Madras High Court Hears Case Related to Karur Festival Tragedy; Strong Reprimand for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Leadership

Chennai: The Madras High Court recently heard a case concerning the tragic incident at the Karur festival, which drew widespread attention due to loss of life and mismanagement. Justice Senthilkumar, presiding over the hearing, delivered a sharp critique of the actions of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its leadership in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“During the chaos and stampede, the responsibility of ensuring public safety, especially the protection of children, was neglected. Instead of managing the situation, the organizers, including the chairman, fled the scene,” Justice Senthilkumar observed. He further highlighted that the party’s leader and actor, Vijay, had failed to exercise leadership, leaving his workers behind and disregarding the safety of those following him. Both opposition and ruling factions stated that TVK must be held fully accountable for the losses.

Questions were also raised regarding Vijay’s promotional vehicle and why no case had been registered against him. In this context, social media erupted with controversy, as some Vijay supporters responded aggressively toward anyone criticizing the actor—including the presiding judge. Justice Senthilkumar’s personal background was even targeted online, prompting police to launch a focused investigation into the online harassment.

As a result, three individuals—Kannan from Puthukottai, David (a TVK administrator) from Krishnagiri district, and Shashi from Chennai—were arrested for posting derogatory and defamatory comments against the judge. The three subsequently issued a public apology via video, stating: “We did not realize the impact of our words. We will not repeat such mistakes. Please forgive us.” Following the apology, the police registered cases and produced the accused before court, after which they were remanded to judicial custody.

In a related development, celebrity chef and actor D. Rangaraj, known as ‘Madampatti,’ has filed a separate case in the Madras High Court against fashion designer Joy Chrisilda, alleging the dissemination of defamatory and damaging statements about his personal life through media channels. Justice Senthilkumar underscored during the hearing that in the current era, even judges are subjected to ridicule on social media, and such behavior should not be tolerated. He stressed that these matters must be addressed with due seriousness to protect the integrity of the judicial system.