Karur Collector M. Thangavel returns to his post after appearing before CBI officials in Karur. | Photo credit: M. Moorthy
Karur Collector M. Thangavel again appeared before CBI officers on Thursday in connection with the stampede that claimed 41 lives at a rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay on September 27.
It was his second appearance before the central agency in three days. Pursuant to the summons, Mr. Thangavel met the police on Tuesday. He was questioned for more than two hours and answered a barrage of questions prepared by the agency.
Informed sources told The Hindu that the Collector’s statement was recorded during the investigation by the CBI officials at the Circuit House. He was questioned on many aspects of the permission granted to the TVK rally, the circumstances that led to the stampede, the preparedness and management of the district administration’s response during the pre- and post-stampede period, the adequacy of crowd control, the safety and security protocol scheme and more.
Collector’s Personal Assistant (General) Ureka accompanied Mr. Thangavel to assist him during the investigation. After completing the investigation with him, several doctors attached to government hospitals in neighboring districts who were forced to perform post-mortem on the bodies at the Karur Government Medical College and Hospital appeared before the CBI officials for questioning.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appointed Justice Ajay Rastogi’s committee to monitor the investigation into the CBI stampede case, which concluded its three-day visit to Karur on Thursday.
Justice Rastogi, assisted by other Directors General of the Police Summit, Sharan and Sonal V. Mishra, examined various locations in Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode Highway, the scene of the stampede, charting the sequence of events that led to the stampede, besides reviewing the progress of the case with the CBI officers.
Published – 04 Dec 2025 20:47 IST
