Karur stampede: TVK moves SC against HC order to set up SIT

Tamil actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the Madras High Court order to constitute an SIT to probe the Karur stampede that killed 41 persons.

Taking note of the submissions of a lawyer that the plea, filed through TVK secretary Aadhav Arjuna, a Bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran on Wednesday agreed to take up the matter for hearing on Friday.

On Tuesday, it had agreed to hear a Tamil Nadu BJP leader’s petition, challenging the Madras High Court order refusing to order a CBI probe into the stampede, on October 10. Now, both the petitions will be heard on Friday.

On October 3, the Madras High Court formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the September 27 stampede at Vijay’s rally. Contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police, the TVK has sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

A total of 41 people died in the stampede, with the police noting that the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected number of 10,000 participants. They have further alleged that the tragedy was caused due to a seven-hour delay on the part of Vijay in reaching the venue.