TVK Alleges DMK Conspiracy in Karur Stampede, Demands CBI Probe

Chennai, September 28, 2025 Actor-politician Vijay’s party, Thanthi Vizha Katchi (TVK), has accused the ruling DMK of orchestrating a conspiracy behind the tragic stampede at a Karur rally on September 27, which claimed 40 lives and injured nearly 100 others. The party has approached the Madras High Court seeking either a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or transferring the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an independent inquiry. TVK’s lawyer, Arivazhagan, told that the party does not trust the state police’s investigation. “There was a criminal conspiracy in the incident at Karur. We have received reliable information from locals and obtained CCTV footage that points to the involvement of some ruling party functionaries,” he said. He added that the state government’s claim of safety guideline violations at the rally is unfounded. “We did not breach any police-imposed conditions. Similar events were successfully held across Madurai, Trichy, Ariyalur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Namakkal in recent months.” The lawyer emphasized that the matter will be presented before the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. “The court should either constitute a Special Investigation Team or transfer the case from Tamil Nadu police to the CBI,” he stated. TVK is urging an independent investigation to ensure justice for the victims. The DMK, however, has chosen not to escalate the political rhetoric. Party spokesperson Dr. Syed Hafeezullah told that, “We don’t want to politicize this. The law will take its course. Those making allegations should introspect about their own leadership’s role in managing events.” State sources reported that the crowd at the Karur rally swelled to 27,000, far exceeding the venue’s capacity of around 10,000. Vijay reportedly arrived at the venue around 7 pm, though people had gathered since noon. While TVK’s critics suggested that the delay was deliberate to increase crowd size, the party dismissed this claim. “The delay was due to heavy traffic, not any action on our part,” Arivazhagan clarified. Following the tragedy, the state government has booked TVK leaders—including General Secretary N Anand, Joint General Secretary Nirmal Kumar, and Karur West District Secretary VP Mathiyazhagan—under sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges. A judicial inquiry headed by a retired High Court judge has also been ordered to investigate the incident and examine safety protocols at the rally. As legal proceedings and investigations move forward, the Karur stampede has ignited a heated debate over crowd management, political accountability, and the need for independent inquiries in cases of mass casualties. Both the TVK and the DMK are now under intense public and media scrutiny, with the coming weeks expected to determine the course of the investigation and the potential political fallout. The incident remains a somber reminder of the risks associated with large-scale political gatherings and underscores the importance of adhering to safety norms to prevent such tragedies in the future. TVK Alleges Conspiracy in Karur Stampede Actor-politician Vijay’s party, TVK, has accused the DMK of a conspiracy behind the Karur rally stampede that killed 40 people and injured nearly 100. TVK has petitioned the Madras High Court to set up a Special Investigation Team or hand the case to the CBI, citing CCTV footage and local reports suggesting foul play. The party denied violating any safety guidelines, blaming traffic delays for Vijay’s late arrival. The state government, however, flagged overcrowding and booked key TVK leaders for culpable homicide. A judicial inquiry has also been ordered to investigate the tragedy and assess safety lapses.