SC to Hear Plea urgently for CBI Probe into Karur Stampede on Oct 10

October 7, 2025

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on October 10 a plea challenging the Madras High Court’s refusal to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Karur stampede tragedy, which occurred during actor-politician Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally.

The incident, one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest crowd-control failures in recent years, claimed 41 lives and left over 100 injured, sparking nationwide concern over safety at political events.

BJP Leader’s Petition for Central Probe

The plea was filed by BJP leader Uma Anandan, who sought a CBI investigation into the stampede. Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai agreed to list the matter for urgent hearing, following its mention before the court.

Earlier, the Madras High Court had dismissed calls for a CBI probe and instead constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under senior IPS officer Asra Garg to investigate the incident.

Madras High Court’s Observations on Safety Failures

During a hearing on October 3, a Division Bench of Justices M. Dhandapani and M. Jothiraman stressed the urgent need for strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for political rallies. The Tamil Nadu government had proposed guidelines including restrictions on events near highways and mandatory safety measures at large gatherings.

The Bench criticised the TVK organisers, noting their failure to act responsibly during and after the tragedy.
“While national and state leaders extended condolences and joined rescue efforts, the organisers of the rally walked away without aiding the victims,” the court observed.

SIT Investigation Underway

The High Court directed the SIT to ensure a fair and time-bound probe and submit regular progress reports. The panel has since begun recording statements from eyewitnesses, local residents, and officials connected to the rally arrangements.

Legal experts say the SIT’s findings will be crucial in fixing accountability and shaping future safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies.