The Supreme Court of India has agreed to urgently hear an application seeking to restrain Joseph Vijay and members of his cabinet from meeting victims of the Karur stampede or their families, citing concerns that such interactions could influence witnesses in the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
The application was mentioned before a bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Sheel Nagu, who agreed to take up the matter. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi appeared on behalf of R. S. Bharathi, who filed the application.
The plea follows reports that Vijay is expected to visit Karur around July 10 to meet families of those killed and injured in the September 27, 2025 stampede. During the proposed visit, he is also expected to announce compassionate appointments and other relief measures for affected families.
The Karur stampede occurred during an election rally organised by Vijay’s party, resulting in the deaths of 41 people and injuries to 142 others. According to police, nearly 27,000 people attended the event—almost three times the anticipated crowd. Authorities had attributed the tragedy partly to a seven-hour delay in Vijay’s arrival, which allegedly led to overcrowding and panic.
The application argues that the affected families are key witnesses in the criminal investigation, which was initially handled by the Tamil Nadu Police before being transferred to the CBI on the Supreme Court’s directions. It contends that direct interaction by individuals connected to the case or those holding executive office could create a perception of influence over witnesses and compromise the fairness of the investigation.
The plea also cited recent remarks allegedly made by Aadhav Arjuna, claiming there was “a score to settle” over the stampede and accusing the previous DMK government of responsibility for the tragedy.
