TVK President Vijay Travels to Delhi for CBI Questioning
TVK president Vijay departed from Chennai on Sunday, heading to New Delhi. He is scheduled to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday for a second round of questioning. This session is part of the ongoing probe into the tragic Karur stampede.
Details of the CBI Examination
Vijay will present himself as a witness before the CBI around 11 am. In his previous appearance, he provided crucial information to investigators. He stated that lapses in crowd control by local police during his Karur campaign directly contributed to the stampede on September 27. This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of 41 lives.
Vijay explained that bottlenecks were not cleared in a timely manner. This slowed access to the venue and worsened congestion significantly. He also defended his decision to leave the spot after the stampede occurred. According to him, this action was necessary to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Expected Focus of the Investigation
TVK functionaries have indicated that investigators are likely to revisit several key details. These include the reasons for Vijay's late arrival at the venue. They will also examine the crowd conditions he witnessed firsthand.
Another important aspect is whether his team received any information about the crowd before the programme began. Investigators may also seek clarity on whether police flagged concerns about proceeding further after he arrived near the Karur roundabout.
Return to Chennai and Party Activities
TVK functionaries confirmed that Vijay plans to return to Chennai late on Monday. This return is contingent on the CBI not deciding to extend the questioning further. Upon his return, Vijay is set to attend a significant party meeting.
The first meeting of the party's 12-member election manifesto panel will take place at its headquarters on Tuesday. General secretary Arun Raj leads this panel. Members will discuss outreach plans to gather inputs from different communities.
Broader Context and Political Implications
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court will take up a case linked to the delayed release of Vijay's film ‘Jana Nayagan.' The CBI probe and the delay in the film's release have kept the party's political activities relatively muted. Vijay's last public appearance was a month ago in Erode.
On Sunday, TVK chief coordinator K A Sengottaiyan addressed questions about possible political tie-ups. When asked whether former AIADMK leaders could still come on board, he stated that the party would "wait and see" after January 23. He did not elaborate further on this matter.
The Karur stampede probe continues to draw significant attention. Vijay's cooperation with the CBI is seen as a critical step in uncovering the full truth behind this tragic incident.
