The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday intensified its probe into the Karur stampede, with inquiries underway at the CBI office in Karur where nine police personnel deployed on security duty during the incident are being questioned. This comes even as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay appeared before the CBI in Delhi for the second phase of questioning.
The nine police personnel are being examined on details related to their deployment during Vijay’s campaign event held on September 27 last year, the sequence of events that led to the stampede, and the security arrangements in place at the time.
The stampede occurred during a public outreach programme of Vijay in Karur, resulting in the deaths of 41 people. Following directions from the Supreme Court, the CBI took over the investigation from the Tamil Nadu Police in October and has since been probing the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
For the past three months, the agency has been conducting the investigation in multiple phases from a temporary CBI office operating out of a Public Works Department-owned tourist bungalow near the Karur District Collectorate. During this period, investigators have questioned a wide range of individuals, including families of the deceased, injured victims, ambulance drivers and owners, doctors who conducted post-mortem examinations, local residents of the Veluchamipuram area, members of the public, traders, and office-bearers of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
Vijay had earlier appeared before the CBI in Delhi and provided his explanation as part of the investigation. The agency’s questioning has focused on reconstructing the timeline of events and understanding the mechanics of the disaster.
A major issue under scrutiny is the reported seven-hour delay between the scheduled start of the event and Vijay’s actual arrival. Investigators are examining whether this delay led to the crowd swelling from an expected 10,000 people to more than 30,000, eventually resulting in a loss of crowd control.
The CBI is also probing the level of coordination between party workers, local police and the district administration as the crowd size increased. We are assessing Vijay and his campaign team’s movement delays to determine their impact on crowd dynamics.
Additionally, the agency is examining when Vijay became aware of the stampede and the sequence of actions taken thereafter, including the precise timing of his arrival at and departure from the venue, as part of its ongoing effort to establish accountability in the case.
