But throughout the time he was working, the sub-postmaster kept his passion for research alive by pursuing degrees on the side and attending college events where he would address students and teachers on human rights and contemporary issues. It was during that time that some teachers advised him to take the National Eligibility Test (NET), which is mandatory for recruiting teachers. “I appeared for the exam and cleared it on my first attempt,” he recalls proudly.

While working at the postal office, Ragu completed MA in Human Rights. He took voluntary retirement in 2014 to pursue teaching and research full time after 30 years of service in the postal department.

In 2019, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (part-time) at Dravidian University, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, on the title, ‘Socio, Economic Conditions of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Religious Minorities in Tamil Nadu (Special Reference to Vellore District) – A Study’.

When the Teacher’s Recruitment Board of Tamil Nadu announced a vacancy in the Human Rights Department, Ragu applied for it. “While I was shortlisted for the job, due to internal politics, I was not selected. They chose an ineligible candidate who was not qualified in human rights,” he says.

Following this, Ragu appealed this in the Madras High Court and was selected for the job. “After that, I joined as the HoD of the Human Rights Department in the Government Arts College in Salem in 2017,” he adds.

The reason behind Ragu’s passion for human rights in education lies in a childhood marred by caste-based discrimination. Ragu is the first graduate from his family. He lost his father when he was 5, His mother supported his education with the meagre wages she earned as a labourer.

“I am a victim of the caste-based hierarchical system. I realised that even with proper higher education, the dominant caste people of the village will not treat you on par with them if you do not belong to their caste. They might not be educated, but even educated youth cannot demand respect,” he laments. “People from certain castes were not allowed to fetch water from certain tanks. Agricultural landlords used to mistreat us. There were many other instances.”

Discrimination, however, was not limited to villages but also government offices, such as his postal department. “The discrimination runs deep. For example, the department hires people for part-time work while making them work as full-time employees,” he says, drawing parallels. “There have been a lot of human rights violations regarding their wages, health care, and exploitation by bureaucrats and higher officials. I found discrimination and human rights violations in the working conditions, study conditions, etc. I faced a lot of difficulties in addressing their problems within my department.”

This is when he decided to pursue his earlier dream of studying human rights and becoming a scholar in it. He believes that the human rights violation issue can be addressed by introducing constitutional values and human rights as a subject to all students across the country.

Though the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been conducting workshops on constitutional values across the country, subject on human rights has not been made compulsory in the curriculum. “Neither the higher education department, vice-chancellors, or chief secretaries of the respective states agree to include it in the curriculum. Had it been implemented in educational institutions, definitely all sorts of discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, and others would be addressed and resolved. The younger generations would be taught to address the issues as per the constitutional principles,” elaborated Ragu, who has been continuously writing to the NHRC to do the same as well.

Ragu retired in 2019, and has been translating theory and other political works for the Textbook Corporation into Tamil, a mission to make knowledge more accessible. He has also been creating videos for the SWAYAM portal, an online education platform by the central government.

For a topic like human rights, there are no books in Tamil. That’s why translation works are important – it enables access to students, faculty and the general public,” he points out.

Ragu alleges that the government has been stalling the process of translating his doctoral thesis despite multiple representations. And his request remains that it be translated so that people can understand how far behind the state of Tamil Nadu lies in becoming an egalitarian society. “Why can’t students learn human rights as a subject in their colleges?” he says.

According to party sources, Tiruchy and Tirunelveli are being considered as possible venues, with Tiruchy emerging as the likely choice. Three of the five constituencies where bypolls are due — Tiruchirappalli East, Viralimalai and Karur — are located in or near Tiruchy district. Perundurai and Ambasamudram are the other constituencies facing by-elections.

The proposed conference would be the party's third major State-level gathering since its formation and the first after it came to power. The event is expected to give the party leadership an opportunity to review its organisational preparedness, strengthen its cadre network, and outline its strategy for the upcoming bypolls.

Tiruchy has emerged as an important electoral centre for the ruling party. Of the nine Assembly constituencies in the district, the TVK won six - Tiruchirappalli East, Srirangam, Thuraiyur, Manapparai, Tiruverumbur and Musiri. The party's performance in the district is one of the factors behind considering Tiruchy as the venue, sources said.

The TVK held its first political conference at Vikravandi on October 27, 2024. The event reportedly drew more than eight lakh people. At the conference, party president and actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay outlined the party's ideological position, emphasising secularism, social justice, egalitarianism, the two-language policy and democracy.

The party subsequently organised its second conference in Madurai on August 21, 2025. At the event, Vijay criticised the BJP and the DMK and praised former actor-turned-politicians M G Ramachandran and Vijayakanth. The conference also reiterated the party's political position and mobilised its supporters.

The proposed gathering comes as the TVK prepares for five Assembly bypolls while also looking ahead to local body elections. The party leadership is expected to use the conference to bring functionaries and cadres together and discuss preparations for both electoral exercises.

Prep Up

October 27, 2024: First State-level political conference at Vikravandi. Party president C Joseph Vijay outlined TVK’s ideological position, emphasising secularism, social justice, egalitarianism, the two-language policy and democracy. The event reportedly drew more than eight lakh people

August 21, 2025: Second State-level conference in Madurai. Vijay criticised the BJP and the DMK and praised former actor-turned-politicians MG Ramachandran and Vijayakant

Proposed — 2026: Third State-level conference, likely to be held in Tiruchy, with Tirunelveli also under consideration. The first major gathering since TVK came to power is expected to focus on preparations for by-elections in five Assembly constituencies and the upcoming local body elections

The trial will let passengers experience the facility on an existing inter-state train connecting Madurai with Guruvayur in Kerala, a prominent pilgrimage destination. Unlike a dedicated tourist train, the Vistadome coach will operate as part of the regular express service.

