KARUR, Sept. 28 – Police in Tamil Nadu have filed a criminal case against senior leaders of actor Vijay’s political party after a stampede at a rally on Saturday killed 39 people, including children, and injured more than 50 others, officials said on Sunday.
Senior police official V. Selvaraj said the case targets TVK party leaders Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar, and V.P. Mathiyalagan, with the investigation currently underway. “TVK originally sought permission for a gathering of 10,000 people, but the actual crowd was more than double,” he noted.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s top actors for three decades, launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party last year and has drawn massive crowds since. He expressed his heartbreak over the tragedy in Karur district, pledging support to the victims’ families.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced compensation of 1 million rupees ($11,300) per family. The state has also appointed a commission led by a retired judge to investigate the stampede’s cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as “deeply saddening” on X.
Footage from local media showed thousands surrounding a large campaign vehicle where Vijay was speaking. He was seen distributing water bottles to fainting supporters and calling for police assistance as the crowd grew uncontrollable.
Vijay’s TVK has positioned itself against the state’s ruling DMK party and Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of state elections early next year.
