Actor-turned-politician Joseph "Thalapathy" Vijay is facing a seven-hour question from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a landmark Monday, January 12, 2026 in the film and political fields of Tamil Nadu. The questioning that took place at CBI headquarters, in New Delhi over the tragic Karur stampede, that was carried out on September 27, 2025, saw 41 people dead and more than 60 with wounds in his party's led campaign, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Key Questions During The 7-Hour Interrogation
Vijay landed at the heavily barricaded CBI office approximately 11:30 AM, and exited circa 6:30 PM. According to sources, investigators placed a comprehensive list of 35 key questions into the TVK chief’s hands, including:
The 7-Hour Delay
Officials asked why Vijay made it to the venue seven hours later than the scheduled start at 12 PM, wondering if the delay was in fact a strategy to allow the crowd to swell for "political strength."
- Crowd Awareness: The agency inquired if he was aware of the mass fainting and dehydration in the crowd as Vijay sat atop his campaign vehicle.
- Decision to Leave: The actor left the scene soon after his speech as the situation deteriorated. The authorities wanted an explanation for his vacating instead of staying to support relief operations.
- Security Planning: Questions now follow about the staggering gap between a permitted attendance of 10,000 and an actual attendance estimated at almost 50,000.
Vijay’s Defence: ‘Police Mismanagement’
Vijay had allegedly denied that he played any role in blaming this incident on his party during the interrogation. He claimed that the tragedy he perceived to be the result of bad crowd management by the Tamil Nadu police, according to sources close to the TVK leader. He said poor police enforcement and refusal to clear road bottlenecks meant supporters didn’t move safely, and the crushing near generator sheds and stage barricades became fatal.
The latter party chairman also had maintained that he stopped his speech and left the grounds, leaving the hall altogether to avoid more turmoil for fear of making the restless crowd more restless. He has called the charges a political "conspiracy,” and accused the accusations of being against his party to keep the momentum for the 2026 Assembly elections out of the way.
What Happens Next?
The inquiry was handed over to the CBI, after the Supreme Court ordered the state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an impartial inquiry. Vijay was to return on Tuesday for a second round of questioning. But on Tuesday, he wanted the exemption to return to Chennai for Pongal celebrations. The agency agreed to issue the request, but is set to summon him once more shortly after the time of festival. The CBI is also corroborating his statements with those of Karur district officials and former police high command officers who played a role at the rally site.