It will be an Executive AC Chair Car Vistadome coach. These coaches feature large windows and glass roofs, letting passengers relax and enjoy views of the surrounding landscape. The route passes through the scenic Sengottai–Punalur section of the Western Ghats, including the Aryankavu pass, making it a potential attraction for tourists seeking lush landscapes.

Under the temporary revised coach arrangement, Train No. 16327 Madurai–Guruvayur Express, operating via Punalur and Kottarakkara, will have a Vista Dome coach from October 22 to January 15, 2027, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

On the return journey, Train No. 16328 Guruvayur–Madurai Express will offer this facility from October 23 to January 16, 2027, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. The temporary realignment integrates the new coach while maintaining the existing total count of 13 LHB coaches.

Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said polling station rationalisation and rearrangement would be undertaken through physical verification as part of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls.

"Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) should ensure that no polling station has more than 1,200 electors. Voters should be distributed equitably among polling stations, as far as possible," Archana said.

She said EROs should exercise caution while setting up polling stations, adding that their geographical areas should not overlap and electors should not have to travel more than two kilometres to reach their polling stations.

Ahead of the SSR exercise, the Chief Electoral Officer will convene a consultative meeting with recognised political parties at the Secretariat on October 23.

The ECI has recognised 12 political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the State parties AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, Naam Tamilar Katchi, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The SSR exercise is scheduled to begin in Tamil Nadu on November 12. During the month-long period, voters can apply to have their names included in the electoral rolls.

The accident occurred near V Salai on the Villupuram-Chennai National Highway late Saturday. The six-member family, from Moulivakkam in Chennai, was returning home from Thoothukudi when their car crashed into the rear of the truck.

The driver of the mini-truck, which was transporting fish from Tiruchendur to Chennai, had parked the vehicle on the roadside to have tea.

The deceased were identified as John Britto (37), his mother Thangabai (65), and a child, Yuvana Angelin. All three died on the spot.

The injured, identified as Anto Rajkumar, Natta Trishti, and Jessy Yuvana, were rescued by the Vikravandi police and admitted to the intensive care unit at the Mundiyampakkam Government Medical College Hospital.

Police personnel recovered the bodies and sent them to the Mundiyampakkam government hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The incident occurred during a consultative meeting to discuss the reorganisation of the DMK’s Manamadurai Assembly constituency in Sivaganga district. State youth wing deputy secretary Ilaiyaraja attended as an observer.

The meeting covered the reorganisation of the Manamadurai, Tiruppuvanam and Ilayangudi union units. While discussions on the first two units were completed in the morning, tensions erupted during the afternoon session on Ilayangudi.

During the discussion, Periyakaruppan referred to Tamilarsi in informal terms and, pointing to the faction of former MLA Mathiyarasan, asked whether its members were acting on her instructions.

The remarks drew an immediate objection from Tamilarsi, who confronted him.

Citing rainfall data for the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Sunday, Anbumani said in a statement that Parrys Corner recorded the highest rainfall at 36 cm. He said several parts of Chennai had received rainfall of an intensity comparable to a cloudburst.

Anbumani said the PMK had warned for more than five years that climate change could trigger cloudburst-like rainfall in Chennai and that the city's stormwater drainage and flood-prevention systems needed to be strengthened. He also cautioned that El Niño could worsen the situation this year.

Pointing to the Thirupugazh Committee's recommendations, he said the panel, constituted in November 2021, conducted field studies and analysed data over 17 months before submitting its final report in March 2023. However, he said the report has not been made public even after 43 months.

The previous DMK government said the committee made 161 recommendations, of which 101 were being implemented. However, Anbumani said the public still does not know the details of the recommendations and the measures implemented.

He urged the TVK government to make the report public and implement its recommendations to prevent Chennai from facing another round of severe flooding, stressing the need for comprehensive preparedness for increasingly intense rainfall.

The deceased, Rudra, was residing at Pallagoundenpalayam in Tirupur with her husband Ranjith Kumar (27), a construction worker from Ramanathapuram district.

Ranjith Kumar had dropped his wife at a private hospital where she worked as a nurse, on the morning of October 14. When he returned to pick her up in the evening, the hospital authorities informed him that she had already left.

After failing to trace her, he lodged a missing-person complaint with the Uthukuli police. Meanwhile, the Perundurai police recovered her body near Vijayamangalam toll plaza and sent it for a postmortem. The gold jewellery she had been wearing was also missing.

Distressed Ranjith Kumar attempted suicide by hanging himself from a tree in Perundurai. His relatives rescued him and admitted him to a hospital. Five special teams have been formed to investigate the death.

In a separate incident, a 32-year-old daily wage labourer allegedly hacked his wife to death while she was asleep at their rented house in Akkondapalli near Hosur in Krishnagiri on Saturday night, suspecting her fidelity.

The accused, Kumar, a native of Bangarappa Nagar in Bengaluru, was married to Rukmani (28) of Akkondapalli. The couple have an eight-year-old daughter and had been living in the village for the past three months. Kumar worked as a daily wage labourer, while Rukmani was employed at a mattress manufacturing unit.

