Madras High Court to Hear Urgent Plea Seeking Ban on Actor Vijay's Future Public Events Amid Karur Stampede Probe
Chennai, September 28, 2025 – The Madras High Court will hear an urgent petition on Monday, September 29, seeking to prohibit actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party from organizing future public gatherings following a tragic stampede at a rally in Karur that killed 40 people, including nine children and 17 women, on Saturday evening. The plea, filed by Karur-based activist R. Muthukumar, cites gross negligence in crowd control and demands a temporary suspension of permissions for TVK events until a judicial investigation is complete.
The hearing, set for the Madurai Bench at 2:30 p.m., follows the catastrophic incident at Karur Municipal Ground, where a TVK campaign rally spiraled into chaos, marking one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest crowd-related disasters in decades. The petitioner argues that allowing further public events by TVK without addressing critical safety lapses endangers lives, urging the court to direct Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal to withhold rally approvals pending the probe’s findings.
The Karur Stampede: A Night of Tragedy
The ill-fated rally, part of TVK’s aggressive pre-2026 Assembly election campaign, was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. on September 27 at a venue approved for 10,000 attendees. Delays in Vijay’s arrival—his convoy reached the site only at 11 p.m.—left thousands waiting in oppressive heat and humidity, with crowd estimates swelling to over 50,000, far exceeding the venue’s capacity. Witnesses describe a chaotic sequence: a sudden surge toward the stage, reportedly triggered by Vijay’s appeal to locate a missing girl, coupled with a brief power outage and an alleged police lathi charge to manage the crowd.
“The heat was unbearable, and when the lights went out, people panicked. Then the pushing started—it was suffocating,” said Priya, a 29-year-old survivor from Namakkal, who lost her cousin in the crush. By midnight, 40 lives were lost, with 93 others injured, 51 critically, overwhelming Karur Government Medical College Hospital. Autopsies confirmed deaths due to asphyxiation and crush injuries, with victims including entire families drawn by Vijay’s cinematic charisma and political promises.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who visited the site and hospital on Sunday, called the tragedy “devastating” and announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended condolences, pledging central assistance for relief efforts.
TVK’s Defense and Push for CBI Inquiry
In a video statement from Chennai on Sunday, Vijay, 51, expressed profound grief, describing the incident as a “personal loss” for the TVK family. “We stand with the victims and will ensure justice,” he vowed, announcing Rs 20 lakh compensation per deceased family and Rs 2 lakh for the injured, outstripping state aid. However, his swift exit from Karur via private jet post-incident drew sharp criticism from political rivals, who accused him of dodging accountability.
TVK has countered with a legal offensive, filing a plea before Justice M. Dhandapani at the Madras High Court for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. The party alleges sabotage by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, pointing to the power outage and excessive police force as deliberate disruptions. “Our team was managing the crowd diligently until external interference caused chaos,” claimed TVK general secretary Senthil Balaji outside the court. The plea, initially slated for an emergency 4:30 p.m. hearing on Sunday, was deferred to Monday alongside the restraint petition due to procedural issues.
Retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, tasked by the state to lead a one-member judicial commission, began groundwork on Sunday, inspecting the rally site and interviewing survivors and officials. Her interim report, expected within 14 days, will scrutinize crowd management, police conduct, and event permissions.
Political Fallout and Public Outcry
The stampede has fueled a fierce political slugfest. BJP state president K. Annamalai accused both TVK and the DMK government of negligence, questioning why a larger venue wasn’t secured and slamming the “inadequate” police deployment of 500 personnel. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami echoed the sentiment, alleging a DMK “vendetta” against TVK’s rising influence. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin hit back, labeling Vijay a “Saturday politician” and blaming unchecked “fan frenzy” for the disaster, while defending police efforts under trying conditions.
On X, public sentiment is raw, with #KarurStampede and #VijayAccountability trending, amassing over 600,000 posts by Sunday evening. Viral videos of the chaotic scenes have intensified calls for Vijay’s arrest and stricter rally regulations, with comparisons to past tragedies like the 2022 Hathras stampede. “He’s a hero on screen, but this is real life—people died because of poor planning,” posted user @TamilVoice2025, reflecting widespread frustration.
Legal and Political Implications
Monday’s hearing could reshape TVK’s campaign strategy. A court-ordered restraint would force Vijay, whose star power has drawn massive crowds since TVK’s launch in February 2024, to shift to smaller or virtual events—a setback for a party positioning itself as a populist alternative to DMK and BJP. Legal analysts suggest the court may opt for interim measures, such as mandatory crowd caps or real-time monitoring, rather than a blanket ban, balancing public safety with democratic rights.
As Karur grapples with grief, memorials at the municipal ground brim with flowers and candles. Families like that of 42-year-old victim Manikandan, a daily-wage worker, mourn in hospital wards, awaiting answers. “We trusted Vijay’s vision, but all we got was loss,” said his brother, Suresh. With the judicial probe underway and the Madras High Court poised to act, the Karur stampede underscores the high stakes of Tamil Nadu’s volatile political landscape, where charisma and crowds can turn deadly in an instant.
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