The Supreme Court on July 7, 2026, refused to restrain Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders from making public statements linking political rivals to the Karur stampede, saying it may amount to an injunction on "free speech." The court's decision came during the hearing of a plea filed by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi.
Court's Stance on Free Speech
A Bench headed by Justice K.V. Viswanathan observed that instead of seeking a judicial gag, the DMK should counter TVK leaders' statements with "more speech." The court questioned the propriety of entertaining the impleadment plea of a political rival in a case where it had ordered a CBI investigation and was monitoring its progress.
The Karur stampede occurred during a TVK rally on September 27, 2025, resulting in 41 deaths and 142 injuries. The CBI investigation, ordered by the Supreme Court on October 13, 2025, is ongoing, with some TVK leaders named as accused. The tragedy has sparked a political battle, with both parties exchanging accusations.
DMK's Concerns and Court's Response
Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Mr. Bharathi, argued that TVK leaders, including Aadhav Arjuna, who is an accused in the stampede case, should be restrained from making public statements on the case during the pendency of the investigation. However, the court expressed skepticism, saying that regulating the Chief Minister's itinerary was not its job.
- 41 people died in the Karur stampede
- 142 people were injured
- CBI investigation ordered on October 13, 2025
The court ultimately allowed Mr. Kumar to withdraw the application, saying it was not "well-thought through." The case continues to unfold, with the CBI investigation still ongoing.
