Delhi, not Tamil Nadu: why was Vijay summoned to CBI headquarters in Karur stampede case?

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Monday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi in connection with the investigation into the Karur stampede case. While a special team questioned him at the agency’s headquarters, some opposition leaders, especially from the ruling DMK, questioned the decision to summon Vijay to Delhi, and called it against federal principles while hinting at “political motives”.

While BJP’s critics saw the Delhi summons as “BJP-led intimidation” of TVK—the newbie that has refused to join either the BJP-AIADMK-led NDA or the DMK-Congress’ INDIA Bloc in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, supporters of the central probe say it was the only way to avoid a local DMK versus TVK political tussle and ensure a fair trial into the deaths of 41 people in the Karur stampede on September 27, 2025.

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Questioning was initially expected to occur in Chennai, but it was moved to Delhi to ensure a “neutral environment, free from any political interference,” they say.

Officials add that Vijay was asked to appear for questioning in Delhi, and he complied with the summons and arrived in the capital by a chartered flight to cooperate with the ongoing probe.

“The CBI officially summoned Vijay to appear in person at its New Delhi headquarters on January 12 to record his statement as a witness. The investigation was transferred from state authorities to the CBI by the Supreme Court to ensure an impartial and transparent probe. The apex court also appointed a monitoring committee to oversee the investigation. TVK itself had requested the involvement of a central agency, alleging that a state-led probe would be biased,” they insisted.

The TVK leadership and the DMK’s Tamil Nadu state government have both publicly blamed each other for security lapses.

Notably, the DMK and the BJP-AIADMK-led NDA have both been wooing TVK to join their respective sides. However, the transfer of the Karur stampede investigation to New Delhi resulted in the DMK raising concerns about central interference and intimidation.

Arguing that the investigation should take place near the site of the incident and the victims in Tamil Nadu, senior DMK leaders like T K S Elangovan reportedly also alleged that the BJP-led central government “often uses agencies like the CBI as a washing machine to pressure political opponents” and that the summons were a way to “coerce Vijay to join the NDA”. Some analysts also raised questions, linking the timing and location of the probe to Vijay’s refusal to align with the BJP-led NDA alliance, and suggested “political pressure ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections”.