Madras High Court Upholds State Probe, Dismisses CBI Plea in Tragic Karur Stampede

In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has firmly dismissed a petition calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the tragic Karur stampede that claimed four lives during a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) election campaign event in March 2021. The court, led by Justices M.S.

Ramesh and S.M. Subramaniam, concluded that the state police had already conducted a thorough investigation, rendering a CBI intervention unnecessary.

The devastating incident occurred during an event where then-DMK chief M.K. Stalin was scheduled to distribute assistance to women. The gathering, reportedly overcrowded and poorly managed, led to a stampede that resulted in the deaths of four women and injuries to several others.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through the state, raising serious questions about crowd control and event safety protocols, especially during political campaigns.

The petition seeking a CBI inquiry was filed by K.M. Sivalingam, president of the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (TVK). Sivalingam contended that the state police investigation was inadequate and biased, and that a central agency was required to unearth the full truth and ensure justice for the victims' families.

However, the High Court carefully reviewed the status report submitted by the state Crime Branch-CID (CBCID), which provided a detailed account of their investigation.

The report revealed that the CBCID had meticulously probed the incident, gathering evidence and examining witnesses. Their findings led to the filing of a chargesheet against ten individuals, including several DMK functionaries and police personnel, for their alleged negligence that resulted in the deaths.

Charges were filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 304A (causing death by negligence) and Section 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others).

The court noted that the state government had also taken swift action to provide ex-gratia compensation to the families of the deceased, further demonstrating the state's commitment to addressing the aftermath of the tragedy.

Given the comprehensive nature of the CBCID investigation, the filing of a chargesheet, and the provision of compensation, the bench found no compelling reason to transfer the case to the CBI.

“The status report indicates that the investigation has been completed and chargesheets have been filed against ten persons for various offences, including Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code,” the court observed.

“In such view of the matter, we do not find any valid ground for entertaining this Public Interest Litigation at this juncture seeking transfer of the investigation to the CBI.”

This ruling brings a measure of finality to the legal challenges surrounding the Karur stampede, affirming the state police's investigative capabilities while highlighting the persistent need for stringent safety measures at large public gatherings.