The probe is continuing and some TVK leaders have been named as accused
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said imposing a judicial bar on Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders from making public statements linking political rivals with the Karur stampede may amount to an injunction on “free speech”.The court advised Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to make their own counter speeches, and battle “free speech” with “more speech”, rather than try for a judicial gag.The remarks by a Bench headed by Justice K V Viswanathan came during the hearing of an application filed by DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi alleging that TVK Ministers like Aadhav Arjuna were publicly making false accusations of criminal liability and “threats” against political opponents in connection with the Karur stampede.The tragedy had left 41 dead and 142 injured during a TVK rally on September 27 last year. The apex court had ordered a CBI investigation into the stampede on October 13, 2025. The probe is continuing and some TVK leaders have been named as accused.Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for . Bharathi, said TVK Ministers like Arjuna, who was also an accused in the stampede case under CBI probe, must be restrained from making any such public statements during the pendency of the investigation.“That may amount to an injunction on free speech. Kumar. Which law sanctions it? You also make your speeches, you counter free speech with more speech,” Justice Viswanathan remarked.The Bench questioned the propriety of entertaining a DMK plea for impleadment in a case in which it had ordered CBI investigation and was monitoring progress. The court referred to Bharathi’s submission in the application that he would be filing a contempt petition against the public statements allegedly made by TVK leaders. Justice Viswanathan said the court cannot be converted into a political forum. Political battles must be fought outside the courtroom.CM visitFurther, Kumar objected to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s likely travel to Karur on July 10 to meet the families of the stampede victims and to hand out compassionate appointments to them. He said the State government had already announced ex gratia payment of . ₹10 lakhs to the affected families. Kumar said a “narrative is being built by the accused persons. I am not against the compensation, I am against compensation being given directly by the accused to the families, who are also witnesses in the case,” the senior advocate said.The court said Vijay was arraigned as an ‘accused’ neither in the FIRs nor in the DMK’s own application. “You please check up on your facts,” Justice Viswanathan said.The judge asked how the Supreme Court was expected to “regulate the itinerary” of the Chief Minister.“If the Executive Head is travelling to merely distribute what has already been ordered for the victims by the State government, how will the victims be influenced? Does it not really reflect your thoughts on the victims?” Justice Viswanathan asked, voicing a doubt whether the application was “well-thought through” in the first place. Kumar, acting on instructions, finally chose to withdraw the application.Published on July 7, 2026
