Why is Vijay Facing Criticism Over His Absence from the Karur Stampede Investigation?

Concerns Raised Over Karur Stampede Investigation

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Vanniyar Katchi (TVK) has raised concerns regarding the investigation into the Karur stampede, which tragically resulted in 41 fatalities. The party's founder, Vijay, has requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to postpone his questioning until next week, citing prior commitments related to the release of his latest film, Jana Nayagan, and the upcoming harvest festival, Pongal.

C T R Nirmal Kumar, the general secretary of TVK, recently returned to Chennai after being interrogated for nearly six hours by the CBI regarding the incident that occurred during a rally led by Vijay last year. He confirmed that Vijay had previously appeared as a witness on January 12 and had asked for the inquiry to be rescheduled after Pongal.

Kumar highlighted discrepancies in the official accounts of police presence during the stampede, noting that while Chief Minister M K Stalin stated that 607 officers were on duty, Additional DGP Davidson Devasirvatham reported only 500. This inconsistency raises questions about the actual circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Regarding the ongoing legal issues related to the film's censor board certification, Kumar expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved soon, allowing Jana Nayagan to be released promptly.

When asked about the electoral alliances for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, Kumar mentioned that Vijay would ultimately decide on the coalition.