In response to the devastating Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives, the Supreme Court has directed the CBI to conduct a thorough investigation. A dedicated three-member committee, headed by Justice Ajay Rastogi and including two non-local IPS officers, will supervise the central agency’s probe. The court’s intervention followed a petition from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which had sought an independent investigation after initial pleas to the Madras High Court were not fully granted. The Supreme Court highlighted that the stampede has significant implications for citizens’ fundamental rights. The CBI will be required to provide regular updates to the monitoring committee. The apex court also raised concerns about the procedural aspects of the High Court’s handling of the matter.
