SC orders CBI probe into Karur stampede, Rastogi to head panel

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the Karur stampede that killed 41 people during a political rally on September 27 and appointed a three member supervisory panel to oversee the inquiry. The panel will be headed by former Supreme Court Justice Ajay Rastogi and is tasked with ensuring the investigation is fair, transparent and impartial, the court said.

A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and N.V. Anjaria delivered the order, citing the incident's serious ramifications and its bearing on citizens' fundamental rights. Justice Maheshwari said the tragedy had "shaken the national conscience" and emphasized the need for a thorough probe to allay concerns of all parties. The CBI was directed to begin work immediately and to file an initial report to the monitoring panel within a stipulated period, with monthly updates to be submitted thereafter.

Under the court’s direction, Justice Rastogi will select two senior Indian Police Service officers to join the supervisory committee. The officers may be from the Tamil Nadu cadre but should not be residents of the state, the order said. The committee may also undertake inquiries into matters...