Karur Stampede Case: Tamil Nadu Govt Urges Supreme Court To Vacate Interim Order Transferring Probe To CBI

The Tamil Nadu Government has urged the Supreme Court to vacate its interim order that transferred the investigation into the Karur TVK rally stampede to the CBI, arguing that the direction amounts to granting the petitioner's final relief at an interim stage. In its counter-affidavit filed in response to the Special Leave Petition, the State said the order has effectively suspended the ongoing police investigation without giving the State an opportunity to respond.

The affidavit argues that the October 13, 2025 interim order, ordering CBI investigation under the monitoring of a supervisory committee headed by Justice Ajay Rastogi,has “virtually allowed the writ petition” even before notice on maintainability could be decided. The State maintains that the order has the effect of taking the probe away from the Karur police and placing it under an external supervisory mechanism, which, it says, is a final relief that courts cannot grant at the interim stage  

The affidavit has been sworn to by MD Manuraj, the Additional Home Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu,

Only Exceptional Cases Warrant CBI Transfer, Says State

Relying on a series of Supreme Court precedents, the affidavit stresses that directing a CBI investigation is an extraordinary measure that can be invoked only when compelling circumstances are demonstrated. The State cites State of West Bengal v CPDR (2010), Vinay Aggarwal v Haryana (2025) and Sahngoo Ram Arya (2002) to underline that routine allegations, vague accusations or political overtones cannot justify handing over a case to the central agency 

It argues that none of the petitioner's claims meet the threshold of material irregularity, bias, or failure of the State machinery that the Court has repeatedly held necessary to direct a CBI probe.

Media statements by police no ground to transfer investigation

The bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi cited the political undertones of the case as well as the public statements made by senior police officers exonerating the administration as grounds to transfer the investigation.

Responding to this, Tamil Nadu says such reasoning cannot be accepted as a legitimate basis for transferring a probe. The affidavit says that officers are bound to inform the public about rescue, relief and casualty information during a major disaster, and such communication cannot be misconstrued as prejudice or partisanship.

The State emphasises that law and order is a State subject, and its right to communicate facts to the public cannot be treated as a ground to oust its investigative authority.

The affidavit repeatedly states that the petitioner's allegations are “wholly unsubstantiated”. It notes that none of the claims demonstrate any procedural lapse or investigative deficiency by the Karur police. Instead, the State says the petitioner has relied on conjectures, media reports and political allegations, none of which establish any failure worth warranting intervention by the CBI.

Tamil Nadu further argues that frequent transfers to the CBI would erode the federal structure and weaken confidence in the State police. Referring to constitutional bench observations that CBI transfers must be “used sparingly and cautiously”, the affidavit warns that expanding the scope of such intervention based on generalised allegations would set a dangerous precedent.

The State stated that the lead petitioner GS Mani is a BJP functionary, has a record of filing politically motivated litigation, and the present petition is another attempt to use the judicial process for political narratives. It urges the Court to dismiss the petition and allow the ongoing police investigation to continue unhindered.

The State has urged the Supreme Court to lift the orders that halted the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission's proceedings and to allow it to resume its statutory work. It has also requested that the police investigation be allowed to continue without external oversight.

Terming the petitioner's plea an attempt to politicise the judicial process, the State has asked the Court to dismiss the Special Leave Petition with costs.

The Supreme Court passed the interim order while considering a batch of petitions, including the one by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Party, who sought an independent investigation into the incident under the monitoring of a retired SC judge. The Madras High Court(Madurai Bench) had earlier declined to transfer the investigation to the CBI.

Case : GS Mani v. State of Tamil Nadu SLP(Crl) 16081/2025