Kumar frequently quarrelled with his wife over suspicions about her conduct. On Saturday night, he attacked her head with a machete while she was asleep. She sustained severe injuries and died on the spot.

Kumar subsequently surrendered at the Kelamangalam police station. The police sent Rukmani's body for a postmortem. Further investigation is underway.

The State has earned the right to aim high. Its manufacturing depth, technical institutions, and export networks coexist with productive centres stretching beyond Chennai. The Economic Survey reported 11.2% real growth in 2024-25, including 14.74% in manufacturing. The August 2026 budget revised 2025-26 nominal GSDP to Rs 35.68 lakh crore and projected Rs 40.67 lakh crore for 2026-27. That ambition rests on a credible industrial foundation. But it also creates a risk: confusing more economic activity with more durable economic capability.

Even the arithmetic demands candour. At Rs 100 to the dollar in 2035-36, the target requires annual output of Rs 150 lakh crore; at Rs 115, it requires Rs 172.5 lakh crore. Against the revised 2025-26 base, these scenarios imply ten years of approximately 15.4% and 17.1% annual nominal growth, respectively. Neither exchange rate is a forecast. Inflation could enlarge the rupee total without equivalent prosperity; depreciation could move the dollar target away. Real income per person, earnings and productivity must therefore sit beside the headline.

The neglected issue is conversion: what investment becomes, what exports leave behind and what education enables people to earn. Tamil Nadu exported merchandise worth $58.95 billion in 2025-26, accounting for 41.63% of India's electronics exports and 33.38% of motor-vehicle exports, according to figures supplied to Parliament. These are formidable achievements. Yet the selling price of an exported phone includes imported chips, foreign designs and components made elsewhere. Gross exports are not locally generated income. However, that does not make assembly a disappointment. It can teach firms process discipline, employ workers and attract suppliers. The question is whether the ladder leads upwards. A region assembling sophisticated products without acquiring engineering, tooling or design capabilities remains exposed when multinational manufacturers move production. Conversely, indiscriminate local-content requirements can raise costs and destroy precisely the export competitiveness that makes upgrading possible.

Tamil Nadu needs a supplier-upgrading bargain, not a slogan. SIPCOT and industry associations could begin in electronics and automotive clusters by asking anchor firms which intermediate inputs local suppliers consistently fail to qualify for, and ask why. State-supported shared testing laboratories, precision-tooling facilities and certification assistance could address those failures. Public assistance should be conditional on verifiable results: suppliers meeting standards, winning repeat orders and improving productivity. This would develop local value without pretending that an economy-wide domestic-content percentage can be calculated reliably from export totals.

Yet shared facilities fail if they are designed without buyers. A laboratory does not guarantee a purchase order. Anchor firms should specify testing protocols and offer time-bound trial orders, while lenders provide working capital against verified receivables. Cluster institutions could coordinate these arrangements with public contributions matched by companies. Publish failed trials alongside successful ones; a supplier that cannot meet costs or quality after support should not receive indefinite subsidies. This is how industrial policy can create capabilities rather than shelter firms. Entry matters, but so does the discipline to stop paying for failure.

Investment agreements require an equally unsentimental ledger. Existing agencies already track permissions, land allotments and incentives. Guidance Tamil Nadu and SIPCOT could publish annual cohorts of major pledges showing financial closure, commissioning, investment actually realised, two-year employment retention and public incentives disbursed. Publish industry and district aggregates where contracts require confidentiality. Separate withdrawn projects from projects delayed by public utilities. Citizens should be able to distinguish a factory in production from a foundation stone in a photograph.

There is a genuine counterargument: another reporting regime can become another obstacle. The answer is not a new approval layer. The ledger should reuse administrative and verified firm data, apply only to significant publicly supported projects and release aggregate findings after investment, not condition routine clearances upon publicity. Future incentive contracts could specify milestones, sunset dates and proportionate recovery when agreed obligations are not met, subject to independent appeal. Government should reward additional capacity, not merely outbid another State for investment that would have occurred somewhere in India anyway.

The test cannot stop at factory gates. Software, healthcare, logistics, tourism and professional services create substantial value through skilled people, dependable city services and institutions that sustain trust. Agriculture and food processing matter because farm incomes, water availability and urban food prices are connected. A strategy measured only by industrial acres and manufacturing announcements misses how an advanced economy actually functions.

Labour offers the most revealing paradox. An analysis of formal manufacturing data found that Tamil Nadu accounted for 40.3% of India's directly employed women factory workers in 2024. That leadership deserves recognition. But success at entry does not guarantee progression, secure contracts or continued employment after family responsibilities change. Nor does growing output establish that ordinary workers receive a fair share of productivity gains. A serious scorecard would follow inflation-adjusted earnings, retention, safety and mobility into supervisory and technical roles, including for contract labour.

Sometimes the decisive intervention is a bus rather than a training programme. SIPCOT, municipalities and participating firms could test timed shift transport, childcare and affordable rental accommodation in selected estates, sharing costs and publishing results after twelve and twenty-four months. Evaluate whether more women remain employed, commute safely and advance to better-paid roles. Expand only the measures that work. No statewide construction spree is needed before evidence exists.

