NEW DELHI: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the political party founded by Tamil actor C. Joseph Vijay has moved the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation led by a former Supreme Court judge into the September 27 stampede at Karur, which claimed 41 lives and left several others injured.
The plea challenges the Madras High Court’s October 3 order forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Inspector General of Police. The petition argues that the High Court itself questioned the independence of the state police but nevertheless directed a probe by senior police officers from the same force.
Filed through TVK’s secretary Aadhav Arjuna, the petition was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai for urgent listing. The CJI agreed to list the matter for hearing on Friday. On the same day, the court is also scheduled to hear a separate appeal challenging the Madurai Bench of the High Court’s refusal to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“The petitioner-party and its leaders are prejudiced by the order which appoints an SIT composed solely of officers of the State Police, especially in view of the High Court’s own dissatisfaction with their independence,” the plea states.
TVK further contends that the tragedy may have resulted from a pre-planned conspiracy by miscreants aiming to disrupt the rally and that a probe led by a retired Supreme Court judge is necessary to ensure impartiality.
In the October 3 order, Justice Senthilkumar had described the stampede as a “huge man-made disaster” and said the court could not remain a “mute spectator” after witnessing the scale of the tragedy, in which several women and children had died. Recording the court’s strong disapproval, the judge also noted that the party leadership had shown no remorse even after the tragedy.
The party has also objected to the High Court’s strong remarks holding TVK leaders responsible for “fleeing from the scene” and not assisting victims, calling them “factually incorrect and contrary to record.” The plea asserts that TVK members, upon learning of people fainting, immediately took coordinated steps to provide medical aid and assistance.
The Madras High Court, while forming the SIT, had also banned political rallies, roadshows, and similar public events along highways until Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are framed. It had criticised TVK workers and the State government for their handling of the event.
