From Vijay’s claims of political conspiracy to demand for SC-monitored probe: The latest in Karur stampede case

On Saturday evening last week, thousands gathered at Velusamypuram in Tamil Nadu’s Karur for Vijay's campaign rally. The crowd at the event surged leading to a stampede, leaving 41 dead, including children, and many other injured.

Tamil Nadu DGP G Venkataraman said the crowd gathered much earlier than planned after TVK’s official Twitter handle announced Vijay’s arrival by noon, though permission was only for an event from 3-10 pm. Vijay eventually reached the venue at 7.40 pm. Many supporters, waiting under the hot sun with insufficient food and water, surged forward when his arrival was expected. “We are not blaming anyone, just stating facts,” the DGP said.

On Tuesday, the Cyber Crime Wing arrested YouTuber Felix Gerald from his Nungambakkam residence for posting a video accusing the state government of being behind the stampede. Last week, Karur Town police booked TVK’s Karur West district secretary, V P Mathiyazhagan, under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing violations of campaign norms at Velusamypuram, the area in Karur where the rally was held. By Sunday, the case had been expanded to include the party’s state general secretary, N Anand alias ‘Bussy’ Anand, and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar.

Breaking his silence, Vijay on Tuesday released a 4-minute, 45-second video. He called the incident the “most painful” of his life, expressed his condolences on X, and urged the police to investigate safety lapses, challenging Chief Minister M K Stalin directly.

Vijay, adopting a defiant tone, addressed CM M K Stalin directly: “If you are desperate to find fault, do it with me. Don’t touch my supporters. Arrest me if you want.” He also hinted at political conspiracy, asking why such an incident occurred only in Karur despite his rallies in five other districts.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan hit back, accusing Vijay of offering “cinematic dialogues” without accountability. In a post on social media platform X, he asked why Vijay delayed his response by three days and why he offered no explanation for arriving six hours late.

Karur Town police have booked TVK’s Karur West district secretary V P Mathiyazhagan under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case later included state general secretary N Anand alias ‘Bussy’ Anand and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar for alleged violations of campaign norms.

An eight-member NDA panel, led by BJP MP Hema Malini, visited the site of the stampede and later met injured victims at Karur Government Hospital. The team questioned the state administration’s role and the conditions at the venue.

Calling the incident “very sad,” Hema Malini pointed to poor planning, narrow venue allocation, and even a sudden power cut. She said: “Who is responsible — the organisers or the administration? Even 1,000 people cannot stand in such a venue, but 10,000 were present.”

"There was a power cut during Vijay's rally. Something appears to be fishy, not natural," she said.

NDA panel member and BJP MP Anurag Thakur called for a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge. He argued that only an impartial inquiry could bring justice to the families of those who died.