Chennai: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government of pursuing a political agenda through the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI), which has summoned Karur MLA Senthil Balaji in connection with last year’s stampede in Karur.
The summons have been sent even though no formal charges have been filed against the DMK MLA. He has been asked to appear on 17 March.
The party claims the move is part of a pattern of using central agencies to exert pressure on opposition leaders and parties ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Post the Karur incident, Opposition voices and functionaries of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, actor Vijay’s party, had accused DMK, including Senthil Balaji, of indirect involvement and failure to coordinate with local authorities to manage the rally. A stampede at Vijay’s rally on xx (date) had left 41 dead.
Speaking to ThePrint, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai claimed misuse of central agencies by BJP. “The CBI is being used by the BJP as a tool for their political gains, and this is what is being done using summons against political leaders to secure electoral gains. We will have to wait and see if the CBI investigation is being used for political pressure against TVK.”
Senthil Balaji is a prominent DMK leader in Karur and has been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly five times across different constituencies and parties. While he was elected from Karur (on AIADMK ticket) in 2006 and 2011, he was elected from Karur again as a DMK candidate in 2021, after he switched parties in 2018.
Political analysts suggest that though Senthil Balaji did not directly organise the event, he has been named as a witness due to his regional influence and alleged communications with event organisers. Earlier, Karur Collector and SP were also questioned by the CBI.
TVK general secretary for propaganda and policy K. G. Arunraj had also earlier alleged that the BJP was using the CBI to pressure Vijay to ally with the BJP.
Vijay too was summoned by the CBI Tuesday, but he had asked for a 15-day reprieve citing election engagements and requested that the questioning be carried out in Chennai or nearby, instead of Delhi. The CBI has agreed to question him in Chennai.
The CBI has now asked Vijay to appear before it on 15 March.
While Vijay has appeared for questioning twice before, Senthil Balaji has been summoned for the first time.
Responding to reports that claimed he had ignored the summons which asked him to appear on 9 March, Senthil Balaji clarified that he has been asked to appear on 17 Match. His post on X said: “Regarding the Karur tragic incident, conflicting reports have surfaced in some media outlets about the summons issued by the CBI. Based on the summons sent by the CBI asking me to appear in person on March 17 and provide clarifications, I intend to go there in person and furnish the appropriate explanations to their questions.”
This is not the first time DMK is questioning the role of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to target opposition leaders and parties for political gains, especially in non-BJP states.
“Not just Senthil Balaji, but all political leaders who were targeted by the Enforcement Directorate and those who were arrested would have been asked to join BJP. The BJP is also using this to pressure TVK into joining the alliance. Senthil Balaji will appear and respond to their queries as required,” said Annadurai.
Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP N. R. Elango told ThePrint that Senthil Balaji was one of the first responders who visited the victims after the stampede and offered support. “While his role can only be of a witness, it would not be surprising if this government uses CBI for their political motives. However, it would really lead to a backlash against them if they try to link Senthil Balaji to the case because he is not related to the event,” added Elango.
Political analyst Ravindran Thuraisamy described the CBI’s role as influencing Tamil Nadu politics, targeting figures like Vijay and Balaji. “Senthil Balaji only has a witness role, but Vijay may have to face trouble with the CBI investigation. Politically, Vijay is seen as a future ally of Rahul Gandhi, whom the BJP needs to oust. Similarly with Senthil Balaji, it might be some pressure but there is no legal charge,” Thuraisamy told ThePrint.
He added that Balaji is being summoned to exert pressure, though he is not a police officer responsible for the event coordination or providing safety. “Even if there are accusations of his involvement, what is the evidence? How can he be blamed or framed for an event he was not involved in organising?,” he questioned.
BJP dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Narayanan Thirupathy, chief spokesperson, TN BJP, said: “It is Senthil Balaji’s mistake that he was corrupt and has engaged in taking money from people. A corrupt person like him cannot have the moral right to question the role of central agencies when they are doing their duty. Moreover, it was the DMK that raised complaints against Senthil Balaji when he was with AIADMK, then how can they accuse the CBI of being used as a tool for political gains by BJP now? It is a very silly statement.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Scrutiny of Vijay’s personal life derailing agenda ahead of Tamil Nadu polls, say TVK insiders