The Tamil Nadu government has asked the Supreme Court to withdraw its October 13 order handing over the Karur stampede investigation to the CBI, arguing that the local police and the Special Investigation Team set up by the Madras High Court are fully capable of conducting a fair and effective probe.
In a detailed reply filed before the court, the state said there were โno exceptional circumstancesโ warranting intervention by a central agency, especially when the investigation machinery in the state was โcompetent, functional, and already seized of the matterโ.
The Supreme Courtโs interim order had transferred the probe to the CBI under the monitoring of a three-member supervisory committee, while keeping in abeyance the Madras High Court-appointed SIT and a one-person inquiry commission. The state government said this direction had โvirtually allowed the writ petition even before notice on maintainability could be decided.โ
The stampede occurred on September 27 at a rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay in Karur, killing 41 people and injuring more than 60.
Responding to allegations of negligence, Tamil Nadu told the court that the accusations against the Karur district authorities were โwholly baseless and devoid of merit.โ
According to the affidavit:
- A comprehensive bandobust plan was put in place with 606 police personnel and Home Guards.
- Senior officers, including the Inspector General of Police (Central Zone) and the Superintendent of Police, Karur, supervised the arrangements.
- Venue selection, access routes, medical readiness, and traffic control were all prepared in line with National Disaster Management Authority guidelines.
The government said the official records โclearly establish that the district administration and police acted with utmost diligence, foresight, and compliance with all statutory and procedural safeguards.โ
Tamil Nadu also told the Supreme Court that lead petitioner G.S. Mani had a history of filing โpolitically motivated litigationsโ and the current petition was another attempt to generate political narratives through judicial proceedings.
The Supreme Court had ordered a CBI probe after noting that the tragedy had โshaken the national conscienceโ and required a trustworthy and impartial investigation. The direction was issued on a plea by TVK seeking an independent inquiry.
While transferring the probe, the bench had:
- Stayed the High Courtโs instructions appointing an SIT and a one-man inquiry commission.
- Asked the Tamil Nadu government to extend full cooperation to the CBI.
- Criticised Madras High Court judge Justice N. Senthilkumar for entertaining petitions, ordering an SIT probe, and making observations against TVK without hearing the party.
The Supreme Court will now consider Tamil Naduโs plea seeking restoration of the original High Court-supervised SIT investigation in place of the CBI probe.
