Within the weeks since 41 folks misplaced their lives in a gang assault at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur in September, the federal government of Tamil Nadu appeared to have opted for restraint. The Tamil celebrity was not named within the FIR.his senior aides weren’t arrested, and MK Stalin’s authorities kept away from strikes that could possibly be learn as political retaliation. Senior officers throughout the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) mentioned that behind the scenes, envoys assured Mr. Vijay that the state police wouldn’t hassle him.
However it was the CBI that summoned the actor-politician to New Delhi on January 12 in reference to the Karur riots probe, which satirically he himself had sought. TVK insiders worry that what began as an try by election chief Aadhav Arjun to take the probe out of the attain of the state police has as a substitute positioned Mr. Vijay above the central businesses and into the orbit of affect of the BJP-led Centre. This comes at a nasty time for Vijay as his much-awaited movie ‘Jana Nayagan’ stays stalled earlier than the censor board amid a authorized battle within the Madras Excessive Court docket.
On October 13, the CBI took over the investigation after the Supreme Court docket ordered an inquiry into the tragedy, saying it had “shaken the conscience of the folks”. The court docket mentioned leaving the investigation to state police, whose senior leaders have publicly defended their actions, risked “undermining public belief.”
The CBI has since questioned over 200 folks, together with the sufferer’s members of the family, ambulance drivers, district officers, cops and TVK organizers. Senior officers from Mr. Vijay’s get together had been summoned twice, as soon as in Karur after which in Delhi, the place they had been questioned for practically 9 hours on issues together with permissions sought, crowd management, safety preparations and the get together’s chain of command.
There was just one one that didn’t participate within the course of, and that’s Vijay himself. That modified this week. TVK officers mentioned the summons confirmed that Mr. Vijay’s post-riot technique had backfired. Two senior get together officers concerned in negotiations after the tragedy mentioned Mr. Vijay was personally knowledgeable that neither he nor any of his leaders could be arrested by the state police. However these assurances did not calm his inside circle.
A TVK government mentioned, “It wasn’t strain, it was worry.” “There was a disagreement. Vijay didn’t consider the message from the DMK authorities’s envoy.”
TVK leaders mentioned Aadhav Arjun, son-in-law of lottery king Santiago Martín and the get together’s marketing campaign administration basic secretary, amplified these issues, warning of an impending crackdown by Stalin’s authorities and urging Mr. Vijay to demand a CBI investigation as a defend. Nevertheless, that plan failed spectacularly.
It’s realized that Arjun suggested Vijay to disregard the summons and cease showing earlier than the CBI. “He has requested the leaders to demand interrogation in Chennai. It will solely worsen the issue. Ignoring CBI summons is just not the identical as sparring with the state police,” a senior official mentioned.
“The which means of CBI is underestimated”
A detailed buddy of Mr. Vijay, who was concerned in reaching out to leaders of varied political events after the riots broke out, mentioned the summons was a political entice during which Mr. Vijay fell into as a result of he didn’t belief the DMK. “He underestimated what the CBI investigation really meant. The Tamil Nadu authorities instructed him there was no downside. However he didn’t consider it and is now negotiating with Delhi,” mentioned a supply near the celebrity.
He drew similarities with different regional leaders who participated in CBI investigations however discovered their exit narrowed. “Have a look at Anbumani Ramadoss, who was nominated by the CBI in 2013-14. Have a look at TTV Dhinakaran, who was nominated by the CBI in 2016-17. Each are nonetheless unable to come back out of the NDA alliance. Have a look at Jaganmohan Reddy. As soon as you might be on this system, you can not get out simply.”
The timing was dangerous for Vijay, mates mentioned. “Arjun mustn’t have put strain on him when the DMK was not in provocation mode. Vijay mustn’t have fallen into the irrational worry bought by Arjun,” he mentioned.
Whereas the DMK has been cautious to not goal Mr. Vijay in public, its leaders have accused TVK leaders behind the scenes of coaching their get together with weapons to keep away from upsetting the BJP and RSS. However within the BJP, a number of defections from the AIADMK to TVK in latest weeks seem to have fearful leaders.
Requested whether or not there was strain on Mr. Vijay to hitch the NDA alliance earlier than the meeting polls, a senior TVK official mentioned the rising get together had two choices. “Both confront the BJP straight and stand alone. Or align with them within the identify of the frequent enemy DMK. The second possibility will destroy Vijay’s political trigger.”
CBI officers mentioned Mr. Vijay shall be questioned totally on materials already collected, together with permissions obtained for the Karur rally, security protocols, coordination with district authorities and TVK’s decision-making hierarchy. Investigators are additionally reviewing digital proof and communications associated to crowd management and emergency response. Officers say the investigation can’t be accomplished with out Mr. Vijay’s assertion.
second entrance
One other concern for the actor-politician is that Jana Nayagan, scheduled to launch on January 9, is but to obtain the ultimate censor certificates. The Madras Excessive Court docket on Wednesday took up a petition by filmmakers difficult the Central Movie Certification Board’s choice to refer the movie to a revision committee.
In response to the producers, the assessment committee has already really helpful the U/A 16+ certificates with modifications. They mentioned the shock inquiry was based mostly on an nameless criticism alleging hurt to non secular sentiments and depictions of the army, with out disclosing the creator or particulars of the criticism.
Senior attorneys for the producers warned the court docket that accepting such a imprecise problem would “set a harmful precedent” and open the door to deliberate obstruction of the movie’s launch. This coincidence didn’t go unnoticed in Mr. Vijay’s circle. On the one hand, there was the CBI investigation and alternatively, the censor was caught.
Mr. Vijay’s get together has thus far mentioned it would solely determine on its response to the subpoena after consulting its authorized advisers. The CBI can be working methodically below the supervision of a three-member monitoring committee headed by former Supreme Court docket choose Justice Ajay Rastogi.
For now, Vijay continues to go head-to-head with the nation’s strongest investigative company. “They mentioned it was for their very own safety. As an alternative, the door to Delhi was large open,” mentioned a senior TVK official. Whether or not Vijay chooses to step by that door or tackle the problem may decide this significant stage of his political profession.
