The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a fresh summons to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and popular actor Vijay, requesting his appearance for questioning on January 19, 2026, in connection with the ongoing probe into the Karur stampede case. This development follows an extensive interrogation of Vijay on January 12, 2026, which lasted over six hours at the CBI headquarters in New Delhi. During this initial session, Vijay reportedly denied any personal responsibility for the tragic incident and instead attributed the calamity to inadequate crowd management by the Tamil Nadu police. He further highlighted issues such as insufficient police deployment and alleged failures in clearing road bottlenecks, which he claimed significantly contributed to the severe congestion at the rally venue. The Karur stampede, a devastating event that claimed 41 lives and injured over 100 others, occurred on September 27, 2025, during a political rally organized by Vijay's TVK party in Velusamypuram, Karur district, Tamil Nadu. The tragedy unfolded when large sections of the crowd surged uncontrollably towards Vijay's convoy following a significant delay in his arrival. Initially, the investigation into this major disaster was conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Madras High Court. However, the Supreme Court subsequently transferred the case to the CBI, emphasizing the necessity for a more thorough and impartial investigation. The apex court also directed that a panel led by a retired Supreme Court judge would monitor the progress of the probe. CBI officials had initially sought Vijay's presence for a second round of questioning on January 13, 2026. However, citing the Pongal festival, Vijay requested a postponement, which the agency granted, rescheduling his appearance for January 19. The ongoing CBI investigation has already involved the questioning of several senior TVK functionaries, forensic inspection of the stampede site, examination of the campaign vehicle used by Vijay, and the collection of video footage and other pertinent evidence. While the Tamil Nadu police had earlier accused TVK leadership of ignoring advice and violating regulations, blaming Vijay's delayed arrival for the chaos, TVK has, in turn, submitted video evidence to the CBI, alleging significant lapses on the part of the state government and police. This high-profile case continues to be a subject of intense public and judicial scrutiny in India.