New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday conducted an intensive, nearly seven-hour questioning session with actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay in connection with the Karur stampede case that claimed 41 lives during a campaign event in September last year. The session has now concluded, officials said.

The CBI, which took over the investigation from the Tamil Nadu Police following a Supreme Court directive in October, focused its questioning on whether lapses in planning, crowd management and organisational responsibility contributed to the tragedy.

According to sources, investigators examined in detail the alleged seven-hour delay between the scheduled start of the programme and Vijay’s actual arrival. The agency is probing whether this delay intensified crowd build-up, caused confusion at the venue and eventually led to loss of control.

The CBI also sought clarity on who conceived and organised the Karur event, at what stage Vijay was informed about the programme, and who within the party handled overall planning. Documents relating to permissions, venue arrangements and correspondence with the district administration are under scrutiny.

A major portion of the probe centred on crowd management, including whether TVK workers coordinated efficiently with the police as the estimated turnout reportedly surged from about 10,000 people to nearly 30,000. Investigators asked whether any prior risk assessment or structured safety planning had been carried out.

Another focus area was the availability of basic facilities such as drinking water, barricades, medical support and designated entry and exit routes for the large gathering. The movement of Vijay’s modified campaign caravan through the packed crowd was also examined to assess whether it was cleared and coordinated with law-enforcement authorities.

Questions on the exact time of his arrival and departure from the venue are also part of the ongoing inquiry.

Vijay appeared before the agency after being summoned under Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). He is understood to have cooperated with the investigators during the marathon session.

As part of the broader probe, the CBI has already questioned senior TVK functionaries and examined the driver of Vijay’s campaign vehicle, besides reviewing video footage relating to the event. Parallelly, the agency is assessing allegations and counter-claims made by the Tamil Nadu government and TVK over responsibility for the tragedy.

 

ANI inputs