Actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay is en route to Delhi to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday regarding the fatal stampede at his rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur in September 2025. The tragedy claimed 41 lives and injured over 60 people amid chaos from a larger-than-expected crowd. The probe focuses on the circumstances leading to the incident during his political event.
On January 12, 2026, TVK chief Vijay, the actor-politician leading the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, boarded a flight from Chennai to Delhi for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This appearance stems from the September 27, 2025, stampede in Karur, Tamil Nadu, where 41 people died and more than 60 were injured during a rally for his party. The event, scheduled for 3 pm, saw Vijay arrive late at 7:30 pm, contributing to the buildup of a massive crowd.
Tamil Nadu police reported that organizers had anticipated about 10,000 attendees and requested a ground accordingly, but nearly 27,000 people gathered, swelling from 11 am onward. The delay, combined with insufficient food and water provisions, led to chaos. DGP in-charge G Venkatraman noted, “Earlier rallies of TVK had smaller crowds, but this time the turnout was far higher than expected.” Many victims were women and children who had traveled from across the state.
The Madras High Court described the incident as a “huge man-made disaster.” The CBI, which took over the probe, summoned Vijay on January 6, 2026, after questioning TVK office bearers. The party has requested security arrangements from Delhi Police for his visit. This development occurs ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, where Vijay's TVK aims to contest, adding scrutiny to his political rise.