Karur stampede case: CBI issues notice to TVK leader Vijay to appear for questioning on Jan 12

NEW DELHI:The CBI has issued a notice summoning TVK president Vijay to appear for questioning on January 12 at the agency’s headquarters in connection with the Karur stampede case, officials said.Several office bearers of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have already been questioned in the matter, they added.Following Vijay’s appearance, the CBI may decide on filing a charge sheet in the case.The agency took over the investigation from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after a Supreme Court order and has been collecting evidence related to the stampede, which occurred on September 27.At least 41 people were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede during a political rally addressed by actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu.Earlier, TVK had submitted video evidence to the CBI to support its claim that lapses by the state government and the police had led to the Karur stampede, as the Supreme Court-monitored probe concluded its three-day inquiry in Delhi. After the final round of questioning, TVK joint general secretary C T R Nirmal Kumar told reporters that they had provided video evidence and explanations highlighting where the government had made mistakes, where the police had failed, and how the incident could have been prevented. He said the team had flagged lapses in postmortem procedures and had placed on record details related to the permits granted for the event.(With agency inputs)