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Actor-turned-politician Vijay appeared before the CBI in New Delhi for the third time in connection with the Karur stampede case that left dozens dead during a political rally last year.
TVK chief Vijay appeared before the CBI in New Delhi for the third time
New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician Vijay appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Sunday for the third round of questioning in connection with the Karur stampede incident.
Officials said the questioning took place at the agency’s headquarters and forms part of the ongoing investigation into the tragedy that occurred during a political rally organised by Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). According to investigators, the actor had earlier appeared before the CBI twice in January as part of the probe.
TVK Chief Vijay arrives in Delhi for CBI questioning in Karur stampede case; Full story here
The case relates to a stampede that took place on September 27 last year in Karur in Tamil Nadu during a political gathering organised by the party.
At least 41 people lost their lives in the incident, which triggered widespread outrage and raised questions about crowd management and event planning at large political rallies. Following the tragedy, the investigation was later transferred to the CBI after directions from the Supreme Court of India.
The agency had initially summoned Vijay on March 9, but the actor reportedly requested additional time and sought a deferment of around two weeks.
The CBI subsequently fixed March 15 as the new date for his appearance. Officials said the questioning aims to gather more details about the planning and organisation of the rally where the incident occurred.
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The questioning has also drawn attention because it comes amid political speculation in Tamil Nadu ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Reports suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have been attempting to bring Vijay’s party into the National Democratic Alliance.
However, Vijay has not indicated any willingness to join the alliance so far. Political observers believe the emergence of his party could influence vote patterns in the state, particularly among anti-incumbency voters. The CBI investigation into the Karur stampede continues as authorities seek to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly crowd surge.
