The Madras High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Tamil Nadu police over its handling of the Karur rally stampede that left 41 people dead. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction at the lack of accountability and investigation, remarking that actor-politician Vijay, who had addressed the event, “fled the scene” and “vanished” instead of being questioned.

Court’s Observations

Justice N. Senthilkumar, who presided over the hearing, said the devastating incident had attracted nationwide attention, with condolences pouring in from the President and the Prime Minister. He noted that the tragedy required a far more serious and proportionate response from the police. Pointing out that only two arrests had been made so far, the court observed that the action taken was inadequate for an event of such scale and gravity.

The judge’s remark—“party leader Vijay fled from the scene of occurrence. Vanished”—sparked attention, highlighting the court’s concern that prominent figures linked to the rally were not being held directly accountable.

Police and Government’s Response

Representing the Tamil Nadu government, Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran attempted to place responsibility on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party led by Vijay. He said the organizers had misled the public by announcing an incorrect starting time for the rally. The event had been officially permitted between 3 pm and 7 pm, but TVK’s promotional materials mentioned 12 noon as the start, leading to thousands arriving much earlier than anticipated.

Ravindran also defended the police force, saying 559 personnel had been deployed—far more than what was normally sanctioned for political rallies of similar size. He further claimed that multiple venues had been proposed by TVK, and Karur’s lighthouse roundabout was chosen as the most suitable option.

Despite these arguments, the court maintained that the police should have shown more foresight and vigilance, particularly when crowd numbers surged beyond expectations.

The Tragedy

The stampede took place on September 27 in Veluswamypuram, Karur district. The event had official approval for about 10,000 attendees, but actual numbers swelled to nearly double. Vijay’s late arrival triggered a rush towards the stage, and inadequate crowd management measures collapsed under pressure. People were crushed in the ensuing chaos, resulting in 41 deaths and dozens of injuries.

Police have filed cases under charges including culpable homicide, negligence, and endangering life, naming several TVK functionaries. The party, however, has accused the government of bias and demanded an independent probe into the incident.

The Road Ahead

The High Court’s stern observations have intensified pressure on both the police and the government to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation. The critical questions now are:

• Whether Vijay himself will face legal scrutiny or be included in the case.
• Whether the investigation will be escalated to an independent or central agency to ensure impartiality.
• Whether systemic reforms in crowd control and political event management will be introduced to prevent similar tragedies.

As grieving families wait for justice, the court has sent a clear message: condolences are not enough—responsibility must be fixed, and accountability must follow.