Karur Stampede : Two Petitioners Have Denied Filing Petitions Seeking CBI Probe, TN Govt Tells Supreme Court

In the Karur stampede matter, the State of Tamil Nadu told the Supreme Court that the petitioners in two petitions, which sought an investigation by the Central Bureau into the tragedy, have denied filing the petitions. The State's lawyers told the Court that they have written to the Supreme Court Registry denying knowledge about the filing of the petitions.

Along with the petition filed by actor Vijay's political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), there were few other petitions filed before the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation into the stampede, which occured during TVK's political rally on September 27, claiming 41 lives.

Two petitions, filed by Paneerselvam Pitchaimuthu and Selvaraj P, respectively, sought CBI investigation. Today, after the bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari passed an interim order to transfer the investigation to the CBI from the SIT of TN Police Officers formed by the Madras High Court, the State's lawyers told the bench that the petitioners have denied filing the petitions.

A lawyer said that the petitioner in item 1504 (P Selvaraj v Union of India) has sent a letter to the Registry, saying he has not filed the petition. The lawyer added in item 1502 (Paneerselvam Pithaimuthu), the mother of the deceased child has stated that she was raising the child and not the petitioner.

Senior Advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, for the State of Tamil Nadu, submitted, "Two of the petitioners say that they did not file the petitions. The petitions on which your lordships were persuaded to pass the order were not even filed by the two persons."

Senior Advocate P Wilson, also for the State, said that it was a "serious issue" and urged the Court to look into the matter. While agreeing to consider the matter, Justice Maheshwari said that this issue might not be of much consequence, since there were other petitions seeking CBI investigation. Altogether there were five petitions filed before the Court, including the one by TVK.

"We will look into, but there are other SLPs, CBI prayer was there. So it (issue of petitons filed without petitioners' knowledge) may not affect.... if that is the issue situation, we will take cognizance," Justice Maheshwari said.

Justice Maheshwari also clarified that the order for CBI investigation was only an interim order based on prima facie observations and will be subject to the final consideration of the matter.