Fact Check: Karur tragedy – Vijay smiles from his bus after stampede? No, video is old
A video showing actor-turned-politician TVK chief Vijay smiling from this campaign vehicle is going viral on social media.
By - K Sherly Sharon
Claim:The video shows TVK chief Vijay smiling from this campaign vehicle after the Karur tragedy.
Fact:The claim is false. The video is from Vijay’s tour on September 13. It predates the Karur tragedy.
Hyderabad: Over 40, including nine minors, were killed in a stampede at actor-politician, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally. The incident occurred in Karur of Tamil Nadu, on September 27.
In this context, a video of Vijay sitting in his bus, smiling as a crowd dances in front of it, is going viral on social media. Those sharing the video claim that the video was shot during the tragic rally.
The video contains the logo of News18 Tamil Nadu along with the text, “Vijay played with the lights on/off in the campaign vehicle.” (Translated from Tamil)
Sharing the video on X, a user wrote, “Psycho/mad guy @TVKVijayHQ” (Translated from Tamil) (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video predates the Karur rally tragedy.
TVK chief Vijay kicked off his first statewide tour starting from Trichy on September 13. The tour was scheduled to be held in Karur town on September 27. The police allocated the Velusamypuram location on the Karur-Erode Road. A stampede broke out and over 40 lost their lives.
Using a reverse image search, we found that the same video was uploaded to YouTube on September 15. The text on the video reads, “The TVK leader amused the crowd by switching the light off and on.”
An extended version of the video was uploaded to YouTube by Polimer News on September 14. The title reads, “Kaththi movie style scene.. CUTE REACTION from Vijay..” Kaththi is a 2014 Tamil movie starring Vijay.
The description stated, “What a prankster. TVK leader Vijay played around by turning the lights on and off in the campaign vehicle. He gave a cute reaction while laughing!”
What is the source of the viral video?
We also found that the viral video was taken from a YouTube video by News18 Tamil Nadu. It was posted on September 14 with the title, ‘TVK Vijay | Vijay plays with Light On/Off in campaign vehicle | News18 Tamil Nadu | Perambalur’
The audio heard in this video is also different from the viral video, implying that the audio is edited. The viral video has been circulating online since at least September 14, which means it predates the Karur tragedy.
The TVK chief’s Tamil Nadu tour was initially scheduled to be held on Saturdays only. However, the schedule was revised, adding select Sundays and expanded into early 2026.
Vijay started his roadshow in Ariyalur and Trichy on September 13. He was also scheduled to visit Perambalur. However, he skipped the meeting. He made an X post apologising and promising to return. Going by his schedule in the news reports, we confirmed that the viral video is from Vijay’s tour on September 13.
According to a report published by The News Minute on September 28 about the stampede, Vijay did not turn on the spotlight inside his vehicle while in Karur. The report reads, “Normally, Vijay has a habit of switching on the spotlight inside his vehicle so that supporters can see him through the tinted windows. This time, he did not do so.”
The Karur tragedy occurred on September 27. The viral video predates the rally and is from Vijay’s tour on September 13. Hence, NewsMeter concludes that the viral claim is false.
