The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition submitted by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party that sought to limit Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and other leaders of the Tamil Nadu Vanniar Katchi (TVK) from making comments or interacting with the families of victims of the September 2025 Karur stampede. The petition was dismissed on Tuesday, with the court asserting that its primary role should not be turned into a political arena.

Basis of the Court’s Decision

The bench, led by Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe, questioned the rationale behind the DMK’s application, noting that the Supreme Court has already ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident. The bench highlighted the inconsistency of allowing a plea from a political competitor in a situation where the court has mandated an investigation. They remarked, “How does the Supreme Court, which has itself directed a CBI probe in the matter, accept the plea of a political rival?”

The DMK’s request included concerns over remarks allegedly made by TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna, suggesting that these comments could potentially sway witnesses and hamper the ongoing CBI investigation into the Karur stampede, which resulted in the tragic loss of 41 lives during a party function. The DMK also urged the court to prevent Chief Minister Vijay from meeting with the victims’ families during his planned visit on July 10, 2026, where he was set to distribute government assistance.

During the proceedings, the bench challenged the DMK’s concern, questioning how an executive distributing previously promised benefits could influence victims’ families. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the DMK, insisted that the issue was not only about the executive but also about the fact that “he is also the accused.” In response, counsel for the Chief Minister clarified that he had not been named as an accused in any of the first information reports (FIRs) related to the incident.

Court’s Stance on the DMK’s Application

As the discussions progressed, the bench reiterated the distinction between the accused ministers and the Chief Minister himself, who was not implicated in the FIRs. The court stated, “Please check, the ministers are the accused, not the Chief Minister.” Moreover, the bench expressed strong disapproval of the application, advising the DMK against pursuing it. They warned, “We would advise you not to press this application here; we will dismiss it. There are repercussions of this which you have not been talked through.”

After the court’s comments, the DMK requested to withdraw their applications in order to seek alternative legal routes. The Supreme Court accepted this request and formally dismissed the petitions as withdrawn. This concludes the legal proceedings regarding the DMK’s plea, as the court maintained its focus on the ongoing CBI investigation into the tragic incident in Karur.

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