A formal notice on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, instructed Vijay to make his way to the agency headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, January 12. This comes after months of heavy scrutiny on the stampede, which “shook the national conscience,” according to the Supreme Court of India.
The Karur Tragedy:
Why It Happened and Its Aftermath
The attack occurred at Veluswamypuram in Karur on September 27, 2025 at the time of a colossal political gathering given by TVK. Thousands came at the start of the actor-turned-politician campaign he launched. The event, which reportedly had a crowd of over 27,000 to 50,000 (well over the allowed audience), descended into chaos as the crowd swelled toward the stage.
The tragic circumstances include:
Crowd Surge: Huge portions of the crowd converged toward Vijay’s convoy and stage barricades.
Arrival Delay: Local police reported that Vijay's arrival to the venue was almost seven hours late, according to reports, which aggravated crowding and restlessness.
Logistical failures: Survivors also cited lapses in crowd controls, lack of security staff and lack of emergency responses as failures in response: poor management and insufficient security personnel.
The CBI’s Investigative Path: It has been ruled by the Supreme Court the inquiry was to be transferred to the CBI in October 2025. And the case highlighted the demand for an "independent and impartial" inquiry, observing that assertions by police forces on behalf of their crimes had damaged public confidence.
For the duration of these investigations, the state had a dual role: the investigative function of pursuing crime, the court said. The apex court also tasked a three-member monitoring committee led by Justice Ajay Rastogi, a retired Supreme Court judge, to help ensure transparency.
Recent Developments
Questioning TVK senior leadership: before making Vijay a court- summoned CBI has interrogated a number of high-profile TVK officers, namely State General Secretary Bussy Anand, Joint Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, and Karur district secretary Mathiyazhagan.
Submission of Evidence: TVK turned in video and digital evidence as evidence to CBI last week claiming that the tragedy had escalated due to deficiencies made by the state government and local police.
Next Steps:
The agency is expected to have to determine whether to file a formal charge sheet after Vijay questioned it on 12 Jan. Political Implications. The summoning arrives at a crucial moment as Vijay’s party, the TVK, gears up for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Vijay has been offering condolences and compensation (₹20 lakh to families of the deceased), but the incident has turned political rivals toward investigating his party's organizational prowess. Advocates of the “Thalapathy” have rallied closely behind him, seeing the investigation as a step toward justice for the victims while wanting the leader who led the operation to be personally exonerated.
