Karur stampede probe: Vijay arrives at CBI HQ for crucial second round of questioning

New Delhi: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay appears before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi today for a second round of questioning in connection with the Karur stampede case, which claimed 41 lives during a party campaign event in September 2025.

Vijay is expected to be grilled on critical lapses related to crowd management, event planning, security coordination and delays in his arrival, which investigators believe may have triggered the deadly surge.

The CBI took over the probe from Tamil Nadu Police in October 2025 following a Supreme Court order and has since focused on uncovering responsibility for the massive crowd buildup at the Karur venue.

What Vijay is likely to be questioned on

According to sources, the agency is closely examining a seven-hour delay between the scheduled start of the programme and Vijay’s arrival — a gap that allegedly caused the crowd to swell from an estimated 10,000 to over 30,000 people, overwhelming on-ground arrangements and triggering the stampede.

Investigators are also probing:

- Whether TVK party workers coordinated adequately with local police and district officials

- Who organised the Karur event and approved its location

- Whether any risk assessment or crowd control plan was conducted

- If basic facilities such as drinking water, barricades, and entry-exit routes were provided

- How Vijay’s modified campaign vehicle moved through the packed crowd and whether it worsened the situation

The agency is further questioning Vijay about the exact timeline of his movements, including when he became aware of the stampede and how events unfolded immediately afterward.

Why this appearance matters

This is Vijay’s second appearance before the CBI, following extensive questioning last week focused on the sequence of events on September 27, 2025, and the operational decisions taken by party organisers. The agency is now attempting to establish accountability at the leadership and organisational level.

The Karur stampede case remains one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest political campaign tragedies in recent years, putting intense scrutiny on crowd safety protocols, political event permissions, and security preparedness.