Education needs comparable honesty. Tamil Nadu's reported higher-education enrolment ratio of 47%, against 28.4% nationally, reflects access on a remarkable scale. The 2026-27 budget's plan to train five lakh young people in artificial intelligence by 2031 is potentially valuable. But enrolment counts entrants; training targets count participants. Neither demonstrates competence or employment. Publicly funded programmes should disclose independently checked completion, practical assessments, placement, median earnings and six-month retention, while protecting privacy and recognising graduates who pursue further study.

An outcome requirement must not become a crude ranking that punishes colleges serving disadvantaged students. Compare results with each institution's starting conditions and with similar students who did not receive the programme. Pair institutions with employers to design paid apprenticeships and assess actual work, not certificate accumulation. Research partnerships should likewise be judged by prototypes adopted, production problems solved and viable enterprises created, rather than announcements of collaboration.

Now follow the worker home. Chennai's industrial density produces opportunity, but rents, congestion and flooding consume part of its value. Coimbatore, Hosur, Madurai and Tiruchy can absorb more growth only if transport, serviced land, drainage, water and housing precede demand. Before approving an industrial park, publish a readiness assessment covering these services and the cost of connecting workers. Give local bodies predictable maintenance funds tied to independently measured service performance. A factory's competitiveness begins on the street outside it.

Energy makes the point sharply. Tamil Nadu's renewable strength could help exporters facing tighter carbon expectations, but installed megawatts cannot compensate for unreliable supply, connection delays or uncompetitive tariffs. Industrial clusters should report actual outages, connection times and effective costs. Prioritise transmission, storage and distribution improvements where these figures show the largest losses. For water-intensive parks, require basin-level availability tests, metering, functioning treatment and independently verified discharge compliance. Flood exposure should influence land-use decisions before, not after, a disaster.

These prescriptions cost money, which makes fiscal choices unavoidable. The August budget revised the 2025-26 fiscal deficit to 3.5% of GSDP against an original 2.9% target. Salaries, pensions and interest are expected to consume 61% of revenue receipts in 2026-27. This is not an argument against welfare: Tamil Nadu's social achievements helped build its workforce. It is an argument against disguising opportunity costs. Each sizeable incentive should disclose its public cost, expected additional investment, likely spillovers and the infrastructure or social expenditure forgone.

Obviously the State cannot deliver everything alone. Ports, rail freight, highways, trade policy and some incentives depend on New Delhi. State and Union agencies should jointly publish a short list of binding logistics projects, with named responsibilities, financing and completion milestones. Federal cooperation is valuable when a container moves faster, not when rival governments compete to claim the photograph.

Ultimately, Tamil Nadu needs a second, public scoreboard beside the $1.5-trillion target. Track real median earnings, women's job retention, supplier productivity, completion of supported investments, reliable urban services and water stress by district. Set baselines first; publish annual progress and independent evaluations. These measures will sometimes move in conflicting directions. That is precisely why they belong in public view.

The ribbon in our imagined photograph will have been cut. The minister will have left, the speeches will be archived, and another shift will begin. On that shift, someone may receive a higher wage; a small supplier may secure its first demanding contract; a young engineer may solve a problem previously solved abroad. Or none of these may happen. The difference will not appear on the plaque. It will decide what the milestone was worth.

Thakur is Professor & Director, Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Public Policy, Sustainability, and ESG advances research, Alliance University, Bengaluru

The Chief Minister reviewed rainfall data recorded since Saturday night, river and canal discharge levels, subway monitoring operations, and the status of public grievances.

Later, he chaired a review meeting which was attended by ministers and senior officials. Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran briefed the Chief Minister on relief measures undertaken after rains, including food distribution to affected residents.

A statement from the government said Vijay appreciated the civic body officials for their efforts following heavy downpours, and also instructed staff at the control centre to listen attentively to public complaints and take immediate action to resolve their issues.

Following the extremely heavy rainfall that lashed several parts of Chennai from Saturday night to the wee hours of Sunday, 35 locations reported waterlogging. Taking note of the ground situation, Chief Minister Vijay directed ministers to return to Chennai and oversee the mitigation and relief works. The efforts are being headed by PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna, who visited several parts of the city to monitor and supervise the works.

The corporation deployed motor pumps that were kept on standby and cleared stagnant water from all 35 spots. Overnight heavy rains also led to tree falls at 22 locations, which were cleared immediately to restore traffic flow. Also, the standing rainwater in 22 subways was cleared to ensure uninterrupted vehicular movement, said the corporation.

To support residents in low-lying areas, 227 relief camps and 112 central kitchens stocked with food supplies have been kept ready. On Sunday, the corporation distributed meals to 13,500 people in inundated areas.

Among the areas that reported severe waterlogging was the Vaidyanathan flyover in Tondiarpet, where several two-wheelers and autorickshaws were stranded before the inundation was cleared. According to G Shanmugavel, a resident of Perambur – which incidentally is Chief Minister Vijay’s constituency – inundation and waterlogging are a recurrent problem that they face every year. “We urgently need a permanent drainage solution," he said.

Low-lying residential streets in Vyasarpadi, including Mullai Nagar and Golden Nagar, suffered knee-deep inundation, while sewage-mixed rainwater accumulated on Glass Factory Road in Tiruvottiyur. In the south, Velachery's AGS Colony and neighbouring areas suffered flooding up to three feet deep before water receded hours later. AI and IT Minister R Kumar, who represents Velachery constituency, inspected the relief measures in the area.

