Supreme court refuses DMK plea to restrain CM Vijay, TVK leaders from commenting on Karur Stampede case
The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea filed by the DMK seeking directions to restrain Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and other leaders of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) from making public statements or meeting victims' families in connection with the Karur stampede case.
A Bench of Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe questioned the legal basis of the application, observing that the court could not regulate what a sitting Chief Minister says or whom he meets. The judges also noted that Vijay was not named as an accused in the FIR related to the stampede.
The application, filed by DMK leader R.S. Bharati in a pending matter, alleged that certain TVK ministers and leaders were attempting to influence witnesses in the ongoing CBI probe into the Karur stampede. It also sought to prevent the Chief Minister and other TVK leaders from making public remarks on the case or interacting with victims' families while the investigation is underway.
During the hearing, the Bench asked, "Do you want the Supreme Court to regulate the Chief Minister's meeting?" and observed that courts cannot be converted into political forums. Faced with the court's observations, the petitioner chose to withdraw the application, following which it was dismissed as withdrawn.
The plea had expressed concerns that the Chief Minister's proposed visit to Karur to meet victims' families and announce relief measures could influence witnesses in the case. However, the Supreme Court declined to intervene, making it clear that such matters did not warrant judicial restraint in the absence of any legal basis.
The Karur stampede case is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with the probe focusing on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the role of those named in the case.
