong” with the proceedings before the Madras High Court.