The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay for a second round of questioning in connection with the deadly Karur stampede case. According to officials familiar with the matter, Vijay has been asked to appear before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi on January 19.

This follows his first appearance before the agency earlier this week, marking a significant step in the probe into one of the deadliest political rally-related incidents in recent years in Tamil Nadu.

Vijay, known by his mononym and whose full name is Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, was questioned by the CBI for nearly seven hours on Monday. He arrived at the agency’s headquarters in the national capital at around 11:30 am and left at approximately 6:15 pm. Officials said the questioning was extensive and focused on multiple aspects of the rally that preceded the stampede.

At the end of his first round of questioning, Vijay reportedly requested the agency not to summon him again during the ongoing week due to the Pongal festival, one of Tamil Nadu’s most important cultural and religious celebrations. The CBI, officials said, agreed to this request and scheduled the next round of questioning for January 19.

The Karur stampede occurred on September 27, 2025, during a political rally organised by the TVK in Karur district of Tamil Nadu. The event, which was intended to showcase the growing political footprint of Vijay’s newly launched party, drew an unexpectedly massive crowd to the designated venue. As thousands of supporters gathered, the situation spiralled out of control, leading to chaos and a deadly stampede.

At least 41 people were killed in the incident, while dozens of others sustained injuries of varying severity. The tragedy triggered widespread outrage across the state and beyond, with questions being raised about crowd management, permissions, and accountability. Families of the victims and opposition parties demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the loss of so many lives.

During the first round of questioning on January 12, CBI investigators questioned Vijay on several critical issues related to the organisation of the rally. According to sources, these included the permissions obtained for the event, the arrangements made for crowd control, the deployment of security personnel, and the overall preparedness of the organisers to handle a large turnout.

Investigators also questioned Vijay about the timing of his arrival at the rally venue. Sources said he reached the location several hours later than scheduled, a delay that allegedly contributed to unrest and confusion among the crowd that had been waiting for him. The agency is examining whether this delay played any role in triggering the chaos that eventually led to the stampede.

The CBI took over the investigation from a special investigation team (SIT) of the Tamil Nadu police on October 26, 2025. The transfer of the probe followed a Supreme Court order on a petition filed by the TVK itself, which had sought an independent investigation into the incident. The party had argued that a central agency probe was necessary to ensure transparency and impartiality.

In its order, the Supreme Court not only handed the investigation to the CBI but also constituted a three-member supervisory committee to oversee the probe. The committee is headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi and is tasked with monitoring the progress of the investigation and ensuring that it is conducted fairly and efficiently.

However, the decision to involve the CBI has not been without controversy. In December, the Tamil Nadu government filed an affidavit in the apex court seeking a recall of its order transferring the probe to the central agency. The state government argued that the investigation should continue under the SIT constituted by the Madras High Court, maintaining that the state police were fully capable of conducting a thorough and unbiased probe.

This legal back-and-forth has added a political dimension to an already sensitive case. While the ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu has maintained that law and order is a state subject and that central intervention was unnecessary, opposition parties and victims’ families have largely welcomed the CBI’s involvement, viewing it as a step toward greater accountability.

For Vijay, the case represents a major test of his political credibility. After years as one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, he entered active politics with the launch of the TVK, positioning himself as a fresh alternative in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. The Karur rally was among the party’s high-profile public events aimed at mobilising support and projecting Vijay as a mass leader.

The stampede, however, cast a long shadow over those ambitions. Critics have accused the party of prioritising spectacle over safety, while supporters have argued that the tragedy was the result of administrative failures beyond the organisers’ control. Vijay himself has expressed condolences to the families of the victims and has said he would fully cooperate with the investigation.

The CBI’s decision to summon him for a second round of questioning suggests that investigators are seeking further clarity on specific aspects of the case. Officials indicated that follow-up questions are common in complex investigations, particularly those involving large public events and multiple layers of responsibility.

As the January 19 questioning approaches, political observers expect heightened attention on the case, both in Tamil Nadu and at the national level. The outcome of the CBI probe could have far-reaching implications, not only for Vijay’s political future but also for how political rallies and mass gatherings are regulated and policed in the country.

For the families of the victims, the focus remains on accountability and justice. Many have said that while no investigation can undo their loss, a transparent and credible probe is essential to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

With the CBI continuing its investigation under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed committee, the Karur stampede case remains under close scrutiny. The next round of questioning of TVK chief Vijay is likely to be a key moment in the probe, as investigators work to piece together the chain of events that led to the deadly incident and determine where responsibility ultimately lies.