Actor-turned-politician Vijay has requested additional time before appearing for the next round of questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Karur stampede case. According to news agency PTI, he has sought a 15-day extension, citing prior political commitments. Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam had previously announced that interviews to select the candidates for all the constituencies were set to begin on March 10 at the party's Panaiyur office.
The agency had summoned Vijay to appear on March 10. However, officials said he submitted a formal request asking for a later date and also suggested that the questioning be conducted at the CBI’s Chennai office or any of its offices within Tamil Nadu. Sources indicate that the agency will consider this request while issuing a fresh notice with revised dates.
The investigation relates to the stampede that occurred during a rally addressed by Vijay in Karur on September 27. The crowd crush tragedy, which took place during Vijay's political rally, resulted in the death of 41 people, including ten children, 18 women, and 13 men.
Vijay has already been questioned twice by the CBI earlier this year. He appeared before the agency on January 12 and again on January 19. During the first session, he was reportedly questioned for nearly six hours at the CBI headquarters. Officials said investigators have since gathered additional material and require further clarification from the actor. The tragedy in Karur unfolded after almost 30,000 people had gathered to catch a glimpse of Vijay when its capacity was only about 10,000. Many had waited at the venue for several hours without basic facilities—a major reason cited for the crowd crush.
A month after the stampede, Vijay met the victims' families in a closed-door meeting at a private resort in Mamallapuram, near Chennai, where he offered all support possible and apologised for not meeting them at their homes.
