Karur Stampede Case: Supreme Court Overturns Madras HC Verdict, Orders CBI Probe

Chennai (The Uttam Hindu): In a major decision, the Supreme Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the tragic Karur stampede incident in Tamil Nadu, which claimed 41 lives during actor-turned-politician Vijay’s political rally. The apex court had reserved its verdict on October 10, and pronounced the judgment on Monday.

A bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice N.V. Anjaria directed the formation of a supervisory committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to oversee the fairness and progress of the investigation.

The case reached the Supreme Court after the Madras High Court had dismissed the plea seeking a CBI probe into the incident. The petition was filed by BJP leader Uma Anandan, who challenged the High Court’s decision, expressing distrust in the state police investigation and demanding an independent probe.

The tragic stampede occurred on September 27 in Karur, Tamil Nadu, during a massive political rally organized by actor-turned-politician Vijay. Due to the overwhelming crowd, chaos erupted, leading to a stampede that killed at least 41 people and injured several others. The incident has since sparked a debate over security lapses at large political gatherings in the state.