Velusamypuram, the epicentre of the crowd crush that killed 41 persons during the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam rally addressed by its leader C. Joseph Vijay on September 27, 2025, has seemingly returned to normalcy. A year has passed, and it is business as usual for the residents, traders and commuters in the area. But for the families of the victims and eyewitnesses, the scars left by the tragedy that shook the nation’s conscience are yet to heal.

It was a Saturday evening that Karur will never forget. A massive crowd had gathered on both sides of the highway to hear Mr. Vijay (now Chief Minister) on the Karur-Erode Highway. The crowd, police estimated later, was several times larger than the expected turnout. What began as a show of strength ended in utter chaos, with a stampede claiming 41 precious lives, including women and children, and leaving scores injured. It turned out to be one of the deadliest political rally tragedies in the country.

A year later, the physical traces of the tragedy have faded, but not the trauma. “I try to forget the horrific scenes that unfolded after the police lathi charged a section of the crowd. But it still haunts me,” recalls R. Harish of Vadivel Nagar in Velusamypuram, an eyewitness. “People were gasping for breath, falling over each other. We did our best to pull out as many as possible,” he adds.

Thirty-five-year-old P. Selvarani of K.A. Nagar in Velusamypuram on the outskirts of Karur is still struggling to come to terms with the unbearable loss of her two young daughters – Kokila (8) and Palaniammal (11). She could never imagine that she would have to garland their portraits.

For her and the families of the other deceased and survivors, the wait for justice has been agonising. More than 11 months have passed since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Tamil Nadu government, following the direction of the Supreme Court. The CBI, which re-registered a case and set up a dedicated team, has since questioned TVK organisers, police officers and personnel, who were on bandobust duty, survivors, ambulance drivers, medical practitioners and hundreds of eye witnesses. It has also collected video footage and examined the call detail records. However, the charge sheet has not been filed yet, and no arrest has been made, leaving the families anxious.

“No money will get back to our loved ones. We want to know why it happened and who is responsible. We will be at peace when the perpetrators are punished,” says C. Perumal (53), father of Kokila and Palaniammal.

Endorsing him, B. Anandajothi of Viswanathapuri in Karur, who lost his two daughters, Sai Jeeva (4) and Sai Lakshana (9), says, “We told everything to the investigating officers. Justice delayed is justice denied. But we have not lost hope in the CBI. We eagerly await justice.”

Opinion remains deeply divided on the circumstances and reasons that led to the tragedy. Police attributed it to a combination of factors — poor crowd management, inordinate delay in the arrival of the leader, narrow entry and exit points at Velusamypuram, and a sudden surge of crowds from all sides when Mr. Vijay arrived. The TVK, while suspecting conspiracy, held the then DMK government responsible, maintaining that the police had failed to provide adequate security and denied them permission for a more spacious ground in Karur.

For commoners, many questions remain unanswered. Why was permission given for a highway stretch with limited holding capacity? Why were there no proper barricades and emergency evacuation routes? Could the 41 lives have been saved if ambulances had better access?

The political landscape has since changed dramatically. Mr. Vijay, who led his party to score a stunning victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, visited Karur on July 10 as Chief Minister. He also announced that a memorial would be built.

As Karur gets ready to pay tributes to the stampede victims on their first death anniversary on Sunday (September 26, 2026), the memorial is yet to come up. Only painful memories remain. For the families, the anniversary is not just about remembrance but a renewed plea that justice should not be delayed further.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday (September 27, 2026) paid homage to those who lost their lives in the tragic Karur crowd crush on its first anniversary.

In a post on X, Mr. Vijay recalled the tragic incident at Velusamypuram in Karur on September 27, 2025, in which 41 people were killed in a crowd crush at a political rally addressed by him.

He said the Karur incident had left an indelible scar and enduring pain in his life, in the lives of people in Karur and in the hearts of people across Tamil Nadu.

“Along with our people in Karur, the members of the TVK continue to carry an indescribable sorrow. For those who are grieving the loss of our loved ones, let us be there for one another as a source of comfort, support and strength,” Mr. Vijay said.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday demanded that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay provide government jobs to family heirs of those persons killed in the police firing during the Vanniyar reservation agitation, just as his government had done for the family members of the Karur stampede victims.

In a statement, he said that while the compassion shown by Mr. Vijay was welcome, such relief should not be limited to one group alone, and it should be extended to everyone who had suffered in similar circumstances across different periods. Similar assistance should also be provided to the families of the 25 people — including 21 who were killed in the police firing and others who died due to various forms of repression — during the week-long road blockade agitation that began on September 17, 1987, he asserted.

Dr. Anbumani added: “The families of those who were shot dead during the reservation agitation have every right to receive government employment and other forms of assistance. The government has both the duty and responsibility to provide them.”

Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay has begun reaching out virtually to the families of those who lost their lives in the September 27 stampede during his rally in Karur, which claimed 41 lives.

According to sources, Mr. Vijay started making video calls to the bereaved families on Monday (October 6, 2025), expressing condolences.

Focus Tamil Nadu: Why Vijay can’t shirk responsibility over Karur stampede
| Video Credit:
Thamodharan B.

Vijay spoke to the family of K. Sakthivel of Emoor Pudur, who lost his wife Priyadarshini (35) and daughter Dharanika (14) in the incident, the family told The Hindu. “Vijay said the loss was unbearable and expressed his deep sorrow. He told me he would visit us soon,” Mr. Sakthivel said. “He spoke for about two minutes. Party functionaries later told me I could convey any further needs directly when he visits,” he added.

Supreme Court declines plea to restrain TVK leaders’ remarks on Karur stampede

Disbursal of TVK’s solatium

Mr. Sakthivel also said TVK functionaries informed him that they would soon announce the date on which the relief amount promised by the party would be disbursed.

