New Delhi: The Supreme Court has on Monday (October 13) ordered a CBI investigation into the Karur stampede that occurred during a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally on September 27, in which at least 41 people died.

A three-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, will oversee the probe. The committee will include two Indian police officers of the rank of inspector general of police (IGP) or above – who may be of Tamil Nadu cadre but not natives of the state – selected by Justice Rastogi, Bar and Bench reported.

"The Superintendent of Police and SHO of the Karur Town PS as well as the SIT set up pursuant to the order of the learned single judge and the enquiry commission set-up by the chief minister, shall immediately hand over the FIR and other relevant papers, evidence – digital or otherwise collected till now for further investigation to the officers of the CBI," the bench of justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria mentioned in the order.

The bench added that the direction for appointment of Special Investigation Team (SIT) or one-man enquiry commission shall remain suspended as the CBI will take over the investigation. The court's decision comes after TVK, led by Tamil actor Vijay, challenged a Madras high court order for a SIT probe into the incident.

The Supreme Court had previously questioned the high court's seemingly conflicting orders regarding the investigation – Madurai bench declined the plea for a CBI probe and the principal bench directed a probe by a SIT.

Also read: Mothers, Daughters, Babies: Who Were the 40 Who Lost Their Lives in the Karur Stampede?

The CBI will submit monthly reports to the committee, which will devise its own procedure under Justice Rastogi's guidance.

Further, the scope of the committee includes issuing proper directions for the areas in which the investigation is required to be carried out, reviewing the evidence collected by the CBI from time to time and supervising the investigation to ensure that it reaches its logical conclusion and undertaking an inquiry into any matter ancillary/incidental to the Karur stampede which might be "necessary to ensure fair, transparent and independent investigation into the matter as it deems fit".

Previously, the Madras high court criticised the TVK leadership for their conduct after the stampede. Vijay has not been named in any FIR, however, the high court had directed the state to register a criminal case in connection with two hit-and-run incidents allegedly involving Vijay's bus. A case has been filed against the driver of the campaign vehicle.

This piece was updated at 6.12 pm on October 13, 2025 to highlight the scope of the three-member committee. 

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