Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay spent nearly seven hours at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday as part of the ongoing probe into the 2025 Karur stampede case. After the questioning concluded in the evening, the actor-politician exited the premises and briefly acknowledged supporters gathered outside, smiling and waving before leaving the compound.
Vijay had arrived at the CBI headquarters earlier in the day in response to a summons issued by the investigating agency. Officials questioned him about various aspects of the tragic incident that occurred during one of his political outreach programmes in Tamil Nadu last year. The interaction with investigators lasted several hours as the agency continued its efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
The stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during a large public event organised by Vijay’s party in Karur district. Thousands of supporters had gathered to attend the programme, which was part of the actor’s expanding political campaign across the state. During the gathering, a sudden surge in the crowd resulted in a stampede that led to the deaths of 41 people and injuries to several others.
Initially, the incident was investigated by a Special Investigation Team formed by the state authorities. However, the Supreme Court later directed that the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in order to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Since taking over the investigation, the CBI has been examining multiple aspects of the event, including the arrangements made for managing the large crowd and the timeline of events that unfolded on the day of the rally. Officials are analysing whether adequate planning and safety measures were in place before the gathering began.
One of the issues under particular scrutiny is the reported delay in the programme’s schedule. Investigators are examining allegations that there was a delay of nearly seven hours between the scheduled start of the event and Vijay’s arrival at the venue. Authorities are trying to determine whether the prolonged wait contributed to the rapid increase in crowd size and created conditions that eventually led to the stampede.
The agency is also reviewing documents related to the permissions obtained for organising the rally. Investigators are attempting to establish who was responsible for planning the event, how the location in Karur was selected and which individuals or party officials were involved in making the arrangements.
Within the organisational structure of Vijay’s political party, officials are also examining how decisions about the event were made and at what stage Vijay himself was informed about the programme. Investigators are seeking clarity on whether any risk assessment was conducted in advance in coordination with district authorities and local police.
Another area of investigation concerns the infrastructure and facilities that were arranged for the large gathering. Authorities are reviewing whether essential provisions such as drinking water, crowd control barriers, designated entry and exit routes, and emergency management systems were properly organised for the event.
The movement of Vijay’s specially modified caravan through the crowd is also being examined as part of the inquiry. Investigators are attempting to understand how the vehicle travelled through densely packed supporters and whether there was adequate coordination between the organisers and the local police to manage the situation safely.
Officials are also working to establish the exact timeline of events after the stampede began. This includes determining when Vijay became aware of the situation, what actions were taken immediately afterward, and the sequence of events leading up to his departure from the venue.
The questioning at the CBI headquarters is part of the broader investigation aimed at piecing together the chain of circumstances that resulted in the deadly crowd surge. Authorities continue to gather evidence, examine witness statements and review documentation related to the rally as they attempt to determine responsibility and accountability for the tragedy.
