SC to hear DMK plea tomorrow over TN CM Vijay’s Karur visit
Ahead of Vijay’s July 10 visit, DMK prays court to restrain him and other ministers from making public statements on stampede in which 41 people died at a TVK rally last year
The DMK has approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent intervention to restrain Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, ministers Aadhav Arjuna, CTR Nirmal Kumar, and others associated with the case from making public statements on the Karur stampede while a CBI inquiry is underway. At least 41 people were killed in the stampede at a TVK gathering in Karur on September 27 last year.
Petition hearing tomorrow
The apex court has allowed urgent listing of the plea, which alleges attempts to influence witnesses by those now in power. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi argued before the court that pending the CBI probe, there is a concerted effort to influence witnesses by the accused who have become ministers in the present regime. The DMK’s petition is scheduled for hearing tomorrow.
Also read: DMK moves SC to bar CM Vijay, ministers from commenting on Karur stampede
The Karur stampede of September 2025 continues to dominate headlines months after the tragedy. With the change in government, the issue has transformed into a confrontation between the DMK and the ruling TVK. Police sources indicate that the ruling dispensation is actively pursuing the arrest of DMK’s Karur leader V Senthil Balaji in the alleged TVK MLA poaching case, with Vijay reportedly stating that he would visit Karur only after the former’s arrest.
Senthil Balaji, brother summoned
In a related development, Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar were summoned to appear before the Triplicane police in Chennai on Monday (July 6) for questioning in a case involving the alleged conspiracy to topple the TVK government. The duo failed to appear earlier despite police efforts to trace them, prompting authorities to issue lookout notices at airports to prevent them from leaving the country.
DMK alleges political vendetta
Vijay is scheduled to visit Karur on July 10, with a high chance of meeting families of the stampede victims. TVK leaders including Mathiyalagan and MR Vijayabhaskar have already inspected the meeting venue.
Also read: Karur stampede: CBI grills Senthil Balaji for 6 hours amid DMK-Vijay war
DMK leaders, meanwhile, allege that Senthil Balaji is being specifically targeted as part of a political vendetta. DMK’s organising secretary RS Bharati has strongly criticised the TVK government for allegedly trying to arrest Senthil Balaji.
Bharati described the move as a clear case of political vendetta and harassment, claiming that the government is targeting Senthil Balaji with ulterior political motives rather than pursuing genuine justice in connection with the Karur stampede or other cases.
