What’s Next for Actor-Politician Vijay After CBI Interrogation Over Karur Stampede?

Vijay Faces CBI Again in Karur Stampede Investigation

Chennai: Vijay, the actor-turned-politician and leader of the TVK party, appeared at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office on Sunday for another round of questioning related to the tragic stampede in Karur that resulted in multiple fatalities last year.

This marks the third occasion Vijay has been called in by the CBI, having previously attended sessions on January 12 and January 19, where he provided initial insights into the events surrounding the stampede.

CBI officials stated that this latest interrogation aims to clarify specific details from Vijay's previous statements. Investigators are focusing on the planning, crowd control measures, and the timeline of events that led to the unfortunate incident during a campaign rally.

Sources indicate that Vijay had requested to either conduct the questioning in Chennai or to postpone it, but the CBI insisted on his presence at their New Delhi headquarters as part of standard protocol.

Alongside Vijay, the driver who accompanied him during the Karur event has also been called in for questioning on the same day.

Officials mentioned that both individuals might be interrogated together to facilitate the verification of their statements and to reconstruct the sequence of events from that day.

Currently, the CBI is in the process of gathering evidence and recording witness accounts as part of the investigation. They are still in the evidence-collection phase and will formulate a charge sheet based on the findings and testimonies acquired.

In the coming days, the investigation is expected to expand further. The CBI has also summoned Karur MLA Senthil Kumar for questioning, which is reportedly set for Tuesday, as they seek to understand the administrative and political context surrounding the rally.

As the investigation unfolds, reports indicate that Vijay's political party, TVK, has initiated a campaign named “Target Karur” aimed at bolstering its support among the local populace.

The Karur stampede, which occurred during a significant political event led by Vijay, has sparked extensive discussions regarding crowd management and safety protocols at large political gatherings.

The CBI's inquiry is anticipated to reveal whether any planning or management failures contributed to this tragic event.