The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday an interlocutory application filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) seeking directions to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, State Minister Aadhav Arjuna and other accused persons from making public statements or engaging in conduct that could allegedly prejudice the ongoing Court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Karur stampede case.
The application was mentioned before the partial working day Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Sheel Nagu on Monday by Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for DMK Organising Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharati.
Stressing the urgency of the matter, Ahmadi informed the Bench that Chief Minister Vijay was scheduled to visit Karur on July 10 to meet the families of the victims and distribute government benefits, raising concerns that material witnesses in the case could be influenced while the criminal investigation remains pending.
Ahmadi submitted that although the Supreme Court had earlier ordered a CBI investigation and constituted a monitoring committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to supervise the probe, there was now an active attempt to influence witnesses.
He contended that some of the accused in the case had since assumed ministerial office in the present government and relied upon material placed on record to substantiate the apprehension. He informed the Court that the application had been filed on Friday in view of the proposed interaction with the victims’ families on July 10.
At the outset, Justice Amanullah observed that it was necessary to consider what effective directions could be passed in such circumstances. However, after hearing the submissions, the Bench agreed to list the application for hearing on July 7.
The application has been filed in the pending proceedings arising out of the Karur stampede, which happened on September 27, 2025, during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) political rally, leading to the death of 41 people and leaving more than 140 injured. While directing a CBI probe into the incident in October 2025, the Apex Court had observed that the tragedy had shaken the national conscience and warranted an independent investigation.
The Court had also suspended the state government’s decision to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a one-member Commission of Inquiry after expressing concern that political overtones surrounding the incident had eroded public confidence in the State investigation.
According to the present application, Chief Minister Vijay is expected to visit Karur around July 10 to distribute government orders, compassionate appointments, ex gratia assistance and other welfare benefits to the families of those who died or were injured in the stampede.
Bharati clarified that the applicant has no objection to the state extending compensation, compassionate appointments, or other welfare measures. However, the plea contends that the victims’ family members and injured persons are also material witnesses in the ongoing Court-monitored CBI investigation.
It argued that any direct interaction between such witnesses and persons connected with the subject matter of the investigation, particularly members of the political executive presently in office, has the potential to create a reasonable apprehension regarding the fairness, independence and credibility of the criminal investigation.
The application further pointed out that even before assuming public office, Vijay had distributed financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of deceased victims and Rs 2 lakh each to injured persons in October 2025, when the criminal proceedings were still pending.
Bharati contended that the proposed distribution of further government benefits after assuming office, viewed together with public statements allegedly made by an accused Minister, necessitated judicial safeguards to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation and prevent any real or perceived influence on material witnesses.
Another grievance raised in the application concerned a public statement allegedly made by Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna on July 2, 2026. According to the plea, Arjuna, who was also an accused in the case, publicly stated that there was a score to settle over the Karur incident and alleged that the previous DMK government was responsible for the deaths through police action.
Bharati contended that such remarks were could shape public perception regarding criminal liability, prejudice the Court-monitored investigation and influence material witnesses while the CBI probe was still underway.
The application submitted that an accused holding public office could not be permitted to create a public narrative concerning the merits of a pending criminal investigation. It further alleged that the Minister’s remarks amounted to an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice by influencing witnesses and undermining the fairness of the ongoing investigation. Bharati has also indicated that a separate contempt petition was proposed to be initiated in relation to the Minister’s public statements.
Among the reliefs sought, the applicant prayed for directions restraining Chief Minister Vijay, Aadhav Arjuna, Bussy Anand, CTR Nirmal Kumar and other accused from making public statements attributing criminal liability, commenting on the merits of the pending investigation, or attempting to influence material witnesses during the pendency of the Court-monitored CBI probe.
The application further sought directions that ex gratia payments, compassionate appointments, and other government benefits to the victims’ families be extended only in accordance with safeguards approved by the Supreme Court and after placing the proposed course of action before the CBI so that the evidence of material witnesses remained unaffected.
Bharati also sought a direction to the CBI to examine and initiate appropriate proceedings in respect of the July 2 statement allegedly made by Aadhav Arjuna on the ground that it constituted an attempt to influence witnesses, interfere with the ongoing criminal investigation and impede the Court-monitored probe.
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