**Karur Stampede Case: Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe, Constitutes Oversight Committee**
*By Snehil Singh | October 13, 2025, 11:34 AM*
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The Supreme Court has directed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the tragic stampede that occurred in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27, 2025. The incident unfolded during a political rally organized by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and resulted in the deaths of at least 41 people, as reported by Bar and Bench.
The TVK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, had challenged a Madras High Court order which called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. Vijay also demanded an independent investigation, addressing the adverse remarks made by the High Court regarding the case.
### Supreme Court Constitutes Committee to Oversee CBI Probe
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria, has set up a three-member committee to monitor and supervise the ongoing CBI investigation. The committee will be headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi. Alongside him, two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers—likely from Tamil Nadu but not locals—will serve on the panel.
In a bid for transparency, the Supreme Court has instructed the CBI to submit monthly progress reports of its investigation directly to this committee.
### Conflicting High Court Orders Raise Concerns
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes amid conflicting orders from different benches of the Madras High Court. While the principal bench ordered an SIT investigation into the case, the Madurai Bench had earlier refused to allow a CBI probe. This discrepancy had raised concerns at the apex court level.
### Background: Madras High Court’s SIT Order and Legal Developments
On October 3, Justice N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court directed a Special Investigation Team probe, expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s investigation into the stampede. The judge highlighted that no criminal case had been filed in connection with two separate hit-and-run incidents involving Vijay’s campaign vehicle.
Subsequently, a case was reportedly registered against the driver of Vijay’s campaign vehicle for these incidents. In response, TVK approached the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation beyond what the state authorities had provided.
### SOP for Rallies Plea Assigned to Division Bench
Alongside the probe order, the Supreme Court has assigned the plea regarding the establishment of a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for roadshows and political rallies to a division bench of the Madras High Court.
Senior advocates Gopal Subramaniam and Aryama Sundaram appeared for TVK, while senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and P Wilson represented the Tamil Nadu government in the matter.
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The developments surrounding the Karur stampede case highlight intensified judicial scrutiny and the demand for a transparent and impartial investigation into the tragedy that shook Tamil Nadu. This ongoing probe and the formulation of SOPs are expected to set precedents for the management of mass political gatherings in the future.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/politics/sc-orders-cbi-investigation-into-karur-stampede-appoints-2-member-panel/story