New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally launched an investigation into the tragic stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which claimed 41 lives during a rally organized by actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party on September 27.
A CBI team arrived in Tamil Nadu this morning and is expected to visit the site of the incident in Karur. As part of the probe, officials will meet with survivors and the families of the victims to record their statements.
The probe was handed over to the federal agency by an order of the Supreme Court, which recently set aside a Madras High Court directive for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. The High Court had previously formed an SIT, which was headed by Officer Asha Garg.
The TVK party, led by Vijay, had challenged the High Court’s SIT order in the top court. In response, a Supreme Court bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria ordered a CBI investigation under the supervision of a three-member committee.
This committee will be headed by former Supreme Court Justice Ajay Rastogi. The panel will also include two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre, who are not natives of the state. Both officers must be of a rank not below that of Inspector General of Police (IGP) and will be appointed by Justice Rastogi.
