SC Orders CBI Investigation Into Karur Stampede, Retired SC Judge To Monitor Probe

The Supreme Court of India on Monday, October 13, ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the Karur stampede. The top court on October 10 had reserved its order on a plea filed

by Tamil actor Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and others. A bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice NV Anjaria ordered an independent inquiry into the Karur stampede. The Apex Court also appointed former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Ajay Rastogi, as the head of the committee which will monitor the CBI investigation.The court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking an independent investigation into the Karur stampede incident in which 41 people lost their lives.

The TVK has sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police. The TVK's plea has objected to the high court constituting a special investigation team (SIT) only with officers of the Tamil Nadu Police. It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.Earlier, the Madras High Court had, on October 3, ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Inspector General of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the tragic stampede.The Supreme Court had questioned the Madras High Court for constituting a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the Karur stampede. The bench wondered how he high court proceeded with the matter."We are unable to understand how this order was passed? How did the single bench in the Chennai Bench proceed with the matter when the division bench in Madurai was considering the matter? In my experience of over 15 years as a judge, a single bench holds back if the division bench has taken cognisance," Justice Maheshwari observed.Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, appearing for TVK, submitted that the petition before the high court was filed only to frame a standard operating procedure (SOP) for political rallies. The SIT was constituted by the high court on the first day itself, and the court made adverse remarks against the party and Vijay without hearing them, he said.According to the police, the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants. The police said that the seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue was also one of the reasons behind the tragedy.