The court has rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of two senior leaders of the Tamil Nadu-based political party, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK), and criticised both the party and the police over the recent mishap. Additionally, a plea by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident was dismissed. The bench directed her to approach the Madurai court instead, according to PTI reports.
Chief Minister MK Stalin and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have launched political attacks, blaming the BJP and TVK respectively. Stalin accused the BJP of attempting to exploit the tragedy for political gains, while the DMK slammed Vijay, the TVK leader, accusing him of arrogance, a hunger for money, a publicity mania, and a desire for power. The party stated that Vijay’s challenge to the state government to arrest him is merely an attempt to divert attention from the deaths of 41 people.
An SIT (Special Investigation Team) has been formed under senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Inspector General of Police, North Zone, Asra Garg, as reported by PTI. The High Court also held the TVK event organisers, party leadership, and police responsible for lapses that contributed to the stampede, which tragically claimed the lives of several children.
The anticipatory bail pleas of TVK state General Secretary Bussy N Anand and Deputy General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar were dismissed. Both leaders have been named in the First Information Report (FIR), along with a local party leader who has since been arrested. They face charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), Section 125 (endangering the life of others), and Section 223 (disobedience to order).
The court also rejected the anticipatory bail petition of TVK Namakkal district secretary Sathish Kumar, who is linked to an attack on a private hospital during Vijay’s public meeting in Namakkal.
Meanwhile, CM Stalin alleged that the BJP and the Union government have shown no genuine concern over the stampede and are instead attempting to capitalize on the tragedy ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections. “Why was a delegation of NDA MPs sent to Karur urgently, while no teams were dispatched for the Manipur riots, Morbi bridge collapse, or the Kumbh Mela stampede?” he questioned.
The DMK also targeted Vijay through its party organ, Murasoli, which stated, “Vijay’s arrogance, responsible for the deaths of 41 persons, and his hunger for money, publicity mania, and desire for power, have not subsided yet.” It further claimed that his Rs 20 lakh solatium announcement for the victims’ families was made under pressure, adding, “By mounting a challenge to arrest him, he is trying to divert the issue of the deaths of 41 persons.”
The government has already disbursed solatium to the victims’ families. The DMK also criticised TVK leaders for arriving late to designated campaign spots, which left supporters exhausted.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/sit-to-investigate-karur-stampede-says-hc-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-tvk-leaders-23597089
