The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Madras High Court will seize the caravan used by actor and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay during his September 27 political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which claimed 41 lives and injured around 60. All CCTV footage from inside and around the caravan, as well as from the site of the accident, will also be collected as part of the investigation.
The SIT will be headed by Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police, North Zone, and will include IPS officers Vimala, Superintendent of Police, Namakkal, and Shyamaladevi, Superintendent of Police, CSCID. The move followed the High Court’s criticism of TVK organisers, party leaders, and police authorities for lapses that contributed to the tragedy. The court has even denied anticipatory bail petitions of two senior party functionaries.
The court’s directions aim to establish accountability in a case that claimed the lives of children and other rallygoers. A local TVK leader, already arrested, along with other functionaries, has been booked under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others), and 223 (disobedience to order) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
Meanwhile, a political face-off over the tragedy has intensified. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the BJP and the Centre of showing “no genuine concern” for the victims and attempting to ‘politically capitalise’ on the incident ahead of next year’s Assembly polls.
