The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally summoned Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay to appear for questioning in New Delhi on January 12. The notice is part of the ongoing probe into the tragic Karur stampede that occurred on September 27, claiming the lives of 41 people.
Summons Amid Political Maneuvering
This legal development arrives at a critical juncture for Vijay, who is actively working to forge a political alliance led by his TVK party ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. A senior TVK leader indicated that the party's legal team would be consulted before deciding whether Vijay would personally attend the inquiry. The leader asserted, "TVK has so far cooperated with the investigation and responded to all summons."
Background of the CBI Probe
The federal agency took over the investigation from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the third week of October 2023, following a directive from the Supreme Court. Since then, senior TVK functionaries have been questioned twice: first in Karur during October and later when they were called to Delhi in December.
In November, a CBI team including officers Sumit Sharan and Sonal V Mishra visited the TVK office in Panayur to collect evidence. The party has subsequently submitted video evidence to the CBI, arguing that lapses by the Tamil Nadu government and the local police were responsible for the stampede. TVK has also raised concerns regarding post-mortem procedures and provided details about the permissions granted for the event.
Scope of the Questioning
CBI sources revealed that the questioning of Vijay will be based on material gathered during earlier interrogations of other individuals connected to the case. This includes testimonies from TVK functionaries and government officials such as Karur District Collector M Thangavel and Superintendent of Police K Josh Thangiah.
The summons marks a significant escalation in the high-profile case, intertwining a major law and order investigation with the dynamic landscape of Tamil Nadu politics. All eyes are now on the January 12 date and the potential implications for both the judicial process and the political ambitions of the TVK chief.
