Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sent summons to Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay to appear for investigations on March 10 in Delhi, the actor had reportedly sought a 15-day reprieve citing election work.
The CBI on Monday had sent summons to appear for the third round of questioning in the Karur stampede case which killed 41 people during Vijay’s campaign rally on September 27. In a communique to the top agency, through his legal team Vijay had reportedly sought time for 15 days. He has also requested that the investigation be conducted in Chennai or any other location in Tamil Nadu instead of New Delhi.
According to TVK party insiders, Vijay had categorically communicated to the CBI that he will be unable to travel to Delhi as he has election work and party meetings. The communication or the petition sent by Vijay to the CBI, reportedly cites his intense election work-related commitments like candidate selection, tight campaign schedule and also his personal legal commitments involving his appearance in his divorce case.
TVK is all set to begin its candidate selection process from March 10 at its headquarters in Panaiyur. The interviews for candidate selection will be personally conducted by Vijay. Those who had submitted applications seeking the party’s ticket for the upcoming elections have been asked to attend the interview process starting from March 10.
While the TVK has officially not reacted until now, the CBI summons at this juncture have come as a complete shocker for Vijay and his coterie, comprising a few newcomers. Though the plea to the CBI was sent after legal consultations, sources say the Vijay did not choose to meet his party office bearers or even his closest in the party to discuss the implications of the CBI summon. The actor who broke his silence in his personal divorce case by saying “it is not worth it,” has chosen to maintain silence from day one with regard to the CBI investigation in the Karur stampede case. While the case was transferred to the CBI based on TVK’s plea seeking a Supreme Court-monitored SIT investigation, Vijay during his campaign in Vellore asked chief minister M.K. Stalin, “Why did you blame me in the Karur tragedy?”
However, it remains to be seen if the CBI will give him relief from appearance for now and postpone the questioning to a later date or shift it to Tamil Nadu as per his request.
