Case Registered Against TVK District Secretary Over Karur Rally Stampede That Killed 39

Karur, Sept 2025 : The Karur Town Police have filed a case against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) Karur West district secretary, V.P. Mathiyazhagan, in connection with the stampede at party chief and actor Vijay’s rally in Velysamupuram. The tragedy, which unfolded late Saturday, claimed 39 lives and left 83 others injured, many of them critically.

Police said the case was registered under four sections of the Indian Penal Code, citing violation of safety norms and failure to ensure adequate crowd control. Officials clarified that, at present, Mathiyazhagan alone has been named in the First Information Report (FIR). However, investigators are examining whether lapses by other organisers or local authorities contributed to the disaster.

“The investigation is continuing, and further culpability will be fixed after a detailed inquiry,” a senior officer said.

The rally was part of Vijay’s statewide political tour to expand the base of his TVK party. Thousands of supporters gathered at the venue, many waiting since early morning under sweltering heat without sufficient food or drinking water. Confusion arose when TVK’s official social media channels announced Vijay’s arrival at noon, but the actor-politician reached only at 7:40 p.m.

As the crowd swelled through the day, several attendees fainted in the heat and congestion. When panic spread, a deadly crush ensued, leaving dozens trampled. Ambulances ferried the injured to Karur Government Medical College Hospital and nearby private facilities, while police struggled to open pathways through the packed crowd.

Calling the incident “deeply regrettable,” Tamil Nadu Director General of Police G. Venkataraman said the police were also reviewing procedures for granting permissions to such high-profile public events. “Our intention is not to blame anyone, but to present facts and ensure this never happens again,” he added.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flew to Karur late Saturday night to meet survivors and console grieving families. He announced an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the kin of each deceased person and ₹1 lakh for those critically injured, while directing the government to cover all medical expenses.

The Chief Minister also ordered a judicial inquiry headed by retired Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to examine safety lapses and recommend preventive measures. “Such a tragedy should never recur. Those responsible will face action,” Stalin said.

Meanwhile, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan demanded that the state enhance compensation to ₹50 lakh per victim’s family, terming the stampede “an unimaginable human tragedy that warrants both accountability and greater relief.”

The Tamil Nadu government has deployed senior ministers and top officials to oversee relief and medical treatment as the probe continues.