Chennai, March 11: Tamil Nadu’s former minister and DMK leader Senthil Balaji has expressed his displeasure over conflicting reports in the media regarding the summons issued by the CBI in connection with the Karur stampede.
Senthil Balaji posted on X, stating, “There have been contradictory reports in some media outlets concerning the summons issued by the CBI regarding the Karur tragedy. The CBI has summoned me to appear in person on March 17 to provide clarification. I will attend and give appropriate answers to their questions.”
It is noteworthy that the stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during a rally organized by actor-politician Vijay’s ‘Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’ party in Karur district, resulting in the deaths of 41 people and injuring over 100. The Supreme Court has assigned the investigation of this case to the CBI, which is being overseen by a supervisory committee led by retired judge Ajay Rastogi.
Actor Vijay expressed his sorrow over the incident and provided financial assistance of ₹20 lakh to the families of the deceased, also communicating with some families via video conferencing. Reports suggest that the rally attracted more attendees than anticipated, leading to chaos and the unfortunate incident.
Vijay, a prominent figure in Tamil cinema for over three decades, launched his political party in 2024. He began his career as a child artist and gained recognition through various films, eventually earning the affectionate title ‘Thalapathi’ from his fans.