SC asks Karur stampede victim's family to approach CBI with allegation of political pressure
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court asked a Karur stampede victim's family on Thursday to approach the CBI with its allegation that it was threatened by officials.
A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi took note of the submissions made by the lawyer appearing in the court on behalf of the family.
"It is contended that the petitioner has been threatened and cajoled by the officials of the State. However, in this regard, it suffices to say that the petitioner may apply to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
"Except to say the same, at present, no further orders are required to be passed on the interlocutory applications," the bench said.
The court on October 13 ordered a CBI probe into the Karur stampede, in which 41 people were killed, saying the incident has shaken the national conscience and deserves a fair and impartial investigation.
In its order on a plea moved by actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for an independent probe, the Supreme Court also set up a three-member supervisory committee headed by former apex court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the CBI investigation.
Suspending the directions for the appointment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a one-man enquiry commission, the court asked the Tamil Nadu government to fully cooperate with the officers of the central agency. It also criticised Justice N Senthilkumar of the Madras High Court for entertaining petitions on the incident, ordering an SIT probe and making observations against the TVK and its members, without making them a party to the case.
The top court had said the Karur stampede, which occurred during a TVK rally on September 27, has left an imprint in the minds of people throughout the country.
It said the incident has wide ramifications with respect to the lives of the citizens and enforcing the fundamental rights of the families who lost their kith and kin is of utmost importance.
The court took note of the political undertone of the case and said "without having regard to the gravity of the incident", comments have been made before the media by top police officers, which may create a doubt in the minds of the citizenry on impartiality and a fair investigation.
Earlier, police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected number of 10,000 participants, and blamed a seven-hour delay on Vijay's part in reaching the venue for the tragedy.
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Swamiji fires gun into the air in Kalaburagi village, video goes viral
Kalaburagi: An incident involving a swamiji firing a gun into the air has been reported from Udachan village in Afzalpur taluk of Kalaburagi district. The act, captured on video, has since gone viral on social media.
The swamiji has been identified as Sri Shantalinga Shivacharya, pontiff of the Hiremath of Sri Shankaralingeshwara Samsthana. According to reports, the incident took place on Sunday evening within the premises of the math, where the swamiji allegedly fired a single-barrel gun into the air.
This is not the first time the swami has courted controversy. Last year, he was reportedly found driving erratically under the influence of alcohol in Salotagi village of neighbouring Indi taluk, following which members of the public confronted him. He later fled from the math, sources said.
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More recently, during the annual fair of the Sri Shankaralingeshwara Math in Udachan village, the swami had arrived at the village with police protection, claiming to be the rightful pontiff of the math. Despite opposition from villagers, he reportedly went ahead and conducted rituals related to the fair.
The latest incident of firing the gun into the air has triggered criticism, especially after the video surfaced online. Further action, if any, is awaited from the authorities.
