Vijay Welcomes Supreme Court’s Order for CBI Probe in Karur Death Case — But Analysts Urge Caution

Chennai: Actor and political leader Vijay welcomed the Supreme Court’s directive ordering a CBI investigation into the deaths reported amid the chaos in Karur, asserting that “justice will prevail.” The Thackeray family also expressed support for the CBI probe.

However, political observers have issued a word of caution, noting that in the past, several prominent opposition leaders who came under the scrutiny of central agencies — including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) — later joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to a report published by The Indian Express last year, since 2014, at least 25 major political figures facing corruption allegations and central agency investigations have crossed over to the BJP. Among them were ten from the Congress, four each from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena, three from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), two from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and one each from the Samajwadi Party and YSR Congress Party.

Out of these 25 cases, only three have been fully concluded, while investigations in 20 others have either stalled or been indefinitely postponed. Strikingly, the pace of these inquiries appeared to diminish once the individuals joined the BJP. In 2024 alone, six opposition leaders joined the party — just weeks before the general elections.

Central Agencies and Political Targeting

Analysts highlight that since the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014, over 95% of CBI and ED investigations have been directed at opposition politicians. This trend has fueled criticism that central agencies are being weaponized for political ends.

In Maharashtra, the political landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2022. That year, the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde aligned with the BJP to form a new government. A year later, the NCP faction headed by Ajit Pawar also joined the NDA alliance. Notably, after this shift, corruption cases involving Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Praful Patel were dropped.

Of the 25 politicians listed by The Indian Express, 12 were from Maharashtra — four each from the NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress. Eleven of these 12 joined the BJP after 2022. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, who joined the BJP last year, had been under CBI and ED investigation in the Adarsh Housing Scam, but the Supreme Court has since stayed the proceedings.

West Bengal and Assam Cases Stall

In West Bengal, investigations into several high-profile cases have seen little progress. For example, in the Narada sting operation case, the CBI has been waiting since 2019 for the Lok Sabha Speaker’s approval to proceed against Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defected from the Trinamool Congress to the BJP in 2020. Since then, the case has effectively come to a standstill.

Similarly, in Assam, the investigation against Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in connection with the 2014 Saradha Chit Fund Scam has remained inactive. Sarma, who was questioned and raided by the CBI while in the Congress, has not faced any further inquiry since joining the BJP in 2015.

Only a few exceptions exist — such as former TDP MP Y.S. Chowdary and ex-Congress MP Jyoti Mirdha — whose ED cases continued even after their induction into the BJP, as noted by The Indian Express.

Why Vijay Must Be Cautious

Political commentators argue that Vijay must tread carefully as the Karur case now falls under CBI jurisdiction. While his support for the probe has been widely praised, experts warn that CBI investigations often carry political implications.

There is speculation that the CBI’s involvement could serve dual purposes — not only addressing the case but also opening a channel between Vijay’s political outfit, Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (TVMI), and the BJP.

Given Vijay’s strong grassroots base and rising influence in Tamil Nadu’s political scene, analysts believe that the BJP may view him as a potential ally in the state’s future political realignments. As one observer put it, “The CBI’s shadow is not always about justice — sometimes, it’s about strategy.”