The Madras High Court (HC) on October 3, 2025, Friday came down strongly on Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its leader, actor-turned-politician Vijay, over the Karur stampede tragedy that claimed 41 lives on September 27, 2025.

Constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General (IG) of Police Asra Garg, the HC directed a detailed probe into the Karur incident. The order was passed by Justice N. Senthilkumar while hearing a plea seeking guidelines for the safe conduct of political roadshows and public gatherings.

Madras High Court condemns TVK’s conduct

Justice Senthilkumar, in his observations, expressed strong disapproval of TVK’s response following the tragedy. The court noted that the party and its functionaries had 'abandoned the place after the incident', and had not expressed any remorse for the loss of lives.

““The (TVK) party leader (C Joseph Vijay) fled from the scene. Vanished...The entire world has witnessed the events. This court cannot close its eyes and shirk responsibilities,” the judge remarked, making it clear that political parties would be held accountable for lapses in public safety.

"Why no hit and run case against TVK" - Tamil Nadu Police Action Questioned

The judge also came down on the Tamil Nadu Police, questioning why no case was registered against TVK for several glaring violations. Referring to viral videos showing two-wheelers trapped under a TVK campaign bus, the judge asked:

“Is this not a case of hit and run? Why has no FIR been registered? How can the State take it lightly when the whole incident is available on YouTube? If the police will not fix accountability, then who will?””

He further warned that the Tamil Nadu State  government appeared to be showing leniency towards the organizers, as TVK party leader Vijay was excluded from the FIR filed following the Karur stampede, in which several TVK functionaries were named for charges like culpable homicide not amounting to murder, failing to ensure safety, misrepresenting expected crowd size, improprt venue arrangements, among other charges. Justice Senthilkumar Suo Motu impleaded the Karur Town Inspector of Police as a respondent in the case.

AAG Defends Tamil Nadu Government Saying It is Not Lenient on TVK, But Court Unconvinced

Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran defended the State, arguing that it was “easy to blame the government.” He explained that:

• TVK had originally planned its Karur campaign in December but suddenly advanced it to September 27, giving only four days’ notice.

• The party had suggested three locations, and police granted permission for the “best available site.”

• Permission was granted for 3 pm to 7 pm with 11 conditions, but TVK tweeted the wrong timing of 12 noon, which caused crowds to gather since morning.

• While only 137 police personnel were deployed for AIADMK leader Edappadi Palanisamy’s campaign at the same venue a day earlier, as many as 559 police personnel were deployed for TVK’s rally.

Despite this, the court observed that police vigilance and crowd assessment were grossly inadequate given the turnout.

Case: PH Dinesh v/s Home Secretary State of Tamil Nadu

The case was initiated on a petition filed by P.H. Dinesh, who had earlier submitted a representation to the state government demanding:

• Framing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for political rallies and roadshows.

• Strict action against those responsible for the Karur stampede.

• Suspension of permissions for mass gatherings until safety protocols are made mandatory.

The petitioner alleged that the Karur incident was not a mere accident but the result of “careless planning and complete negligence by organizers.” He argued that the absence of safety guidelines created the conditions for the tragedy and warned of a risk of recurrence if corrective steps were not taken.

Wider TVK fallout in the Karur Stampede Case

The High Court’s intervention follows a series of related developments:

• The court had earlier rejected anticipatory bail pleas filed by TVK functionaries, including the Namakkal district secretary, citing lack of responsibility in controlling party members during the rally.

• A demand for a CBI probe into the tragedy was also turned down, with the state government asserting that no political meetings would be permitted until an SOP is finalized.

What’s next?

With the SIT now in place under IG Asra Garg, the focus shifts to identifying lapses in crowd management and fixing accountability. The High Court’s strong words against Vijay’s TVK are expected to put political parties in Tamil Nadu under increased scrutiny when it comes to organizing mass events.

The tragedy has not only triggered widespread outrage but also reignited the debate on the need for structured guidelines to prevent stampedes and ensure public safety during political gatherings.