Geetha Ganesh, secretary of the AGS Colony RWA, requested the installation of an automatic rain gauge (ARG) to improve localised rainfall tracking for flood control.

Tamil Nadu has 14 State universities, of which only Mother Teresa Women’s University currently has a regular Vice-Chancellor. The remaining 13 universities are functioning without regular VCs, creating administrative difficulties.

The delay in regular appointments stems from a pending court case over a Bill introduced by the previous DMK government that would make the Chief Minister the Chancellor of State universities. With the legal uncertainty persisting, the newly formed TVK government decided to appoint senior professors as interim VCs until it could make regular appointments.

As part of the move, senior professors have already been appointed as interim VCs at Alagappa University and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. The government is considering appointments for 11 other universities and has obtained lists of eligible senior professors from the institutions.

However, reports that the government shelved the proposal raised questions about the status of the remaining appointments. Department officials have now maintained that the plan remains unchanged, signalling that the government intends to proceed with the interim arrangement despite the uncertainty surrounding regular VC appointments.

The proposed appointments have also drawn scrutiny of the selection process. Professors whose names figure on the lists have urged the government to ensure transparency, pointing out that VC appointments under previous regimes had faced allegations of irregularities. They have stressed the need to avoid similar controversies in the present exercise.

Higher Education Department officials have maintained that the government intends to select senior professors with clean records, without corruption allegations or departmental disciplinary proceedings. The credibility of the selection process will therefore be crucial as the government seeks to fill leadership gaps across universities while regular appointments remain stalled.

Responding to a query about his remarks that 15 MLAs would join the TVK and the AIADMK's complaint to the Governor over the issue, Sengottaiyan clarified that he had not specifically said they would be from the AIADMK. “I merely said 15 MLA’s would join the TVK. I never mentioned that they would be from the AIADMK. Let anyone point to evidence that I said so. I cannot respond to fabricated allegations,” he said.

Refusing to respond to criticisms from AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, the minister said, “The internal problems of AIADMK should be addressed by two factions of the party and not by me." Further, Sengottaiyan said his expulsion from the AIADMK had turned out to be a blessing. “I wouldn’t have become a minister if I had continued in AIADMK,” he said.

Dismissing the poaching allegation, the minister argued that political leaders moving between parties is an established practice and cannot automatically be described as horse-trading.

He said such political shifts occurred during former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s tenure as well. People from other political organisations had joined the AIADMK, while others had left it for different parties and subsequently contested elections together, he said.

According to Sengottaiyan, these movements reflected a recurring feature of political life, and there was no basis for attaching the label of horse-trading to every change in party affiliation.

The SIT arrested the manager, identified as Sakthivel, after police teams carried out intensive searches at Veeramani's house on Lloyds Road, his farmhouse at Kanathur and his office on October 11 and seized key documents and digital evidence related to the cases.

Investigators are probing financial transactions routed through Sakthivel allegedly to help Veeramani evade legal action, according to an official statement.

Meanwhile, the SIT has registered seven cases against Veeramani. Last week, the police arrested three drivers linked to Veeramani identified as Lasar, Parthiban and Babu. Lasar was with the businessman for 23 years, while the two others were employed with Veeramani for eight years. Earlier, Greater Chennai Police (GCP) Commissioner A Amalraj had issued orders directing that Veeramani and two of his associates, Mahendra Simhan (63) and Shanthi (60), be detained under the Goondas Act. Veeramani, who ran GEM Granites and Group of companies and his associates have been in prison since August 29.

Another person, Ganesan (42), a former employee of Veeramani, was arrested for being in possession of a video of Veeramani sexually abusing a minor and not alerting the police. The case was eventually transferred to an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT), supervised by Commissioner A Amalraj.

A pendrive with the video was sent to the city police's Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit in October 2025, and a case was registered on October 7, 2025. However, a closure report was filed by the city police in February 2026 stating that the video was unclear. This was rejected by the special court judge, after which the police began the investigation again and identified the man in the video as Veeramani.

Police said that survivors are also approaching them through the SIT's WhatsApp helpline, 9345319676.

The rainfall was so extremely heavy that Parry recorded 36 cm, followed by Kathivakkam with 34 cm, Chennai Central with 27 cm, and Tiruvottiyur and Ennore with 22 cm each in just 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, an upper air cyclonic circulation lying over north interior Karnataka and its neighbourhood, and a low-pressure area formed over the southwest Arabian Sea on Sunday under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the same region, are likely to bring more rains in the coming days.

Surprised by the intensity of the rainfall, many described it as a cloudburst. However, not all experts concur. A cloudburst is conventionally described in India as 100 mm or more of rainfall within one hour over a small area of about 20 to 30 square km. Based on the observed rainfall pattern, the Chennai event appears to have resulted from organised, widespread convective activity linked to the cyclonic circulation, rather than an isolated, highly localised cloudburst, said weathermen.

Heavy rain was also recorded at several other places in and around Chennai. MGR Nagar recorded 19 cm, while CD Hospital in Tondiarpet and Perambur recorded 18 cm each. Tondiarpet logged 17 cm, and Vadapalani and the Chennai Collector Office recorded 16 cm each. Basin Bridge, Nungambakkam, YMCA Nandanam, Meenambakkam and Alandur recorded 15 cm each, while Ice House recorded 14 cm. Meenambakkam and Madhavaram received 13 cm each. Manali, Madipakkam, Manali New Town and Saligramam recorded 12 cm each, and Valasaravakkam, Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur and Marakkanam in Villupuram received 11 cm each.

