Karur Stampede: TVK Party Functionaries Approach Madras High Court Seeking Anticipatory Bail

The functionaries of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party have approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, apprehending arrest by the Tamil Nadu police in connection with the stampede that took place during the party's rally in Karur District on 27th September 2025. The General Secretary of the party N. Anand @ Bussy Anand and party's Joint Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar have approached the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The duo are apprehending arrest for offences under Section 105 [Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder], 110 [attempt to commit culpable homicide], 125(b) [act endangering life or personal safety of others], 223 [disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant] of BNS along with Section 3 [punishment for committing mischief in respect of property] of Tamil Nadu Public Property (prevention of Damage and Loss) Act 1992. The case of the prosecution is that the party had sought permission to conduct a political meeting on 27th September 2025, between 3pm and 10pm, with an anticipated crowd of 10,000 persons. However, around 25,000 persons gathered at the rally. The prosecution has further argued that the president of the party, Vijay, had arrived late to the meeting and conducted a roadshow on the way without permission. Prosecution argued that due to the belated arrival of the leader, the crowd increased, leading to a tragic stampede claiming more than 30 lives. Anand and Kumar have argued that they have been falsely implicated in the case merely because of their political position. It has been submitted that they have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution and are innocent in the case. The party functionaries submitted that the police had failed to provide adequate protection despite prior knowledge of the crowd and did not deploy sufficient force to regulate the public gathering. It was submitted that though an application seeking permission was made on September 19, the authorities had failed to allocate a place till September 26th. It has been further submitted that the party members had actively taken steps to regulate the crowd at the rally and had even orally cautioned women and children to avoid the campaign venue. It has also been alleged that when the crowd increased, some goondas entered the area and utilised the situation to cause injury with weapons and caused stampede. It has been alleged that while Vijay was delivering his speech, an ambulance was permitted to pass through the crowd without a patient, though a parallel road was available for diverting the ambulance. It has been alleged that the passage of the ambulance also triggered the stampede. Thus, it has been submitted that the unfortunate incident was purely due to the unexpected surge of the huge crowd and there was no wilfulness or disobedience on the part of the party or its functionaries. It may be noted that the General Secretary of the Election Campaign Management of the party, Aadhav Arjuna has also filed a petition in the High Court seeking to transfer the investigation to the CBI for a fair probe. In this petition, it has been argued that the acting government had initiated the target action against TVK party with an intention of wreaking vengeance and has conspired by providing less security personnel. It has also been alleged that the government has miserably failed in its duty and has stooped down to the level of creating events at the cost of lives of innocent people to malign the party. Thus, it has been argued that CBI's intervention is necessary for an unbiased investigation.

Karur Stampede: TVK Party Functionaries Approach Madras High Court Seeking Anticipatory Bail

Upasana Sajeev

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