Karur stampede: Madras HC rejects plea seeking CBI probe, directs SIT investigation
Karur Stampede: The plea was filed by one, BJP leader Uma Anandan, who alleged possible official apathy behind the fatal incident. However, a two-judge bench that included Justices M Dhandapani and M Jothiraman dismissed Anandan's plea and asked her to approach the Madurai bench of the HC.
The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the September 27 stampede during actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur that claimed 41 lives. The plea was filed by one, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Anandan, who alleged possible official apathy behind the fatal incident.
However, a two-judge bench that included Justices M Dhandapani and M Jothiraman dismissed Anandan's plea and asked the BJP leader to approach the Madurai bench of the HC. "If aggrieved persons come to this court, we will rescue. Who are you? Don't treat this court as the political arena. If, in the investigation, something goes wrong, you come. This is the initial stage," the court said, as reported by Bar and Bench.
Court rejects TVK leader's bail plea
The high court also rejected the bail petition by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Namakkal district secretary N Satish Kumar. The court said Kumar should have ensured that the TVK cadres avoid causing damage to public properties and wondered how could Vijay's party organised such a public event without providing basic facilities like drinking water and food.
SIT probe ordered
The court, meanwhile, also ordered a probe by the SIT under IG (North) Asra Garg. It also directed the Karur Police to hand over all related documents to the SIT immediately.
41 killed in Karur stampede
41 people were killed, while more than 70 others were injured during TVK supremo Vijay's rally on September 27 in Tamil Nadu's Karur. Following the incident, questions were raised over how the rally was organised, with the ruling DMK and the BJP-AIADMK alliance slamming the actor-turned-politician. However, Vijay later expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex gratia for the victims.
Later, his party also "temporarily postponed" all such similar events planned over the next two weeks, saying it would announce the revised details later. "We are in anguish and regret over the loss of 41 of our brethren. In this situation, our leader's (Vijay) next two weeks' meet the people programmes are being temporarily postponed," the TVK said in a statement on social media.