Karur Stampede: TVK Leaders Remanded To Judicial Custody Till October 14

Karur Stampede

A local court in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday sent 2 Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionaries to judicial custody till October 14 in connection with the stampede at party president and actor Vijay’s rally on September 27, which has claimed 41 lives so far.

The Karur City Police produced Mathiyazhagan, TVK’s Karur West District Secretary, and MC Paun Raj, the party’s Karur town functionary, before the court after their medical examination.

Police said both were arrested for arranging flagpoles and flex banners for Vijay’s campaign rally. Mathiyazhagan was taken into custody on Monday, while Paun Raj was arrested today.

TVK’s Defence In Court

TVK’s lawyer, advocate Manikandan, said the party had sought and obtained permission for the rally in accordance with the law.

“An FIR has been filed against three people – Karur District Secretary and another two people. On behalf of TVK, we have contested that the permission was asked according to the law and the meeting was conducted according to the law. Everything happened to the law. But the Police failed to give sufficient force to the assembly. We had given our letter for 10,000 people,” he said.

Manikandan further argued that police had earlier advised the party to cancel one meeting, and could have similarly warned them if the Karur rally was expected to draw an uncontrollable crowd.

The court, he added, noted that action would proceed “according to law” and granted liberty to file bail applications. The judge has ordered 14 days of judicial custody.

YouTuber Also Arrested

Meanwhile, Chennai Police confirmed that YouTuber Felix Gerald has also been arrested for allegedly spreading disinformation on his channel in connection with the Karur stampede.

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh said the government has constituted a judicial inquiry commission led by a retired judge to probe the incident.

“An inquiry commission headed by a retired judge has been formed. If lapses are found, strict action will be taken against those responsible,” he told reporters.

The stampede occurred during Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur on September 27 when the massive crowd turned chaotic, triggering panic and leading to multiple deaths. The toll has since risen to 41, including women and children, making it one of the worst political rally tragedies in the state in recent years.