The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is questioning actor-politician Vijay for the second time on Monday in connection with the deadly stampede at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur in September 2025.
Vijay, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday, reached the CBI headquarters around 10 am. The TVK chief, who was first questioned on January 12 for over six hours, had been asked to return the following day, but he requested another date, citing the harvest festival, Pongal.
During this second round of interrogation, the CBI is likely to seek further clarification about the seven-hour gap between the scheduled start of the event and his actual arrival, which investigators believe may have contributed to the crowd swelling from an expected 10,000 to over 30,000 people. This surge in numbers is thought to have led to a complete loss of control, culminating in the stampede.
The focus of the first round of questioning was on the events that triggered the crowd rush. According to sources, Vijay was provided with a set of 90 written questions and questioned by a Deputy Superintendent-level officer.
Reports also indicate that the CBI is scrutinizing documents related to the permissions for the event and is seeking clarity on who was responsible for organizing the Karur rally. The investigation is delving into the internal structure of the TVK to identify those responsible for planning and executing the event, including who made the decision to hold the rally in Karur and when Vijay was informed about the details.
Vijay and the TVK leadership are facing criticism for “gross mismanagement” and “poor crowd control” following the stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 41 people and left over 100 others injured on September 27. The incident occurred after the crowd grew uncontrollably upon the actor’s delayed arrival.
