TVK chief and actor Vijay on Monday told investigators that neither his party nor its office-bearers were responsible for the deadly Karur stampede, sources said. During over six hours of questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Vijay maintained that he chose to leave the venue as he felt his continued presence could worsen the situation and lead to chaos.

Sources said the same position had earlier been conveyed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionaries who were examined by the probe agency. Their statements will now be analysed and cross-verified with those of police officials, who have previously alleged that a delay by Vijay at the venue may have contributed to the tragedy.

Vijay appeared before the CBI in Delhi in connection with the September 27, 2025 Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives and injured over 60 people. He reached the national capital by chartered flight around 10.30 am and later arrived at the heavily secured CBI headquarters to comply with the summons issued to him earlier this month. After completing formalities, he was questioned by a team from the CBI’s Anti-Corruption unit. TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Nirmal Kumar accompanied him.

Anticipating the possibility of supporters gathering, Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces were deployed around the CBI office, though a small number of fans managed to assemble near the premises. The agency has already examined several TVK office-bearers and has also summoned former Tamil Nadu ADG (Law and Order) S Davidson Devasirvatham as part of the ongoing investigation.

The CBI took over the case from a Special Investigation Team following directions from the Supreme Court, which had expressed concerns over political overtones and public remarks made by senior police officials. The apex court also constituted a three-member supervisory committee headed by former judge Ajay Rastogi to ensure an impartial probe.

The Karur stampede occurred during a TVK campaign rally addressed by Vijay, when an overwhelming crowd surged out of control. While police permission was granted for a gathering of 10,000 people, officials later estimated that nearly 50,000 had assembled at the venue. Several people reportedly fainted due to overcrowding, forcing Vijay to halt his speech midway.

Following the incident, police registered cases against senior TVK leaders under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage Act. In his first public response, Vijay expressed deep grief over the tragedy and announced ex-gratia compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for those injured, assuring continued support to the affected families.