A BJP delegation led by MP and actor Hema Malini inspects the TVK rally stampede spot, in Karur district, Tamil Nadu.
Credit: PTI
Chennai: Castigating Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay for disappearing from the rally scene and the government for failing to act against him, the Madras High Court on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the stampede that killed 41 people at the actor’s rally in Karur on September 27.
Justice N Senthilkumar questioned what kind of political party TVK was, noting that everyone concerned fled Karur after the deaths and no one accepted responsibility. “The court strongly condemns the act of the political party, especially when children and women have died. The party has not even expressed remorse, which shows the mental state of the leader,” the judge observed.
Rejecting a plea for a CBI inquiry, the judge ordered the formation of an SIT headed by senior IPS officer Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police (North Zone).
In a related development, the High Court also rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of TVK general secretary Bussy N Anand and joint secretary C T R Nirmal Kumar. Anand’s counsel argued that the rally was organised by the Karur (North) district unit and that it was sufficient that the district secretary had already been arrested.
The government too came under attack for not naming Vijay in the FIR, which so far includes only Madhiazhagan, TVK’s Karur district secretary, alongside Anand and Nirmal Kumar. The court asked: “What prevents you from taking further action pursuant to the registration of the FIR on the Karur stampede?”
The DMK government, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin has shown caution in dealing with Vijay, apparently to avoid creating sympathy for the actor.
Justice Senthilkumar noted that Vijay “disappeared from the scene” and lamented, “There was no one left to help the people.” He said he condoles the deaths as a human being and is deeply pained as a judge to witness such loss of life.
Calling the tragedy a “huge man-made disaster,” the judge said the court cannot close its eyes, remain a mute spectator, or shirk its responsibilities.
He also pointed to videos showing Vijay’s fans dangerously chasing his vehicle, with two-wheelers caught under his campaign bus, and questioned why no case was filed against those responsible. He further asked whether the government was showing leniency toward TVK.
The government counsel, for his part, argued that TVK misled the public by announcing that Vijay would address the rally at 12 pm, even though permission was granted only for between 3 pm and 10 pm. He also noted that nine FIRs had already been registered against TVK functionaries for damage to public property.