Supreme Court orders CBI probe into Karur stampede, constitutes 3-member panel to monitor investigation

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 13, 2025) ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led probe into the Karur stampede in Tamil Nadu, which claimed at least 41 lives during a rally organised by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on September 27.

A Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria directed the constitution of a three-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to monitor the progress of the investigation. The committee will also comprise two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre who are not natives of the State.

“An impartial probe is the right of every citizen,” the court observed, while noting that the matter involved citizens’ fundamental rights. The Bench said it was handing over the investigation to the CBI and setting up the committee “to allay the concerns of the parties.”

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The panel has been authorised to devise its own procedure under the supervision of Justice Rastogi. The CBI has been directed to submit monthly progress reports to the committee. The two IPS officers, not below the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), will be selected by Justice Rastogi.

The order came on a petition filed by the TVK, challenging the Madras High Court’s decision to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident, despite the original plea seeking only a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political rallies.

During Friday’s (October 10, 2025) hearing, while reserving its verdict, the top court had questioned the propriety of the High Court’s decision. “We are unable to understand how this order was passed? How did the single Bench in the Chennai Bench proceed with the matter when the division Bench in Madurai was considering the matter? In my experience of over 15 years as a judge, a single Bench holds back if the division Bench has taken cognisance,” Justice Maheshwari had remarked.

The Tamil Nadu government defended the SIT, stating that it was formed by the High Court and not at the State’s behest. It added that the officers included in the probe were known for their honesty and independence, and there was “no reason to question them.”

The stampede occurred amid overcrowding at the TVK rally, which drew far more attendees than anticipated. While permission had been sought for around 10,000 participants, police estimates placed the turnout closer to 25,000. Preliminary reports cited poor crowd management and inadequate facilities, including the absence of drinking water, as contributing factors.

An FIR was registered at the Karur Town Police Station, naming TVK’s Karur (North) district secretary Mathiyazhagan, general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint general secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar under Sections 105 (culpable homicide), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 125 (endangering life of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.