The Madras High Court on Friday strongly criticised both the police and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leadership over inaction following the controversial “GenZ Revolution” post by TVK General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna, issued shortly after the September 27 Karur stampede that killed 41 people and injured over 60. Justice N. Senthilkumar questioned whether Arjuna and other TVK leaders considered themselves “above the law,” pointing out the failure of authorities to take further action despite an FIR being registered against him. The court emphasised that freedom of speech is subject to reasonable restrictions and warned that unchecked statements could escalate into serious incidents.
Arjuna’s post encouraged Tamil Nadu’s youth to emulate recent protests in Nepal and Sri Lanka and rise against what he termed a “wicked government,” sparking public outrage. While TVK clarified that the comments were personal views and promptly deleted the post, DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the statements as potentially inciting violence.
The proceedings also highlighted the ongoing scrutiny of TVK following the Karur stampede. Justice Senthilkumar condemned both the organisers and Vijay, the party founder, for fleeing the scene immediately after the tragedy and failing to issue any official statement or expression of remorse. Court documents revealed that the bus carrying Vijay had collided with motorcycles, yet the police had not filed FIRs for hit-and-run incidents. The judge stressed the state’s duty to act suo motu in such situations, even without formal complaints from victims.
Additionally, the court dismissed anticipatory bail petitions from senior TVK leaders Bussy Anand and CTR Nirmal Kumar in connection with the stampede. To ensure accountability, the High Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Asra Garg to investigate both the stampede and the circumstances surrounding Arjuna’s controversial post, signalling intensified scrutiny of TVK’s leadership and organisational responsibilities.
