Karur stampede: Madras HC forms SIT, denies pre-arrest bail to TVK leaders

The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the September 27 stampede at a political rally of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay in Karur, which left 41 people dead and more than 60 injured.

- MPOST BUREAU

‘The SIT will be headed by senior IPS officer and Inspector General, North Zone, Asra Garg. The court, while constituting the team, came down on both the TVK organisers and the police, holding them responsible for lapses that contributed to the tragedy, in which several children also lost their lives.

‘The principal bench also dismissed a plea filed by BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, who had sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident. The bench directed her to approach the Madurai bench instead.

At the same time, anticipatory bail pleas of two senior TVK leaders—state general secretary Bussy N Anand and deputy general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar—were rejected by the Madurai bench. Both have been named in the FIR and face charges under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others) and 223 (disobedience to order). A local TVK leader has already been arrested in the case.