'How can a court regulate what a CM can say?' SC dismisses DMK plea on Karur stampede case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) seeking to restrain Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders, including Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay and minister Aadhav Arjuna, from making public statements on the Karur stampede case.While rejecting the petition, the court remarked that "judicial forum can not be used as political platform."How can a court regulate on what a chief minister should talk or not, the court observed.The court also pulled up the DMK for questioning the chief minister's proposed visit to the families of those killed in the Karur stampede.The matter had been mentioned for urgent hearing on Monday before a bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Sheel Nagu by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for DMK secretary R S Bharati. Accepting the request, the bench had agreed to hear the plea on Tuesday.The DMK had argued that chief minister Vijay's scheduled visit to the victims' families on July 10 could influence witnesses in the ongoing investigation. The petition also alleged that Vijay distributed Rs 20 lakh each to the families of those killed and Rs 2 lakh each to those injured in October 2025 while criminal proceedings were pending.The application further objected to a public statement allegedly made on July 2, 2026, by minister Aadhav Arjuna, who is also an accused in the case.The Karur stampede occurred during a rally in September last year, killing 41 people and injuring several others.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.