Karur Superintendent of Police V Selvaraj granted permission to hold the rally, subject to 11 conditions — most of which were violated.
Published Oct 01, 2025 | 3:35 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 01, 2025 | 3:35 PM
Reminder of a fatal rally. Footwear strewn around at the venue after the stampede.
Synopsis: Actor Vijay has challenged the Tamil Nadu government to arrest him instead of his party workers. In an unapologetic video message, he said the truth behind the deadly stampede will be revealed. Documents now point at a series of violations at the Karur rally, in which 41 people were killed.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) committed a series of violations while holding the fateful rally at Veluchamipuram in Karur on 27 September, documents revealed.
As many as 41 fans and TVK workers were killed when an unprecedented crowd surged forward while the party leader, actor-politician Vijay, was addressing the rally. Scores of others were injured in the incident.
Earlier, Karur Superintendent of Police V Selvaraj had granted permission to hold the event, subject to 11 conditions. Later incidents revealed that most conditions were violated.
A week before the rally, TVK’s Karur district office-bearers sought permission for the event and submitted multiple choices of venues to the district administration.
According to the government’s version of events, the party’s requests for Lighthouse Roundana and the Uzhavar Sandhai as venues were rejected as unsuitable. TVK later sought Veluchamipuram as the venue on 26 September, and the Karur Superintendent of Police granted permission subject to 11 conditions.
First, no flex banners or hoardings were to be placed on the central median of the venue, nor were party workers allowed to climb on the divider. Organisers were specifically instructed to enforce this condition.
But with more than 25,000 fans and supporters crowding the site, this norm was disregarded, as is evident from the widely circulated videos of the event.
Second, organisers were required to ensure smooth cooperation with the police so that normal vehicular traffic was not affected. In reality, however, whether in Karur or in any of the five districts where TVK has previously held campaign rallies, traffic was affected for hours.
In Karur, the allotted Veluchamipuram was completely occupied by TVK cadres, and the crowd spilled over until Thirukkambuliyur Roundana.
Third, organisers were instructed to make proper arrangements for parking vehicles. However, no formal complaint has been made by the police so far about the violation of this rule.
Fourth, TVK was required to obtain formal permission from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board for power supply at the venue. TVK applied on 26 September, requesting that electricity be cut during Vijay’s speech, for public safety. But this request was rejected, according to Karur TNEB Chief Engineer Rajalakshmi.
Fifth, a specific condition stated that in case of emergencies during the event, cadres must make way for ambulances and emergency vehicles. However, videos showed ambulances being blocked by the crowd while TVK members allegedly attacked one ambulance, accusing it of trying to sabotage the event.
At one point, when an ambulance tried to pass, Vijay was heard sarcastically remarking, “What, the ambulance is also flying our party flag!” This amounted to a serious violation of the emergency vehicle clause.
Meanwhile, responding to allegations that ambulances had passed through the crowd to create trouble, Health Secretary Senthilkumar IAS clarified at a press conference the exact timeline of calls received, the patients picked up, and the hospitals they were taken to.
Sixth, since the venue was near several public areas, organisers were required to arrange for first-aid and medical support. TVK has consistently deployed medical teams at all its campaign rallies, including over three ambulances and a medical team led by Dr S Prabhu, TVK’s Sivagangai district secretary.
Seventh, organisers were required to obtain clearance from the fire service department, as well as permission from the municipality for putting up flex banners. No official complaint has so far been lodged by the municipality regarding violations of this condition.
However, Karur town — not just Thirukkampuliyur Roundana— was seen covered with TVK banners and posters.
Most crucially, one major condition explicitly stated that no roadshows would be permitted under any circumstances. Yet, in practice, at all of Vijay’s campaign rallies, informal roadshows have taken place: His vehicle was slowed down by fans, who crowded the throughfares.
In Karur, too, the same happened. From the moment he entered the district, his vehicle crawled forward slowly, with Vijay acknowledging people. Although he did not step out to greet crowds, the scene amounted to an unofficial roadshow.
In particular, eyewitnesses said it took nearly one-and-a-half hours for Vijay’s campaign vehicle to cover the 500 metres from Thirukkampuliyur Roundana to the main venue.
The permission letter had clearly warned that if banners were erected without approval or if emergency service vehicles were obstructed, strict legal action would follow.
Of these conditions, the most important — that emergency services should never be hindered — was violated, as documented in multiple instances.
Government officials now maintain that had TVK adhered to even these 11 conditions, this large-scale tragedy could have been averted.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
