The CBI, which has been investigating the Karur stampede in which 41 people were killed during a political rally of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has summoned Vijay in connection with the incident.
The actor-politician has been directed to appear for questioning before the agency headquarters in Delhi on January 12.
The CBI directive comes even as Vijay is gearing up for the release of his upcoming release, Jana Nayagan—his last before he gets fully immersed in politics.
A few days ago, a Times of India report said the TVK submitted video evidence to the agency to back the party’s claim of lapses on the part of the government and Tamil Nadu Police that led to the stampede.
The party had repeatedly said it would continue to cooperate with the investigating agency in the probe.
The case was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by TVK for an independent probe.
“Looking at the facts, the issue has a bearing on the fundamental rights of the citizens. The directions are to hand over the investigation to the CBI. In order to allay the concern of parties, we propose to set up a three-member committee. We have requested Justice Ajay Rastogi to head the committee," the apex court had said, handing over the case to the investigating agency.
Forty-one people lost their lives, and over 60 were injured in the stampede that occurred at the TVK meeting addressed by Vijay on September 27.
The state government had claimed that the allegation of negligence or dereliction of duty on the part of the Karur district administration and the police authorities is wholly baseless and devoid of merit.
"The records clearly establish that the district administration and police acted with utmost diligence, foresight, and compliance with all statutory and procedural safeguards," the government had claimed.
