Thread by @imranhindu

BREAKING Justice N Senthilkumar of #MadrasHighCourt says it was agonizing for him as a judge to see the death of 41 people in the Karur stampede. Asks what has the police done so far but for arresting just two people. @THChennai Backgrounder👇
thehindu.com/news/national/…

Judge says entire world had witnessed the unfortunate incident and everyone right from the President of India & Prime Minister had condoned the loss of lives. He says, the police action does not appear to be adequate.

"The party leader (C. Joesph Vijay) fled from the scene of occurrence. Vanished," the judge says. Expresses anguish over the police inaction against him.

AAG J Ravindran says, it is easy to blame TN Govt. He points out that TVK had initially planned the campaign in Karur only in December. Suddenly, on September 23 they gave a letter seeking permission on September 27. First, they sought permission at Karur lighthouse roundabout

AAG says, the choice of the place was by TVK. He says, the party gave three choices and among them, this was the best place and so police granted permission.

AAG says, 11 conditions were imposed for the event from 3 pm to 7 pm but TVK tweeted saying the event will take place at 12 noon. Believing this, the crowd started coming from early morning, the law officer says.

AAG says, TVK had misleaded the innocent people by tweeting a wrong time.
Judge: Does this mean, you (police) should not be more cautious and vigilant in assessing the crowd?

AAG: When Mr. Edappadi K Palanisamy campaigned at the same spot on September 26, 2025 only 137 police personnel were deployed but for TVK's event, we had deployed as many as 559 police personnel.

Judge: There are vides of two wheelers having got caught under TVK's bus. The driver had witnessed it & yet did not stop the bus. Is it not a case of hit and run? Why a case was not registered for hit and run? Police have not taken cognisance of it. How can State take it lightly

Judge: It appears the State is showing some leniency to the organisers of the event. Everyone has witnessed the videos. Everything is available on YouTube. It was an uncontrolled mob indulging in all kinds of activities.
AAG: Your lordship need not come to any conclusion.

Judge: Mr. AAG when you say FIR was registered suo motu for the death of 41 people, what prevented you from registering a FIR for a case of hit and run?
AAG: We are doing our duty. Your Lordships may not discourage us.
Judge: I'm not discouraging you

Judge: What kind of party (TVK) is this? Everybody in the party flee from the place. Why the police has not issued any notice to the party? What prevented the party from taking precautionary measures? Did it make arrangements even for providing drinking water to the crowd?

Judge: If police will not fix accountability, then who will fix the accountability?
(The judge suo motu impleads the Karur Town Inspector of Police as a respondent to the case before him.)

Senior Counsel G. Sankaran representing the petitioner: No case has been registered against C. Joseph Vijay
Judge to State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohamed Jinnah: "Mr. PP, everybody is equal before law. I will pass orders."
(Judge begins to dictate orders)

Judge says, a huge man made disaster had led to the loss of 41 innocent lives. The court cannot close its eyes. The court cannot be a mute spectator. The court cannot shirk its responsibilities. The entire world has witnessed the sequences and consequences of the event.

Judge: The party (TVK) leaders have abandoned the scene of occurrence. The court highly condemns such an act of the political party especially when children & women have been died. Says, the party has not expressed even remorse and it shows the mental state of the leader (Vijay)

Orders constitution of a SIT headed by IPS officer Asra Garg to probe into the Karur stampede tragedy. HEARING OVER