On Monday, heavy to very heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely at isolated places over Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and the Nilgiris districts, with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph at one or two places. Heavy rain with similar conditions is likely over Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Tirupur, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Sivaganga, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Villupuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Kallakurichi, Tirupattur, Erode, Namakkal, Puducherry and Karaikal area.

On October 21, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Madurai, Theni, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Dindigul districts. Heavy rain is likely over Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Tirupur, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Tiruchy, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, and Karur districts, and Karaikal area.

On October 22, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Tiruvannamalai, Salem, Namakkal, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchy, Erode, Pudukkottai, Karur and Sivaganga districts.

The maximum temperature on Monday is expected to be 32 degrees Celsius, with the minimum dipping to 24 degrees Celsius.

According to RMC data, the northeast monsoon rainfall across the State between October 1 and October 18 was 57 per cent higher than normal, standing at 163.2 mm compared to the average 103.8 mm.

The teams were dispatched from the 4th Battalion of the NDRF at Nallurkuppam near Arakkonam in Ranipet district, following a request from the Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Department.

Each team comprises 30 personnel, taking the total strength of the deployment to 90. The move comes as part of the preparedness measures to deal with the northeast monsoon, particularly amid the forecast of very heavy rainfall in Chennai.

The teams were deployed on the orders of Akhilesh Kumar, Senior Commandant of the 4th Battalion, to ensure a swift response to emergencies and safeguard residents in vulnerable areas.

The NDRF personnel are being positioned to respond to possible flooding, waterlogging and other emergencies that could arise from intense rainfall. Their deployment is intended to strengthen the city's disaster response capabilities during the ongoing monsoon season.

Chennai and its surrounding areas have been witnessing continued rainfall, raising concerns over inundation in low lying areas and disruptions to normal life. The orange alert for October 19 signals the possibility of very heavy rainfall, warranting heightened preparedness by the authorities.

The deployment of the three NDRF teams is part of the precautionary measures being taken by the State Disaster Management Department to ensure that rescue operations can be carried out promptly if the situation deteriorates.

According to an order issued by Registrar of Cooperative Societies Latha, the incentive will be based on the quantity of onions sold by each worker.

Onion sales at ration shops to control prices

The government has procured onions in three phases from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) to control rising onion prices in the open market and ensure that quality onions are available to the public at affordable rates.

These onions are being sold through ration shops operated by cooperative societies across the State.

The order stated that ration shop workers have been handling additional duties, including receiving and storing onions, sorting them, weighing them for sale and maintaining sales records.

To encourage workers carrying out these additional tasks, the government has decided to provide an incentive of Rs 2 for every kilogram of onions sold.

The incentive amount will be credited directly to the workers' bank accounts through the Electronic Clearing Service (ECS), the order said.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, traders and the public thronged the market on Saturday (October 17) to buy flowers. Jasmine was being sold at Rs 1,800 per kg in the morning, before easing to Rs 1,500 later in the day. A trader said prices of jasmine could rise rapidly if the rain continues and cuts supply.

Prices had stayed low during the Tamil month of Purattasi, as there are no major festival days. They are now rising gradually as the festive season has begun and the rain is continuing.

Flowers grown in Madurai and neighbouring districts are brought to Mattuthavani and sent across Tamil Nadu. Some are also exported.

PRICES OF FLOWERS (per kg)

Arabian jasmine (Pichi): Rs 900 to Rs 1,000

Jasmine (Mullai): Rs 800 to Rs 900

Firecracker flower (Kanakambaram): Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800

Nerium Oleander: Rs 500 to Rs 600

Damask Rose: Rs 350 to Rs 400

Tuberose: Rs 300 to Rs 350

Chrysanthemum: Rs 200 to Rs 300

Bael leaves: Rs 200 to Rs 250

Sweet marjoram: Rs 200 to Rs 250

Cockscomb: Rs 120 to Rs 150

Marigold: Rs 80 to Rs 120

Holy basil: Rs 50 to Rs 70

Bermuda grass: Rs 50 to Rs 70

Lotus: Rs 20 to Rs 25 per flower

Several parts of the city witnessed heavy rains on Saturday night, leaving many localities inundated and causing traffic disruptions.

North Chennai bore the initial brunt, recording between 6 cm and 10 cm of rainfall in less than an hour.

Uthiramerur in Kancheepuram district received the maximum rainfall of 15 cm during the last 24 hours, ending at 5.30 pm on Saturday, followed by a 12 cm downpour at Manalurpet in Kallakurichi during the same period.

The RMC and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the northeast monsoon has entered an active phase.

The heavy showers were driven by an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh, alongside a trough extending from Lakshadweep to the southwest Bay of Bengal.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for 17 districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, and Tiruchi, until October 23.

A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.

Meteorologists forecast that widespread rainfall will continue across several districts -- Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Thoothukudi, Kallakurichi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.

Rains are also expected in Puducherry and Karaikal, it said.

On Saturday, Palaniswami launched the celebrations marking the party's 55th anniversary. Addressing party workers, he urged cadres to work unitedly and with determination to overcome the political challenges facing the party. The former Chief Minister asserted that no one could damage the party and expressed confidence that the AIADMK would return to power in the State.

