**Madras High Court Refuses CBI Probe into Vijay Rally Stampede in Karur**
*By Chanshimla Varah | October 3, 2025, 3:12 PM*
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has declined to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the tragic stampede that occurred at actor-turned-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur on September 27. The incident claimed 41 lives and left dozens injured.
### Court’s Observations
The bench, comprising Justices M Dhandapani and M Jothiraman, noted that the Tamil Nadu Police are actively investigating the case. The petitions seeking a CBI inquiry were filed by individuals who were not directly affected by the stampede.
In a firm statement, the court said,
*”If aggrieved persons come to this court, we will rescue. Who are you? Don’t treat this court as a political arena. If, in the investigation, something goes wrong, you come. This is the initial stage.”*
### Rally Regulations and Safety Directives
The court took into account the state government’s commitment to banning demonstrations or meetings near state and national highways until formal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place.
Additionally, the High Court issued interim orders mandating that all political rallies ensure basic facilities for attendees, such as drinking water, toilets, ambulances, clear exit and escape routes, and adequate parking.
These directives came during hearings on over a dozen petitions filed after the Karur disaster. Among these, some sought a CBI probe, others requested the formulation of SOPs for rallies, and another group demanded increased compensation for victims.
### Compensation and Government Response
The court issued notices to both the Tamil Nadu government and Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), asking them to respond within two weeks regarding petitions for enhanced compensation to victims’ families.
The TVK had already announced compensation packages of ₹20 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government declared assistance of ₹10 lakh for each deceased victim’s family.
### Incident Details and Legal Actions
The deadly stampede took place during a TVK rally at Veluswamypuram in Karur district. The event was sanctioned for approximately 10,000 attendees but reportedly attracted between 25,000 and 60,000 people.
Many attendees arrived early and waited hours under harsh conditions, facing scorching heat without adequate access to water or toilets. The situation worsened due to restricted roadways, a power outage during the event, inadequate crowd management, and escape routes blocked by ropes, barricades, and hoardings.
An FIR has been filed against several TVK functionaries, excluding Vijay, on charges that include culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
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The Madras High Court continues to monitor the investigation closely while emphasizing the need for robust safety measures at future political gatherings.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/madras-high-court-refuses-cbi-probe-into-vijay-rally-stampede/story
