NE NEWS SERVICE
KARUR (TAMIL NADU), OCT 5
The Tamil Nadu Police have registered a case against the driver of actor-politician Vijay’s campaign vehicle for his alleged involvement in an accident that occurred while the vehicle was en route to the September 27 Karur rally, where a stampede later claimed 41 lives and left over 60 injured.
- High Court expresses anguish over lapses
- Tamil Nadu Govt moves to frame SOP on crowd and convoy safety: Senior police officer
Officials confirmed that Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s campaign bus has also been included in the FIR. The case pertains to a road accident captured on video, showing two motorcycles colliding with the campaign bus carrying the actor. Several fans were reportedly riding close to the bus to catch a glimpse of the star when the incident occurred.
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The video, widely circulated on social media and television, prompted the Madras High Court to raise serious questions about the lack of immediate police action against the driver. The court observed that despite clear visual evidence of the accident, no FIR was registered until the court’s intervention.
High Court’s sharp observations
In its order, the Madras High Court said: “It was brought to the notice of this Court that the video, which has been widely circulated in both print and visual media, clearly shows that the bus carrying Vijay, the leader of the political party, was involved in an accident. In the footage, it is visibly evident that two motorcycles were involved in the collision, and that the driver of the bus, having seen the incident, fled from the scene.”
The court further noted that another collision involving the rear end of the same bus was also captured on camera, witnessed by an occupant sitting on the front left side of the vehicle.
“This Court expresses its deep anguish and concern over the failure of the authorities to take action. Even in the absence of a formal complaint from the aggrieved parties, it is the duty of the State to register a suo motu FIR and ensure that the accused face trial in accordance with law,” the bench observed.
Following the court’s remarks, multiple sources in the Karur Superintendent of Police’s office and the Velayuthampalayam Police Station confirmed that cases have now been registered in connection with both accidents captured in the video.
TN Govt reviews crowd control framework
In the wake of the Karur tragedy, the Tamil Nadu government has directed the Home Department and the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a comprehensive review of existing protocols for large gatherings, particularly political rallies and celebrity events.
Top officials said the State is in the process of introducing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for crowd and convoy management, aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future.
A senior Home Department official said: “The proposed SOP will set strict rules for event organisers, including mandatory permissions, safety audits, convoy separation from crowd zones, and digital monitoring of crowd density. Every political and public gathering will be governed by a uniform safety framework.”
Proposed SOP highlights
According to preliminary drafts, the SOP on Crowd & Convoy Management will include:
- Pre-event risk assessments and crowd capacity mapping.
- Mandatory barricading and regulated one-way entry/exit systems.
- GPS-tracked campaign convoys with enforced speed limits and pre-approved routes.
- Drone and CCTV surveillance for real-time crowd density monitoring.
- Emergency control rooms with coordination among police, fire, and medical units.
- Post-event accountability, including submission of safety compliance reports.
The initiative aims to make Tamil Nadu’s crowd management protocols scientific, transparent, and people-centric, balancing democratic participation with public safety.
Police intensify probe
Meanwhile, the investigation into the Karur rally stampede continues, with police questioning event organisers, local officials, and private volunteers involved in crowd control on the day of the tragedy.
Officials said more details about the role of the campaign team and event management agency would emerge after the technical analysis of CCTV footage, drone visuals, and the convoy’s GPS data.
A senior police officer said, “The aim is to fix accountability at every level — from organisers to officials — so that such incidents are never repeated.”
