Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Petition on Karur Stampede Witness Tampering

The Supreme Court has agreed to expedite the hearing of a petition concerning alleged witness tampering in the Karur stampede case, which resulted in 41 fatalities during a political rally in 2025. Senior Advocate Huzaifa Ahmadi highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the accused, now ministers in the Tamil Nadu government, are reportedly attempting to influence witnesses. The CBI is currently investigating various aspects of the incident, including crowd management and delays in the arrival of key officials. The DMK has also sought court intervention to prevent public statements that could affect the ongoing investigation. Read on for more details about this significant legal development.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 6, 2026, 13:03 IST

Supreme Court's Immediate Hearing on Karur Stampede Case

On Monday, the Supreme Court consented to expedite the hearing of a petition alleging attempts to influence witnesses in the Karur stampede case. This tragic incident, which occurred during a political rally in 2025, resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals. A bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Sheel Nagu is scheduled to hear the matter on Tuesday. Senior Advocate Huzaifa Ahmadi emphasized the urgency of the case, noting that despite an ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the accused—who are now ministers in the Tamil Nadu government—are allegedly trying to sway witnesses. The Supreme Court has agreed to list the petition raising these concerns for immediate hearing.

Details of the Karur Incident

The case pertains to a stampede that occurred on September 27, 2025, during a public outreach event organized by the Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) in Karur. The sudden surge in the crowd led to a deadly stampede, raising significant alarm across the nation. The Supreme Court had previously transferred the investigation from the state's Special Investigation Team to the CBI, believing that an impartial and independent inquiry was necessary. To oversee the investigation, a three-member supervisory committee was established, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Ajay Rastogi. Since then, the CBI has been examining various aspects of the incident, including crowd management, event approvals, and the sequence of events on that day.

Investigation Focus and Delays

A critical aspect of the investigation is the reported seven-hour delay of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK President Vijay in arriving at the event venue, which officials are probing to determine its impact on the crowd's gathering. Authorities are also reviewing the organizational responsibilities for the event, including who approved the venue in Karur, how the rally was planned within the party structure, and when Vijay was informed about the situation. The agency is investigating whether adequate safety measures, such as entry and exit routes, drinking water provisions, and risk assessments, were coordinated with district officials.

Recent Developments in the Investigation

Recently, actor and TVK leader Vijay appeared before the CBI in Delhi, spending nearly seven hours at the agency's headquarters as part of the investigation. Additionally, the DMK has approached the Supreme Court, seeking directives to prevent Vijay and other TVK leaders from making public statements regarding the case, arguing that such comments could influence the ongoing investigation. The party has also referenced statements made by a Tamil Nadu minister and is calling for action in this regard.