DMK seeks Supreme Court restrictions on TVK leaders’ comments in Karur stampede case
The political dispute surrounding the Karur stampede has intensified after DMK organising secretary R.S. Bharathi approached the Supreme Court seeking to become a party in the ongoing case.
In his application, Bharathi requested directions preventing Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Minister Aadhav Arjuna and other individuals connected to the case from making public comments on the CBI investigation or interacting with victims’ families in ways that could affect the inquiry. He argued that such actions could influence witnesses or interfere with the judicial process.
The Karur stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during a public event organised by TVK, resulting in 41 deaths and injuries to 142 people. The Supreme Court later transferred the investigation to the CBI under the supervision of a committee led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi.
Bharathi also requested that compensation, government jobs and welfare assistance for victims’ families be implemented only under safeguards approved by the court and after consultation with the investigating agency.
Additionally, he urged the court to direct the CBI to examine public remarks made by Minister Aadhav Arjuna on July 2, 2026, alleging that they could amount to attempts to influence the investigation.
The application also seeks broader restrictions preventing accused persons or others connected with the case from making statements that assign criminal responsibility, threaten political opponents or otherwise affect the fairness of the ongoing probe.
The filing comes amid continuing political debate over the handling of the tragedy and the CBI investigation.