Vijay also spoke to the family of S. Sudhan of Pudupatti, Senthamangalam East, who lost his 22-year-old wife Brindha. “He told me not to worry and that he would come in person soon,” Mr. Sudhan said, adding that the conversation was brief.

Tamilarasan, a relative of Dhanush Kumar (25) from Sengal village, said the actor spoke to Dhanush’s mother and sister. “Vijay expressed his grief and was silent for a while over the call,” he said.

Some other families also told The Hindu that TVK cadres had approached them saying Mr. Vijay would soon speak to them personally.

Also View: A visual timeline on how Karur stampede unfolded

Party sources said that a core team of TVK functionaries has been facilitating the interactions through video calls, connecting Mr. Vijay. The cadres have requested the families not to record or photograph the calls, sources added.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) said restraining Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders from making public statements linking political rivals with the Karur stampede may amount to an injunction on “free speech.”

The court advised the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to counter such statements with “more speech”, rather than seek a judicial gag.

The remarks by a Bench headed by Justice K.V. Viswanathan came during the hearing of an application filed by DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi, alleging that TVK leaders, including Aadhav Arjuna, were publicly making false accusations of criminal liability and issuing “threats” against political opponents in connection with the Karur stampede. Mr. Bharathi had also sought to be impleaded as a party in the Karur stampede case pending before the Supreme Court.

The tragedy left 41 people dead and 142 injured during a TVK rally on September 27 last year. The apex court had ordered a CBI investigation into the stampede on October 13, 2025. The probe is continuing, and some TVK leaders have been named as accused.

Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Mr. Bharathi, said TVK leaders, including Mr. Arjuna, who is also an accused in the stampede case under CBI investigation, should be restrained from making public statements on the case during the pendency of the investigation.

“That may amount to an injunction on free speech. Mr. Kumar. Which law sanctions it? You also make your speeches, you counter free speech with more speech,” Justice Viswanathan remarked.

The Bench questioned the propriety of entertaining the impleadment plea of a political rival in a case in which it had ordered a CBI investigation and was monitoring its progress. Justice Viswanathan said the court could not be converted into a political forum and that political battles must be fought outside the courtroom.

Further, Mr. Kumar objected to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s proposed visit to Karur on July 10 to meet the families of the stampede victims and hand over compassionate appointments. He said the State government had already announced an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the affected families.

Mr. Kumar said a “narrative is being built by the accused persons. I am not against the compensation, I am against compensation being given directly by the accused to the families, who are also witnesses in the case,” the senior advocate said.

The court said Mr. Vijay was arraigned as an accused neither in the FIRs nor in the DMK’s own application.

“You please check up on your facts,” Justice Viswanathan said.

The judge asked how the Supreme Court was expected to “regulate the itinerary” of the Chief Minister.

“If the Executive Head is travelling to merely distribute what has already been ordered for the victims by the State government, how will the victims be influenced? Does it not really reflect your thoughts on the victims?” Justice Viswanathan asked, expressing doubt whether the application was “well-thought through” in the first place.

Acting on instructions, Mr. Kumar withdrew the application.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party moved the Supreme Court on Friday (July 3, 2026) seeking a judicial direction to bar the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Minister Adhav Arjuna, from making “threatening” public statements or levelling “false accusations” against political opponents in connection with the Karur stampede during the ongoing CBI investigation.

The application filed by DMK Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi, who has sought impleadment in the pending case before the apex court on the Karur stampede, stems from public statements allegedly made by Mr. Arjuna, who is the Cabinet Minister for Public Works and Sports Development, against former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in connection with the stampede that took 41 lives and left 142 injured during a TVK rally on September 27 last year.

Mr. Bharathi said Mr. Arjuna’s statements on July 2 were intended to shift the blame of the stampede onto Mr. Stalin, who was the Chief Minister at the time of the tragedy, in a bid to prejudice the ongoing apex court-ordered Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the incident. The statements, in substance, claimed that the previous DMK government had “killed Karur people” through police action on the gathered crowd at the rally.

The DMK leader said Mr. Arjuna was both Cabinet Minister and an accused in the Karur stampede case. His conduct, as an “accused holding a public office” was impermissible and prejudicial to the fairness of the CBI investigation.

The application has sought a direction to the CBI to register a complaint and proceed against the public statements made by Mr. Arjuna for “influencing, tampering with witnesses and impeding with the investigation”.

Mr. Bharathi further submitted that Chief Minister Vijay was likely to travel to Karur on or about July 10 to meet the families of those who died and injured victims of the stampede and hand over government benefits, including orders of compassionate appointment, to them. The State government has already announced ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh to the affected families, the application filed by advocate Anuradha Arputham said.

The DMK leader clarified that he had no objection to the State government extending ex gratia assistance, compassionate appointments or other welfare measures to the grieving families, but was apprehensive of the fact that the members of these families and those injured were material witnesses in an active investigation.

“In these exceptional circumstances, when the investigation is still pending, any direct interaction with such material witnesses by persons connected with the subject matter of the investigation or by the political executive presently in office, particularly while distributing benefits arising out of the very incident under investigation, has the potential to give rise to an apprehension, whether real or perceived, regarding the fairness and independence of the investigative process,” Mr. Bharathi submitted.

The application submitted that Chief Minister Vijay had, even prior to assuming public office, distributed substantial sums of money to the families of the victims while the criminal proceedings were pending.

“While the State government shall be at liberty to extend ex gratia assistance, compassionate appointments, government orders and other welfare measures to the families of the deceased and injured victims of the Karur stampede, no such benefits shall be conferred during the pendency of the CBI investigation except in accordance with the procedure and safeguards as may be directed by the Supreme Court and after placing the proposed course of action before the CBI,” the application urged.