The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear on July 7 the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) petition accusing Tamil Nadu ministers and leaders of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actively influencing witnesses in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 2025 Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives.
Urgent Hearing Granted
A Bench of Justice A Amanullah and Justice Sheel Nagu listed the petition for Tuesday after senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing DMK organising secretary RS Bharati, mentioned the matter and sought an urgent hearing. Ahmadi submitted that while the CBI enquiry was pending, there was an attempt to influence witnesses. He noted that the apex court had earlier directed a CBI enquiry and appointed a monitoring committee, yet active interference continued.
The DMK had moved the Supreme Court on Friday seeking a direction to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, state minister Aadhav Arjuna, and other TVK leaders from making public statements or levelling false accusations related to the stampede. The plea also sought regulation of their interaction with victims' families during the pendency of the CBI probe.
Background of the Case
The plea came days before CM Vijay's scheduled visit to Karur on July 10 to distribute government orders, compassionate appointments, and other benefits to the families of the deceased and injured victims. The DMK clarified it had no objection to welfare measures but highlighted that these families were material witnesses in the ongoing CBI probe, which is being supervised by a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi.
Bharathi's petition sought to make the DMK a party in a pending case. He submitted that several persons initially charge-sheeted in the case were now ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet following the 2026 Assembly elections.
Allegations of Witness Tampering
The plea referred to a public statement allegedly made by Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna, in which he reportedly said there was “a score to settle” over the Karur incident. Arjuna allegedly claimed that the previous DMK government had “killed” people of Karur through the police. Bharathi argued that such statements could intimidate witnesses and undermine the investigation.
Bharathi has sought directions against CM Vijay and TVK ministers, including Arjuna, Bussy Anand, and CT Nirmal Kumar. He urged the top court to restrain them and others connected with the case from making public statements on the merits of the pending investigation. Additionally, he demanded safeguards before the state government distributes benefits, government orders, or compassionate appointments to ensure no undue influence is exerted on witnesses.
Impact and Next Steps
The Supreme Court's decision to hear the plea urgently underscores the seriousness of the allegations. The CBI probe into the stampede, which occurred in Karur district of Tamil Nadu, has been under judicial scrutiny. The monitoring committee's role is to ensure a fair investigation. The DMK's petition seeks to prevent any interference that could compromise the probe. The court's ruling on July 7 will determine the next course of action, including potential restrictions on the accused individuals.
