Chennai: Exactly one month after the tragic stampede in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district that claimed 41 lives, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay met the bereaved families on Monday at a private resort in Mahabalipuram.
The party, which had booked nearly 50 rooms at the venue, arranged transportation for the families to meet Vijay in person. TVK officials said the meeting was aimed at offering emotional support and ensuring that financial assistance reached all affected families.
Vijay, who has repeatedly expressed sorrow over the incident, reaffirmed his earlier promise of compensation. Each family that lost a loved one in the stampede has been provided ₹20 lakh, while the injured have received ₹2 lakh each.
Confirming the disbursement, the TVK posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The money, ₹20 lakh each, has been sent to 39 families, totalling ₹7.8 crore.”
The Karur stampede, which occurred on September 27, took place during a crowd distribution event, leading to widespread criticism of the organisers. Following the incident, two TVK functionaries — VP Mathiyazhagan and Masi Pounraj — were arrested for alleged lapses in event management. Both were later granted bail by the Karur Judicial Magistrate Court earlier this month.
TVK’s legal counsel Srinivasan had clarified that since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had taken over the probe, the local police could no longer seek a remand extension. “The case has been handed to the CBI, which alone can pursue further legal action,” he stated.
The Supreme Court had ordered a CBI investigation earlier this month, citing the need for a fair and independent probe. The apex court observed that the Karur incident had “shaken the national conscience” and stressed that restoring public faith in the justice system required an impartial inquiry.
