Shafaqna India: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into a stampede at Velusamypuram in Karur district of Tamil Nadu which claimed 41 lives during a rally of actor and TVK leader Vijay on September 27.
A Bench led by Justice JK Maheshwar ordered that the probe will be conducted under the monitoring of Justice Ajay Rastogi, a former judge of the top court.
The top court ordered the CBI to submit monthly status reports to Justice Rastogi.
The apex court on October 10 had reserved its order on a plea filed by Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and others.
On Tuesday, the CJI-headed Bench agreed to hear BJP leader Uma Anandan’s plea challenging the high court order refusing a CBI probe into the September 27 stampede.
BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, G S Mani, has also filed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the stampede.
The TVK has sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.
The TVK’s plea has objected to the high court constituting a special investigation team (SIT) only with officers of the Tamil Nadu Police. It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.
The plea also took exception to the scathing remarks of the high court against the party and the actor-politician that they abandoned the place after the incident and did not express any remorse.
Earlier, the police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.
