Supreme Court to Hear CBI Probe Plea Amidst TVKs Karur Stampede Conspiracy Claims

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions today concerning the Karur rally stampede, a tragedy that TVK alleges involved a conspiracy. A bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran will address these pleas.

One petition, filed by BJP leader G. S. Mani, seeks a CBI probe, challenging the Madras High Courts refusal to transfer the case to the central agency. Concurrently, TVK has contested the High Court’s decision to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

TVK asserts a conspiracy behind the stampede and advocates for an independent inquiry, citing a lack of confidence in both the SIT and the judicial commission, which is led by former High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. This commission has been given three months to submit its report and propose safety protocols for future public gatherings.

The Madras High Court had previously criticised actor Vijay and TVK for exhibiting no remorse, subsequently dismissing the anticipatory bail pleas of TVK functionaries Bussy N. Anand and CTR Nirmal Kumar. The Supreme Courts hearing today is pivotal in determining whether the investigation remains under state purview or is handed over to a central agency.