Supreme Court orders CBI probe into Karur stampede and forms three-member panel to oversee probe

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 13, 2025) ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led probe into the Karur stampede in Tamil Nadu, which claimed at least 41 lives during a rally organized by actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on September 27.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria directed the formation of a three-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to monitor the progress of the investigation. The committee will also consist of two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the Tamil Nadu cadre, who are not natives of the state.

“An impartial investigation is the right of every citizen,” the court observed, noting that the case pertained to the fundamental rights of citizens. The Bench said it transferred the investigation to the CBI and set up the committee “to address the concerns of the parties.”

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The panel has been given the authority to draw up its own procedure under the supervision of Judge Rastogi. The CBI has been instructed to submit monthly progress reports to the committee. The two IPS officers, not below the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), will be selected by Justice Rastogi.

The order came on a petition filed by the TVK challenging the Madras High Court's decision to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident despite the original plea seeking only a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political rallies.

During the hearing on Friday (October 10, 2025), the top court, while reserving its judgment, had questioned the correctness of the Supreme Court's decision. “We cannot understand how this order was passed? How did the single Bench in the Chennai Bench proceed with the matter when the Division Bench in Madurai took up the matter? In my experience of over 15 years as a Judge, a single Bench restrains itself once the Division Bench has taken cognizance,” Justice Maheshwari had observed.

The Tamil Nadu government defended the SIT, saying it was formed by the Supreme Court and not on the orders of the state. It added that the officers involved in the investigation were known for their honesty and independence, and that there was “no reason to question them.”

The stampede took place amid overcrowding at the TVK meeting, which attracted many more visitors than expected. Although permission was requested for around 10,000 participants, police estimates said the turnout was closer to 25,000. Preliminary reports cited poor crowd management and inadequate facilities, including the absence of drinking water, as contributing factors.

An FIR was registered at Karur police station, naming TVK's Karur (North) district secretary Mathiyazhagan, general secretary Bussy Anand and joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar under sections 105 (culpable murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 125 (endangering life of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.