The Supreme Court on Monday directed a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the September 27 Karur stampede case, as it remarked that the citizens had the right to a fair and impartial probe into the case.
In its order, pronounced by Justices JK Maheshwari and NV Anjaria, the court also set up a three-member panel headed by former Supreme Court Justice Ajay Rastogi.
Further, the court asked Justice Rastogi to pick two Indian Police Officers who would monitor the CBI probe into the case.
The order by the top court came days after it heard the petitions filed by Tamil actor Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, and others, seeking an independent probe into the Karur stampede case, as the party challenged the Madras High Court direction for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
“Looking at the facts, the issue has a bearing on the fundamental rights of the citizens. The directions are to hand over the investigation to the CBI," the court remarked.
“There can’t be a doubt that a fair and impartial investigation is the right of the citizens," it said.
“In order to allay the concern of parties, we propose to set up a three-member committee. We have requested Justice Ajay Rastogi to head the committee," the court said.
It added that two officers of the IPS, who may be of the Tamil Nadu cadre but not natives of the state, will be part of the panel.
The court further directed that the committee shall devise its own procedure as per the directions of the retired judge. The CBI has been ordered to submit a monthly report of the investigation before the panel, it said.
KARUR STAMPEDE CASE: THE PLEAS
On October 3, Justice N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court had passed an order directing an SIT probe into the matter, after expressing that the state’s investigation into the case had not been up to mark.
Vijay was not named in any of the FIRs registered after the stampede.
However, following the High Court’s October 3 order, a criminal case had reportedly been filed against the driver of Vijay’s campaign vehicle in connection with the two hit-and-run incidents flagged by the High Court.
The Madras High Court’s order was passed on a petition that sought a standard operating protocol (SOP) for road shows and rallies.
As Vijay’s party challenged the Madras High Court order, it sought an investigation monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge, contending that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.
It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.
The plea also took exception to the scathing remarks of the High Court against the party and the actor-politician, that they had abandoned the place after the incident and did not express any remorse.
Meanwhile, BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, GS Mani, sought a CBI investigation into the Karur stampede case.
On Friday, the Supreme Court had reserved its order on the plea filed by TVK and others, after it had heard submissions from senior counsels appearing for the party, victims, Tamil Nadu government and others.
Earlier, the police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.
