Karur / Trichy

Retired Madras High Court justice Aruna Jagadeesan reached Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and then proceeded to Karur on Sunday to begin her investigation into the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur.

Probe mandate & expectations

She has been appointed to lead the Commission of Inquiry into the tragic incident, tasked with finding out how the stampede happened, identifying lapses in crowd management and safety protocols, and recommending preventive measures to avoid such disasters in future.

Judicial profile & past work

Justice Jagadeesan served as a puisne judge of the Madras High Court from 2009 until her retirement in March 2015.
She also led several high-profile commissions and inquiries after retirement, including the probe into the 2018 Thoothukudi (Sterlite) protests, where 13 people died in police firing.

Stakes & public interest

The Karur stampede has caused widespread shock. Reports suggest at least 39 people died and over 50 were injured.
Given the scale of the tragedy and political ramifications (the rally was for Vijay’s party ahead of state polls), her inquiry is under close scrutiny for both thoroughness and impartiality.

Challenges ahead

  • She will need to access CCTV footage, eyewitness testimonies, police deployment plans, site maps, crowd estimates, etc.

  • The commission must navigate politically sensitive questions, systemic accountability, and public expectations.

  • Timely reporting is crucial — delay or opacity may fuel distrust.

    • Conclusion

    With her arrival in Karur, Retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan formally begins what is expected to be a high-stakes commission of inquiry into one of the most tragic rally stampedes in recent Tamil Nadu political history. The findings and recommendations will likely influence changes in how mass political events are organized and governed in future.