However, Velumani and Thangamani held separate celebrations in their respective hometowns, drawing attention to the simmering differences between the senior leaders and Palaniswami.

Velumani held a separate event in Tiruttani, where he garlanded a statue of former Chief Minister and party founder MG Ramachandran and distributed sweets. Following suit, Thangamani separately garlanded an MGR statue at Pallipalayam.

The origin of the rift in the party can be traced to the pre-Assembly election time when they had favoured an alliance with the TVK, but Palaniswami rejected the proposal, reportedly causing frustration among sections of the party leadership.

After the election, 25 AIADMK MLAs led by C Ve Shanmugam and Velumani defied the party whip and supported the TVK government during its floor test in the Assembly. Palaniswami subsequently removed the 25 MLAs from their party posts. However, within a few days, Velumani and some other senior leaders were reinstated to their headquarters positions. However, Velumani did not assume his post and urged Palaniswami to restore his district secretary post.

Now, the party’s latest defeat in the bypolls have reportedly renewed dissent within the party, with disgruntled leaders questioning Palaniswami's leadership.

Sources said key functionaries and supporters of the dissident faction had been holding consultations at Velumani's residence over the past three days to discuss the party's successive electoral defeats. The dissidents have repeatedly alleged that Palaniswami's unilateral decisions were responsible for the setbacks.

According to police, the accused, Mohamed Sajith, son of Mohamed Abros, worked as a tailor at the private mill in Vagarai village.

The police had received reliable information that cannabis chocolates were being delivered by courier to one of the migrant workers staying at the mill, where several young men from other states are employed.

Acting on the tip-off, Superintendent of Police S Jayakumar formed a special team led by Kallimandayam Inspector Maniyan, and Sub-Inspector Thirumalaisamy conducted a search in the private mill and seized the chocolate packets from Sajith.

The police inquiry revealed that he had ordered the chocolates online from a website called “ITS Herb”. The police registered a case against him and remanded him in judicial custody.

The SP Jayakumar warned that stringent action would be taken against those involved in the illegal sale, smuggling and consumption of narcotics in the district. He urged the public to report information on drug-related activities through the “Drug Free Tamilnadu” website.

Speaking to reporters in Madurai, he said the decision on the GO on reservation for Muslims who had converted from other religions was taken after consulting all Muslim political parties.

Asked about the arrest of a TVK functionary in a methamphetamine case, he said the circulation of the drug had increased during the DMK government’s five-year rule.

His remarks came after methamphetamine worth Rs 270 crore was seized from the house of N Boopalan, a functionary of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Nagai. He was later suspended from the party.

“Had this happened under the DMK regime, they would have dismissed the issue by claiming that it was not methamphetamine but kolam powder,” he alleged. He also accused the previous DMK government of covering up a drug seizure in Ramanathapuram by claiming that the seized substance was fertiliser.

Turning to the AIADMK, Nirmalkumar alleged that the party had reached a dire state under the leadership of Edappadi K Palaniswami, leaving its members uncertain about their next course of action.

He further accused Palaniswami of attempting to mortgage AIADMK properties to the DMK.

The minister also criticised Palaniswami for refusing to meet Vijay in his capacity as Chief Minister, claiming that not even a brick at the AIADMK headquarters would accept his decision.

Former Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin said, “Deva was a pure hearted person who knew nothing of jealousy, deceit or scheming. Earning a distinct identity for himself, so much so that Gaana became synonymous with Deva.”

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “Deva excelled in several fields, not just as a music composer but also as a singer and lyricist. Deva, will forever be remembered in people’s hearts for his melodious music.”

AIADMK general secretary and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “Coming from a humble background, Deva reflected the lives and experiences of ordinary people through his music. He left his distinctive mark across genres, from mass numbers and melodies to devotional songs.”

TNCC president Manickam Tagore said, “A legendary music composer who captivated the 1990s generation with his energetic Gaana numbers and heart touching melodies, Deva had a unique gift for transforming the emotions and experiences of ordinary people into film music.”

CPM and CPI state secretaries P Shanmugam and M Veerapandian also condoled the demise of Deva.

VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said Deva had carved a unique niche for himself in Tamil cinema and taken Gaana music to the international stage.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Deva composed music for many iconic songs celebrated by the fans of Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Ajith and Chief Minister Vijay, among other leading actors. He was also instrumental in introducing Gaana music, a genre rooted in the lives of ordinary people, to Tamil cinema.”

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman noted that Deva’s distinctive “Gaana songs are celebrated as ‘Deva Gaanam’, along with his energetic rhythms, melodious tunes and songs deeply rooted in the cultural ethos of the soil”.

In a statement, he said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had been speaking about eradicating drugs, while functionaries of his party were hoarding the drugs.

Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Stalin said that instead of conducting an enumeration of communists through tahsildars, Vijay should conduct a district-wise enumeration of drug peddlers within his own party.

"Was the TVK leader preaching to the public about drug eradication while the drug mafia is operating within his own party? A huge quantity of drugs has been seized in a single search. The entire network must be exposed, and the culprits brought to justice," Stalin said.

He further alleged that the ruling party had turned from a bad party into a Breaking Bad party within five months of coming to power.

A massive drug seizure has sparked a political controversy after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested TVK district functionary N Boopalan and his associate following the recovery of 135 kilograms of methamphetamine from the associate's residence. TVK subsequently expelled Boopalan from all party positions.

