Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court today (October 10) questioned the Tamil Nadu Government over the permission granted to actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for holding a roadshow rally in Karur on September 27 - which led to a stampede killing 41 persons- even as permission for a similar event at the same spot by the AIADMK was denied on the ground that the State was still in the process of finalising the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political meetings.

The Court also asked how the post-mortem examinations of the victims of the Karur stampede were conducted at midnight and completed within four hours.

A bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing the petitions filed by TVK and others seeking an independent investigation into the stampede. While TVK seeks an investigation under the monitoring of a retired Supreme Court judge - instead of the SIT composed of only TN officers - other petitioners seek CBI investigation.

One petitioner, represented by Senior Advocate Raghavachari V, alleged that the State police had denied permission to AIADMK for the road rally in Karur, saying that it was a narrow space and any mishap could occur. He questioned how the TVK party was then granted permission for the same.

He said: "Another political party, AIDMK, they sought permission and police said its narrow space and we can't give permission and in September they gave to TVK party on the same very place. If its going to be crowded for AIADMK, it should have been crowded for TVK. My humble submission is, the entire fault lies with state police."

Another issue that the petitioner raised was that the Government conducted a post-mortem of the dead bodies at midnight, and they were cremated at 4 in the morning. He contended that the doctors "suddenly appeared."

He said: "7:30 pm on 27, the incident took place, all were rushed to hospital at 9-10 pm. This gentlemen lost wife and was grieving and by 10:30, the postmortem for 30 bodies were conducted and cremation was done in 4 am in morning. The State conducted postmortem late night and it is unclear how suddenly the doctors appeared- my learned friend say they have constituted one man commission, and even before the notification, the commission was standing at my doorstep. Therefore, I came before the court along with photos of what exactly happened- if the State was fair, they could have handed the papers to CBI."

Raghavachari also alleged that the stampede was not spontaneous. He claimed that some DMK members were talking from 3 PM that day that a tragedy was going to happen. According to him, the police allowed a miscreant to throw a shoe into the crowd, which created a commotion.

Justice Maheshwari put the points raised by the petitioner to the State's counsel Senior Advocate P Wilson.

"Why was permission granted when there was an order [to not give permission until SoP is finalised]?" Justice Maheshwari asked.

Justice Maheshwari then questioned the State on the issue of post-mortem. He said: "You conducted postmortem within four hours[at midnight?] How many [postmortem] tables do you have? Two?"

Wilson responded that this was an incident of tragedy and there was a lot of hue and cry because families started demanding the dead bodies. He said: "The Collector gave permission, 27 the incident happened, our CM flew at Karur and people started pleading for bodies and therefore, the collector gave permission. This is the first time we are facing this allegation, I will verify and file detailed affidavit."

He also submitted that from nearby districts, doctors were called to perform a postmortem. He said: "Our Health Secretary clarified that 220 doctors, 165 nurses and doctors who participated in the conference were mobilised." On this, Justice Maheshwari asked if they were forensic experts.

Stating that this is the first time allegations have been made with respect to the postmortem, Wilson said he will file a detailed affidavit in this regard. He also refuted the allegation that the stampede was orchestrated by throwing footwear into the crowd.

The bench has reserved orders.

Also from the hearing : Karur Stampede | 'Unable To Understand How Madras High Court Passed SIT Order' : Supreme Court Reserves Order On Pleas Of TVK & Others

Case Details: S PRABAKARAN v. THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ORS|W.P.(Crl.) No. 412/2025

Live coverage :

#SupremeCourt to hear the petition filed by actor Vijay's party TVK against the Madras High Court order for SIT enquiry into the #Karur stampede.

Bench: Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria@TVKVijayHQ pic.twitter.com/Mux0MNrgN6