Karur stampede: CBI summons police personnel who were deployed for security at TVK chief Vijay’s rally

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives during a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay on September 27, 2025, summoned for inquiry several police personnel who were listed in the bandobastplan for his visit that day.

According to sources, the Central agency, which had subjected many top officials of the district – including Collector M. Thangavel and Superintendent of Police K. Jose Thangaiah – to questioning, is said to have issued the summons to police officers and other personnel who were posted in different parts of Karur, including Velusamypuram, where Mr. Vijay had addressed a large gathering from his caravan. The traffic personnel who were pressed into the service to regulate traffic on that day were also issued the summons.

The CBI, which re-registered the case based on directions from the Supreme Court on October 13, had collected the bandobast plan that contains the list of police personnel who were deployed for duty for the TVK rally. About 500 police personnel were claimed to have been deployed for security in and around the meeting spot when the actor-turned-politician visited Velusamypuram. Several of them were summoned by the CBI officials.

Sources added that the police personnel had begun to appear before the CBI at Circuit House, which is being used by the agency as its temporary office since it took over the investigation in October, 2025. At least five to 10 police personnel appeared for questioning daily. The questions were on the location of their duty at Velusamypuram and other places, the duration, their original duty station, and the details of the police officials who deployed them for the security.

According to sources, activists as well as some residents of Karur reportedly approached the CBI officials a few days ago for an audience with them to provide inputs in connection with the tragedy. Pointing to the ongoing inquiry with the police personnel, they said that opportunity would be provided to the activists in a few days.