Actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay appeared before the CBI for second round of questioning in Delhi in the Karur stampede case which killed 41 people. The actor was questioned by a team led by a DSP officer from the CBI’s anti-corruption wing.
Clad in a light brown colour shirt, the actor arrived at the CBI headquarters at Lodhi Road by 10.20am and left the premises by 5 pm, after over six hours of rigorous questioning. Sources, whom THE WEEK spoke with, said that Vijay went through a tough round of questioning. He was specifically asked to provide evidence with regard to his statements against the district administration’s failure and his claims saying that there was no ample police security.
It is said that Vijay was also asked to explain if he realised that there was a crowd crush at the spot when he was atop the campaign bus. It is said that the investigation agency’s questions were focused on assessing the reason for the delay in Vijay reaching Karur from Namakkal on September 27, based on the depositions made by the police, district administration, Vijay’s campaign bus driver and also the organisers of the rally.
It is said that the CBI might name Vijay in the charge-sheet on the basis of vicarious liability, which may not involve any punishment. While the charge-sheet may not be framed immediately, sources say that the decision to attribute the role of individuals as accused or witness in the stampede case will be taken only after thorough analysis of the statements made by all the stakeholders involved in the process of giving clearance, organising and managing the rally.
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In this regard, Vijay was asked to explain on what happened on the day of the rally and why he got delayed to reach Velusamypuram - the rally venue. He was also asked to explain if he was deliberately forced to delay the event or of it was his call to get delayed to mobilise the crowd or if he was actually struck due to a swelling crowd or if he was stuck elsewhere knowing that there was a political rally. He was specifically questioned on the decision-making process - as to who decided on the venue and the time - behind the rally, his delayed arrival, his party general secretary Bussy N. Anand’s announcement that he will arrive at the venue by 12pm, his continuation of speech even when there was a chaos in the crowd, his awareness of the crowd crush, the crowd mismanagement and if he deliberately moved out of the venue being aware of the situation.
Stepping out of the CBI headquarters after six hours of questioning, Vijay looked petrified and just waved his hands at his fans who were waiting outside the CBI headquarters.
Speaking to the media, TVK leader C.T.R.Nirmal Kumar said that there were lots of rumours going around. "Those are rumours. Those are untrue. We all know what happened in Karur. The BJP MPs team from Delhi visited the spot and assessed the ground there. Even the Tamil Nadu BJP president visited the spot and he also knows what exactly happened in Karur. We are cooperating with the investigating agency. The truth has to come out,” he said.
