Chennai, October 3, 2025— The Madras High Court’s Madurai bench on Friday declined a batch of petitions seeking a CBI probe into the deadly Karur stampede last week, and the state government told the court that it will not grant permission for any political meetings until a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for public gatherings is finalised. The move comes as the death toll from the crowd crush at a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) event rose to 41 and tensions between parties escalated.
What the court said
Petitioners, including social activists and political workers, had urged the High Court to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation alleging lapses and a possible cover-up. The Madurai bench, however, refused to entertain the pleas for an immediate CBI takeover, saying the state-led probe should be allowed to proceed for now. The court will continue to monitor related petitions and hearings on procedural issues linked to permissions for public meetings.
Government: no political meets until SOP is in place
At the hearing, the state government informed the court that it will not issue permissions for political rallies or roadshows until a comprehensive SOP for crowd management and safety at public meetings is framed and issued. Officials argued that pausing political events was necessary to prevent further loss of life while new safety protocols are drawn up. The announcement effectively imposes a temporary moratorium on formal permissions for party gatherings across the state.
The tragedy and the probe so far
The crowd crush took place on September 27 in Veluswamypuram, Karur district, during a TVK event associated with actor-politician Vijay’s campaign trail. Reports say the rally site became dangerously overcrowded after the leader’s arrival was delayed, and multiple points of crush formed near temporary structures and media vehicles. Hospitals in Karur and neighbouring districts received scores of injured; officials put the confirmed fatalities at 41 and injuries in the dozens. The district administration constituted an inquiry and the state government announced compensation and relief measures for victims’ families.
Political fallout and competing demands
Opposition parties and some petitioners labelled the state inquiry insufficient and demanded a CBI probe, arguing that only an independent central agency could ensure transparency and public confidence. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami publicly called for a CBI investigation and dismissed the state-appointed inquiry as an “eyewash,” saying families deserved a full, impartial probe.
TVK — the organiser of the rally — has vehemently denied culpability and in court filings accused the state of engineering a conspiracy, while also urging for a full independent probe. The party has also temporarily suspended planned rallies and asked cadres not to seek permissions until the situation cools.
Police actions and FIRs
Police have registered FIRs naming several TVK office-bearers and local organisers; special teams have been formed to trace senior party leaders who were named in the FIR. State authorities say arrests and further action will follow the investigation’s findings. Petitioners have questioned why certain prominent individuals present at the event were not named in the initial FIRs.
Safety gaps highlighted
Eyewitness accounts and early fact-finding by media point to multiple safety failures: inadequate buffer zones around the stage, poor crowd-control deployment, delayed arrival of the principal speaker causing crowd surges, and logistical bottlenecks that hampered ambulance movement. These elements have been flagged by both opposition leaders and civil-society voices calling for stricter regulation of political events. Experts say any SOP must address crowd density limits, emergency corridors, liability of organisers, advance liaison with police and health services, and mandatory safety clearance for makeshift structures and broadcast equipment.
What to watch next
- High Court proceedings: Several petitions — including writs questioning the police FIRs and seeking restraining directions on rallies without SOPs — are pending before the Madurai bench; further hearings are expected in the coming days.
- Government SOP: How quickly the state frames a robust, enforceable SOP and whether it includes criminal liability for organisers will shape whether rallies resume and under what terms.
- Investigation outcomes: Whether the state inquiry satisfies public concerns or pressure mounts for a central probe will determine the political temperature in Tamil Nadu. Leaders from multiple parties are likely to press their positions as findings emerge.
Friday’s Madras High Court order preserves the state investigation for the moment, but the government’s decision to halt permissions for political meetings until an SOP is published marks an immediate policy response to the Karur tragedy. With the death toll confirmed in the dozens and strong political disputes over accountability, the coming week will be pivotal for both the probe and for how Tamil Nadu regulates mass political mobilisation going forward.