00:00And let's begin by getting you the latest updates on TVK Chief, Vijay's grilling by the CBI.
00:06This has happened again in the national capital. It lasted for six hours.
00:10And just, in fact, about 30 minutes ago, Vijay stepped out of the CBI headquarters,
00:15briefly stepped out of his vehicle to wave to the media persons around and then left in a black rage rover.
00:21This is, remember, the second round of questioning of Vijay in the Karoor Stampede case.
00:26So what exactly has happened? What is the CBI investigation so far leaning towards?
00:31Is Vijay an accused? Is he a witness in the case?
00:34Well, sources, in fact, have told India today that Vijay hasn't received a clean sheet in the case so far.
00:41He continues to maintain that all orders from officials were followed, all rules were adhered to.
00:47Vijay previously was questioned for seven hours, this time for six hours.
00:51So in all, all through, the questions that were asked to him is about lapses that came to light,
00:57why he was delayed in arriving at the location and several other points at this point.
01:04Now, let me bring in Munish Pandey, who's joining us live from the CBI headquarters.
01:08Anika Keshav is joining us live from Chennai.
01:11Munish, moments ago, we had that footage of Vijay emerging outside of his car,
01:16waving to the media persons around, did utter a word, but clearly sent out a message that all is well.
01:23Is that really the case, Munish? Because we've been hearing a lot of versions claiming
01:26that he is now being treated as an accused in the case.
01:29Well, Akshita, through the body language, it was very clear that acting toward politician Vijay was very relaxed.
01:39You know, what we have been doing to understand is that his questioning, as far as this case is concerned,
01:45is over for now. Only if needed, then only Vijay will be, you know, called in for questioning,
01:51as far as this case is concerned.
01:53Now, today was the second round of questioning.
01:55He was questioned for almost six hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation,
02:00and the specific question was in regards to his arrival on that day, which was seven hours late.
02:07He was also questioned that why didn't he act immediately when he saw the crowd fainting.
02:13But so far, according to sources, Vijay has alleged that it was the Tamil Nadu police's failure.
02:19It was not a failure from TVK or from himself.
02:23But, you know, it was very clear, very evident that he was relaxed.
02:28You know, when he came out of Central Bureau of Investigation Office,
02:32he came out of the car, he waved to his supporters as well as the media.
02:37Also, Akshita, there was a press briefing by TVK in which they said that his leader,
02:44which is, you know, actor-turned-politician Vijay,
02:48he came to CBI to cooperate in the investigation, and TVK wants justice in the case.
02:54Also, they said that, you know, Prime Minister Amish Shah, when he visited Tamil Nadu,
03:00then there was a meeting and...
03:02Let's just play that out for our viewers as well.
03:04What Monish is referring to is a statement from CTR Nirmal Kumar of the TVQ,
03:09who accompanied Vijay into the CBI headquarters.
03:11Listen in to what CTR said.
03:13A lot of rumours, starting from morning, we are saying that definitely nothing is true.
03:21And definitely our leader has come to cooperate with the investigations here.
03:25We have done that and we are ready to cooperate with the cooperation.
03:27Can you comment again?
03:28No, no someone has been given for that.
03:30And definitely, Lexi, you know what has happened in Karoor.
03:34All the people of Tamil Nadu and all our media, you know what happened in Tamil Nadu.
03:37All the MPs from Delhi, they came over, they investigated, they have published in the media what has happened in Tamil Nadu.
03:44And one, when last time the Prime Minister was in Tamil Nadu,
03:50the state president of Bharatiya, BJP party state president, Naina Nagaran,
03:55openly mentioned in the meeting saying that Sindhil Palaji, who is sitting,
04:01MLA of Karoor is the whole sponsor for the death of the party on people.
04:04Okay, so that is the TVK trying to quell all suggestions that Vijay now is an accused in the case.
04:12And Anika Keshiv is joining us live from Chennai.
04:14There's been a lot of buzz, Anika, that Vijay is now an accused,
04:18that he's going to be arrested in this particular case by the CBI.
04:21And the TVK now on a war footing is trying to ensure that these rumours, you know, don't get spread.
04:27Well, in fact, that's what CT Dinmal Kumar said.
04:33He was referring to the fact that there was a rumour from morning making rounds
04:36that Vijay is seen as an accused in this case.
04:39He says that, you know, this is false.
04:41Even the CBI has not officially made him as an accused in this case.
04:45Even, you know, when he was summoned in the past and even today as well,
04:49he is there in his capacity as an eyewitness to what has happened.
04:52It's also quite unlikely that Vijay will be made an accused in this case
04:56given the fact that there is elections coming up
04:58and making Vijay as an accused will really pull in the sympathy card
05:02and thereby, you know, butch up the election chances for both the parties at play,
05:07the BJP, ADMK and DMK as well.
05:10So that's the kind of fan frenzy that Vijay holds.
05:13Making him as an accused will really turn around the election landscape for Tamil Nadu.
05:17So that at this moment as we speak is quite unlikely.
05:20But today Vijay was summoned in his capacity as a witness.
05:24Like CT Nirmal Kumar was mentioning,
05:26today was the last day of questioning for Vijay.
05:29He has not been given any more summons.
05:31It was a seven-hour long questioning, same as last time.
05:34It was a day-long session of questioning.
05:37We believe that the interrogation part has now been wrapped up.
05:40Remember, this is a Supreme Court monitored CBI proof.
05:44So once the CBI wraps up its investigation,
05:46it will be submitting its final report to the court post,
05:49which we'll really be able to find out who's responsible for the tragedy that happened.
05:54Okay, so the investigation moving forward for now,
05:56Munish telling us that no, Vijay is not being treated as an accused.
05:59It's too early in the investigation for the CBI to go ahead and rule a certain person as an accused.
06:04They're going to look into all aspects of this particular case
06:07before deciding exactly who is to blame for the stampede
06:11in which over 40 lives were lost in Kadur.
06:14Thanks very much, Munish.
06:15Thanks, Anagar, for getting us.
06:16Those are updates.
06:17We will continue to track closely what happens.
06:19But for now, we can confirm for you
06:21that two rounds of questioning over.
06:23At this point, no more summons have been issued to Vijay.
06:26Unlikely that he will be called for a third round.
06:29But we will track all the updates that come in.
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