Madras HC forms SIT under Asra Garg; rips into TVK, State & Police

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be led by Inspector General of Police Asra Garg to investigate the stampede during a political campaign of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay in Karur on September 27, which resulted in 41 deaths.

The principal bench of the HC, while hearing a petition by PH Dinesh of Villivakkam, prohibited further grant of permission for political rallies until a standard operating procedure is framed.

It also dismissed BJP councillor Uma Anandan’s plea seeking a CBI probe into the incident, and directed her to approach the Madurai bench.

The court criticised the TVK organisers of the event, the party leadership and the police for the stampede, which killed women and children, among others.

Justice Senthilkumar, presiding over the case, strongly condemned party leaders for "abandoning" the innocent victims who had gathered to see Vijay. The court stated the party should have come to their rescue. The judge expressed dissatisfaction with the local police's investigation, observing that the state was being lenient with party leaders who had "fled the scene" after the tragedy.

The court directed the Karur Town Police Inspector to hand over to the SIT all documents related to an FIR registered against TVK general secretary B Anand and deputy general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The judge noted that only two lower-level party members had been arrested and questioned why Vijay was not named in the FIR. He also raised concerns about why a 'hit-and-run' case was not filed, citing video evidence of injuries caused by Vijay's moving caravan.

The judge lamented that the TVK leadership showed no remorse for the "man-made disaster." He emphasised that the court could not be a "mute spectator" and must ensure justice for the victims. The SIT was deemed necessary to prosecute all those responsible and deliver complete justice for the 41 lost lives, the court noted.

The court also dismissed the anticipatory bail pleas of TVK state general secretary Bussy N Anand and deputy general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, who have been named in the FIR in connection with the incident.