Chennai: The Madras High Court on Friday turned down a petition by BJP leader Uma Anandan seeking to hand over the investigation into the Karur stampede to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Anandan had asked the court to transfer the case, citing lingering questions and alleged official apathy in the aftermath of the tragedy. The division bench declined this request, noting that the Madurai bench of the High Court, which has territorial jurisdiction, was the appropriate forum.
In addition, Justice N Senthilkumar denied anticipatory bail to N Sathish Kumar, the district secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in relation to the case. The court, while rejecting the bail plea, questioned the party’s inability to control its followers and pointed to “unruly behaviour of supporters, including the rampage and damage to public property” during actor-politician Vijay’s roadshow.
Police have registered nine FIRs against party members, including the district secretary, over destruction of public property during the rally.
The stampede at the rally, held on September 27, claimed 41 lives.
The decision has drawn political reactions. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin accused the BJP and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of rushing to Karur for electoral purposes, alleging they “are sending a team to Karur … not out of any genuine concern for Tamil Nadu, but simply because elections are due next year.” He also said: “When Tamil Nadu was struck by three major disasters, affecting thousands of people, the Union BJP Finance Minister neither visited nor provided any funds.”
BJP MP Anurag Thakur, meanwhile, urged CM Stalin to take full charge of the situation and directed the authorities to release a comprehensive report at the earliest.
