TVK Files PIL in Madras High Court Alleging Sabotage in Deadly Vijay Rally Stampede

Chennai:

Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Aadhav Arjuna has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court requesting the Tamil Nadu government not impede party president Vijay from visiting families of the 41 victims who perished in Saturday's Karur stampede tragedy.

The petition also demands transferring the investigation from Karur Town Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asserting that the incident resulted from a political conspiracy orchestrated by the ruling DMK party.

In his account of the tragic Karur rally, Arjuna alleges deliberate power interruption during Vijay's speech that created panic, infiltration by anti-social elements who threw stones and slippers, and empty ambulances being driven into the gathering area.

He further claims police conducted a lathi charge that triggered chaos at the venue, which authorities had selected despite TVK's objections to its narrow configuration.

To substantiate his conspiracy allegations, Arjuna's affidavit highlights that former minister V Senthil Balaji and the state's School Education Minister arrived at Karur hospital immediately following the tragedy.

According to Arjuna, their rapid response, along with pre-positioned medical staff and facilities, suggests the ruling DMK anticipated the incident and prepared to capitalize on it politically.

Characterizing the incident as "deliberate sabotage," the petition argues that state police and administration acted under political influence, making a CBI investigation essential for justice.

The affidavit additionally seeks interim orders to preserve CCTV footage and prevent officials from blocking Vijay and TVK leaders from meeting victims' families in Karur.

TVK counsel Arivazhagan told NDTV on Sunday that the stampede was "motivated" by DMK functionaries, stating, "We've enclosed photos and reliable documents. This case must be investigated by the CBI, not the local police." The matter is scheduled for hearing on Friday.

The ruling DMK has firmly denied these accusations, dismissing them as "politically motivated" attempts to exploit a tragedy before upcoming elections.

Police and electricity department authorities have also refuted the allegations, maintaining that adequate security was deployed and no disruption occurred in official power supply. They stated that only a private generator installed by TVK for focus lights failed during the stampede.

Authorities have filed a case against a TVK leader, and established a one-member inquiry commission under Retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the incident.