CBI Summons Vijay Again in Karur Stampede Case, Asks Him to Appear on 19th

Chennai: Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has been asked to appear before the CBI again on the 19th in connection with the Karur stampede. Vijay was questioned for nearly five hours at the CBI office in New Delhi on Monday. Although he was asked to appear again on Tuesday, he informed the agency of his inconvenience due to Pongal celebrations, following which a fresh notice was issued.

The CBI has now directed Vijay to appear at its Chennai office for further questioning in the case. The tragic incident occurred during a TVK rally held in Karur last year. Families of the victims had approached the court alleging failure on the part of the organisers to control the crowd and inadequate security arrangements. Acting on a court order, the case was subsequently handed over to the CBI.

Though Vijay had been questioned earlier, he is being summoned again in view of inconsistencies in the statements recorded. The CBI’s probe is expected to focus on issues such as planning of the party event, deployment of volunteers, and whether conditions stipulated in the permission order were followed.

The disaster occurred on September 27 during a rally in Karur held as part of Vijay’s statewide tour aimed at the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. A massive stampede broke out amid heavy crowding, leading to the death of 41 people.