The court said that the investigation will be overseen by a committee comprising a retired Supreme Court judge and two IPS officers.
Published Oct 13, 2025 | 11:05 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 13, 2025 | 11:29 AM
The location where the stampede occurred in Karur.
Synopsis: The Supreme Court ordered a CBI inquiry into the stampede in Karur during a political rally organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay, and said that it will be overseen by a committee comprising a retired apex court judge and two IPS officers.
The Supreme Court on Monday, 13 October, ordered a CBI inquiry into the stampede in Karur in Tamil Nadu during a political rally organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay. The court said that the investigation will be overseen by a committee comprising a retired Supreme Court judge and two IPS officers.
“We have requested Justice Ajay Rastogi to head the committee. Two IPS officers who may be of the Tamil Nadu cadre but may not be natives of Tamil Nadu,” the bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria said.
Earlier, the court had expressed displeasure after learning that several individuals claimed petitions had been filed in their names without their knowledge or consent, and had held last-minute consultations before pronouncing the verdict.
Remarking that the committee will monitor the CBI investigation, the apex court bench said, “It may undertake the enquiry of any matter incidental to the stampede. It shall devise its own procedure as per the directions of the judge. In case any of this court is necessary at any stage, liberty to approach this Court. Officers of the CBI have been requested to submit a monthly report of the investigation before the committee.”
Further, the court said that the hearing on petitions seeking the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting political rallies will be assigned to a division bench, reported Bar and Bench.
The Supreme Court also sought a report from the Registrar General of the Madras High Court on how the case before the Principal Judge bench, which constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), was registered as a criminal writ petition.
The judges remarked that all facts surrounding the incident must come to light.“That is why we have appointed one of our retired judges to monitor the investigation. Once the probe is completed, it will clearly reveal who was at fault.”
Families of the victims have joined the hearing via video conference. Among them, the wife of Panneerselvam Pitchaimuthu — who lost his child in the tragedy — alleged that her name was misused and a petition was filed in the Supreme Court without her knowledge or consent.
Several other petitioners have made similar allegations. All of them joined the proceedings virtually.
One of the petitioners, whose partner died in the tragedy, alleged that a local AIADMK leader asked him to sign some papers and assured a government job for his son. Another person, the mother of a 13-year-old who died in the stampede, alleged her long-separated husband filed a case without her knowledge, and he has had no connection for decades.
When advocates mentioned the petitioners’ claim that they had not filed them, the Supreme Court said, “Let us understand, if that is the situation, we will take cognisance.”
The Supreme Court also expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the single judge of the Madras High Court conducted the inquiry into the Karur stampede case.
“We have seriously observed the functioning of the high court. The learned single judge made some observations about the Karur stampede in which TVK was not made a party, and as a result, the court took suo motu cognisance and directed the constitution of the SIT. However, the judgment is completely silent on how the single judge arrived at the conclusion.”
“The two writ petitions entertained prayers and extended the scope which was not before it. Above all, Karur falls within the jurisdiction of the Madurai bench (of the Madras High Court), and such being the case, there was no reason for the single judge to have entertained (the petitions),” the apex court noted.
The Supreme Court noted that the high court had no reason to entertain and take cognisance of the petition since the incident came under the pendency of the Madurai bench, and ignored the chief minister, who constituted a one-man commission.
“The single judge, while dealing with the matter, suo motu referred the case to an SIT without referring to any materials. Such recourse ignores propriety,” it said.
“This is a matter of concern and requires explanation. The High Court should explain how the formation of the SoP for political parties would fall within criminal jurisdiction. We seek an explanation from the Registrar General and ask that the order be brought to the notice of the Chief Justice of the high court,” the apex court bench said.
The Tamil Nadu government had initially appointed a single-member commission under retired high court judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident. Additionally, the Madras High Court ordered the formation of an SIT to probe the matter. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which also heard the case, had issued strong criticism against TVK and its leader, Vijay.
TVK approached the Supreme Court, seeking the removal of critical remarks made by the high court and opposing the SIT probe. Families of the victims and BJP lawyer GS Mani also filed petitions demanding a CBI investigation.
Last week, the Supreme Court heard five related petitions but reserved its order without specifying a date.
“We believe all truths in the Karur stampede case must come to light. That is why we have appointed a retired Supreme Court judge to oversee the investigation. Let the probe conclude, and the truth will emerge,” the Supreme Court bench stated, adding that hearings on the petitions will continue.
The court also granted the Tamil Nadu government time to respond to allegations regarding unauthorised petition filings and extended deadlines for other related submissions. The case has been adjourned for further hearing.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
