The Madras High Court on Friday denied anticipatory bail to two Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leaders in connection with the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, which left 41 persons dead, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice M Jothiraman of the Madurai bench denied TMK General Secretary N Anand and Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar’s pleas, citing the “nature and gravity of the offences involved”.

The court added that the investigation was at a preliminary stage and that persons injured in the incident were still receiving medical care, the legal news outlet reported.

The judge noted that the facts presented in the case “disturbed the conscience of the court”, and observed that the organisers and police had crucial roles in what he described as a grave incident, The Hindu reported.

The stampede took place on September 27 at Veluchamy Puram in Karur, shortly after 7.30 pm, when Vijay was addressing supporters from his campaign vehicle.

Several of those who attended the rally fainted due to overcrowding. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief’s speech was interrupted twice as ambulances were brought in to take those who collapsed.

Among those who died were 18 women and nine children.

According to the prosecution, the party’s Karur West District Secretary VP Mathiyazhagan had sought permission to hold the rally between 3 pm and 10 pm and estimated a turnout of 10,000 persons, The Hindu reported.

However, more than 25,000 persons reportedly showed up. Vijay’s late arrival at the venue – past 7 pm, as opposed to the publicly announced noon – was cited as a trigger for the overcrowding and confusion, the newspaper reported.

The petitioners, however, denied responsibility and claimed they were being targeted for political reasons.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leaders’ counsel argued that the venue was not the one initially requested by the party and that the location was allocated by the state despite prior knowledge that it was unsuitable, Bar and Bench reported.

“The state owes an explanation why this place was given,” he contended. “It is their job. They have intelligence department. The same spot was found unsuitable for another party.”

He also alleged that the police failed to provide adequate protection and unnecessarily used force, which contributed to the stampede, The Hindu reported.

The lawyer further claimed that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam did not violate any of the 11 conditions imposed by the police, The New Indian Express reported.

However, the state opposed the anticipatory bail, stating that the political party’s leaders failed to regulate their supporters.

“It was the duty of the police only to grant protection, and adequate police were deployed,” The Hindu quoted the state having argued. “However, the organisers failed to provide drinking water and sanitation facilities to the people. Many people died due to dehydration, and the organisers fled the scene following the incident.”

The principal bench of the High Court on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the stampede.

Justice N Senthilkumar verbally criticised the party’s “attitude” of “abandoning” the site after the incident. The bench also said that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam did not express remorse after the stampede.

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