CBI Summons Vijay For Questioning In Karur Stampede Case

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a formal summons to Tamil film star and politician Vijay, asking him to appear for questioning in the deadly Karur stampede case. The notice calls on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief to be present in New Delhi on January 12 as part of the probe into the tragedy.

What Led to the Summons?

The case stems from a massive crowd crush at a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27, during Vijay's campaign event. The incident left 41 people dead and dozens injured. Investigators say the venue was overcrowded, with thousands more people than it was designed to hold, and key safety measures, especially for food, water and crowd control, were not in place. The incident took place as a crowd of nearly 30,000 people gathered at a venue with a capacity of about 10,000 for the rally. The actor, who was supposed to arrive at the venue at 12 pm, turned up around 7 pm for the rally. 

Vijay announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each victim's family and Rs 2 lakh for the injured, a day after the incident. His statewide tour was also suspended.

The Supreme Court earlier ordered the CBI to take over the probe and oversee it under close judicial supervision. Since then, the agency has been gathering evidence and questioning party workers and rally organisers.

Why Is Vijay Being Called?

Officials say Vijay’s role in organising and overseeing the rally is now under scrutiny. The summons does not mean he has been charged yet, it simply requires him to give his side of the story as part of the ongoing investigation. 

What's at the Heart of the Case?

The central questions in the probe involve:

• Why the crowd was far larger than expected.
• Whether safety and crowd-management plans were properly prepared and executed.
• If organisers followed orders given by police and local authorities.

At the moment, the CBI is focused on clarifying what happened before, during and after the rally and whether any negligence or lapses led to the tragedy.