Justice Ajay Rastogi to oversee CBI investigation into Karur tragedy
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives during a rally organised by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on September 27.
A Bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria also appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi to oversee the investigation. The monitoring committee, chaired by Justice Rastogi, will include two Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the Tamil Nadu cadre who are not natives of the State. The CBI has been directed to submit monthly status reports to the committee on the progress of the investigation.
Emphasising the need for an independent and fair inquiry, the Bench observed, “An impartial probe is the right of every citizen.” It added that the transfer of the investigation to the CBI and the formation of the monitoring committee were necessary “to allay the concerns of the parties.”
The Supreme Court also pulled up the Madras High Court’s Principal Bench in Chennai, observing that it had “travelled beyond the relief sought” by constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The original petition before the High Court had only sought the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the conduct of political rallies.
With the latest directive, the apex court has effectively placed the probe under the CBI’s supervision, ensuring judicial oversight to maintain transparency and accountability.
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