Chennai, Jan 12 (NationPress) The leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay, faced the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday, where he vehemently denied any involvement in the tragic stampede that occurred during a political rally in Tamil Nadu last year, as per sources close to the investigation.

The tragic incident unfolded on September 27, 2025, in Karur during a significant public gathering led by Vijay, which resulted in the loss of 41 lives.

This incident is viewed as one of the most catastrophic crowd-related events in the recent political landscape of the state, prompting investigations due to accusations of inadequate planning and poor crowd control measures.

According to sources, Vijay was interrogated for nearly six hours, during which he reiterated that neither he nor his party held responsibility for the calamity.

He informed investigators that he left the venue after evaluating the situation to avert further casualties. Insiders from the party stated that Vijay insisted the organizers did not incite the chaos that culminated in the stampede.

This stance has been echoed by other TVK officials summoned by the agency as part of the ongoing inquiry.

CBI officials have indicated that Vijay’s questioning is not yet concluded, and he will be called in again. They plan to cross-reference his statements with police reports, eyewitness accounts, and other documentary evidence gathered during the investigation.

However, sources revealed that Vijay requested a temporary pause in questioning, citing the upcoming Pongal festival, indicating he will not be summoned immediately, with further questioning likely to occur post-festival.

In the wake of the incident, Tamil Nadu Police alleged that a significant delay in Vijay's arrival at the venue contributed to the crowd's uncontrollable surge, leading to panic and chaos.

The police also highlighted deficiencies in arrangements including food, drinking water, and restroom facilities, asserting these factors played a role in escalating unrest among the massive crowd.

Vijay has firmly rejected these claims, labeling them as politically motivated, suggesting that the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was attempting to shift blame. He has instead criticized the police for inadequate crowd management, alleging that traffic bottlenecks on access roads were not resolved timely despite prior warnings.

The CBI investigation continues, with officials delving into a comprehensive reconstruction of the events leading up to this tragedy.