R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JAN 12
Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay was subjected to an intense seven-hour interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi today as part of the ongoing probe into the Karur stampede that killed 41 people during his political rally on September 27, 2025.
The actor-politician arrived in New Delhi on Monday and was summoned under Section 179 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for questioning at the CBI headquarters. Investigators focused on key issues including his six-to-seven hour delay in reaching the venue, sequence of events leading up to the crowd crush, and whether adequate safety and crowd management measures were in place at the Veluswamypuram rally site.
- 41 dead, 60+ injured in 2025 rally tragedy; CBI zeroes in on delay, crowd control lapses
- Investigation intensifies as actor’s political profile and film release row collide with legal scrutiny
- Supreme Court-mandated probe now stepping toward potential chargesheet decision
- Social media erupts with legal, political and public safety debates over accountability
Sources confirm that the CBI has sought further clarifications on specific points of contention, and Vijay is likely to be summoned again by the investigating team for additional questioning later this week.
Investigators also pressed the TVK leader on why he continued his address despite indications of people fainting under extreme overcrowding, as well as the basis for his departure from Karur soon after the tragedy unfolded — a move Vijay has previously defended as necessary to prevent further chaos.
The Supreme Court-mandated CBI probe follows competing legal actions earlier in the case, including petitions for independent investigation after investigations at the state level were challenged.
Complicating the legal narrative is the ongoing Jana Nayagan film certification row, in which the Madras High Court’s order on the film’s certification was challenged at the Supreme Court. Vijay’s appearance before the CBI coincides with heightened public interest in both matters.
Social Media Reactions: Grill or Witch-Hunt?
X/Twitter users demanded accountability: “CBI must ensure justice for 41 lost lives — no superstar is above the law.”
Critics echoed calls for firm legal action and better crowd safety norms at political events.
Some voices questioned legal timing: “Is this CBI probe genuine or politically motivated?”
Others referenced systemic failures: “Poor planning + massive delays + inadequate crowd control = tragedy.”
A faction of netizens connected the probe with the film certification controversy, igniting debates on legal overreach.
(Social reactions sampled from trending posts across X, Reddit and community forums.
