Supreme Court directs CBI investigation into Karur stampede that killed 41, injured over 60.
New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI investigation into the Karur stampede during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on September 27, which claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured.
A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria also constituted a three-member committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to monitor the investigation. The panel will include two IPS officers from Tamil Nadu who are not natives of the state, ensuring impartial oversight.
The order followed petitions from TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna and others challenging the Madras High Court’s constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. Petitioners also raised concerns over the state’s handling of postmortems and the rapid cremation of victims. Senior counsel P. Wilson, representing Tamil Nadu, said that doctors from nearby districts were mobilised for the postmortems due to the large number of casualties.
During hearings, the Supreme Court questioned the state government’s decision to allow the TVK roadshow in Karur, noting that permission had been denied to the AIADMK earlier due to pending Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for political gatherings. Petitioners alleged that the stampede was foreseeable and claimed lapses by police contributed to the tragedy.
The SC emphasized that an impartial probe is a right of every citizen, and the Rastogi-led panel will ensure transparency while the CBI investigates the circumstances surrounding the stampede.