The handbook’s full-year estimates put the share of young people in the NEET category at 24.5%. Though this has fallen from 34% in 2017–18, the gender divide remains stark.

The share among young women has declined from 49% to 40% over the same period, while the figure for young men stands at 10%. NEET refers to young people who are not working, studying or receiving training. The category does not necessarily mean they are unemployed or unwilling to work; it can also include those engaged in unpaid domestic or care work who are not in education or training.

The figures come despite Tamil Nadu having the country’s highest share of young graduates. About 52% of people aged 22–29 in the State hold a degree, according to the handbook. The report also notes that three-quarters of young men and women aged 15–21 are in education, raising questions about the transition from education to employment, particularly for young women.

Ruchi Gupta, executive director, Future of India Foundation, said during the launch discussion that young people needed access to jobs, a path to better pay and career progression. “Without opportunities to move ahead,” she argued, “workers may struggle to see a future in the jobs available to them.”

The handbook records an increase in women’s employment, but much of the growth has been in less secure forms of work. Among women aged 15 and above, the share in work rose by 14 percentage points to 46% between 2017–18 and 2025. Nearly 60% of that increase came from own-account, casual or unpaid family work.

The report also highlights a wage gap. Women in salaried jobs earn 73 paise for every rupee earned by men, while self-employed women earn 39 paise and women in casual work earn 49 paise.

The handbook assesses youth opportunities across all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu by bringing together nearly 180 indicators from 27 government databases, covering employment, education, skilling, economic opportunity, and participation and agency.

The DCWSS has called for applications for eight posts to operate the 1098 Child Helpline, specifically for case workers. The helpline operates round the clock, with more than ten staff currently attending calls at the department's Chennai office. Officials have said the existing workforce is insufficient, while 304 staff are deployed at the district level to handle field interventions.

The appointment has been called for the collector office, Egmore railway station, Koyambedu and Madhavaram bus stands. The helpline administrator will oversee the smooth functioning of the service and ensure prompt responses to calls. Call operators will attend incoming calls and make initial referrals.

Candidates can apply through https://dsdcpimms.tn.gov.in or email their applications to chlrecruitment.dcwss@gmail.com.

While the state-level recruitment aims to address staff shortages in handling helpline calls, the DCPU in Nagapattinam in particular has announced temporary appointments under its newly created Youth Justice Group.

It has announced eight vacancies for CHL 1098 case workers. Applicants must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board and possess good communication skills. Preference may be given to candidates with emergency helpline experience. The monthly salary is Rs 17,640, and work will be on a shift basis.

The district has also announced one Junior Assistant and one Office Assistant post under the Youth Justice Group on a temporary, one-year contract basis. Eligible candidates below 42 years can download application forms and instructions from nagapattinam.nic.in.

His decision to organise a separate event, instead of joining the celebrations at MGR Maaligai, has fuelled speculation about growing discontent within the Opposition party.

At the headquarters, Palaniswami launched the celebrations marking the AIADMK's entry into its 55th year, urging cadres to remain united and determined to overcome the party's political challenges. He called for concerted efforts to defeat what he termed "anti-democratic forces" and the "anti-people regime" through democratic means, asserting that no one could damage the party and expressing confidence that it would return to power in the State.

However, Velumani held a separate celebration in Tiruttani, where he garlanded a statue of party founder and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR) and distributed sweets. Thangamani, too, marked the occasion separately by garlanding an MGR statue at Pallipalayam.

Sources said key functionaries and supporters of the dissident faction had been holding consultations at Velumani's residence over the past three days to discuss the reasons behind the party's successive electoral defeats.

In Villupuram, C Ve Shanmugam urged the leadership to hold talks to ascertain the reasons for the electoral defeats and work out a strategy to return to power. "My only wish is that the AIADMK should regain strength to form Amma's rule again. I will fully cooperate with such initiatives, and I have no personal agenda. It is enough if the AIADMK is united and emerges as a strong political force," Shanmugam told reporters.

Indicating that the core cadres were still with the AIADMK and that many leaders also stood with the former Chief Minister, the party IT Wing put out posts hailing Palaniswami as a "phenomenon" who is carrying forward the AIADMK legacy in its 55th year of existence.

"This is not a group of losers who get upset after seeing defeat. This is a team of warriors who stand firm and win head-on, no matter how many odds are flung at them! Our party, full of valiant political workers, following the path of the revolutionary leaders MGR and Amma, cannot be shaken by any force!" the party's IT Wing said.

Meanwhile, party whip and Palaniswami supporter Agri Krishnamurthy rejected rebels' demand to reinduct expelled leaders, saying O Panneerselvam contested and won on the rival DMK's Rising Sun symbol. He also pointed out that TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala are at present running their own parties.

Against this backdrop, the separate foundation day events have assumed significance beyond the customary celebrations. At a time when Palaniswami has called for unity, two senior leaders' decision to organise parallel programmes has underscored the continuing challenge facing the AIADMK leadership in containing internal dissent.

Speaking to reporters in Tiruchy, Thirumavalavan said the State government must take steps to control the rising prices of essential commodities, which disproportionately affect the poor and marginalised sections. He held both the State and Union governments responsible for tackling inflation, pointing to fuel prices as a key factor.

While attributing the rise in commodity prices partly to fluctuations in global fuel prices, he said higher prices for essentials, particularly rice, placed an additional burden on ordinary people. Elected governments had a responsibility to contain price rises in the public interest, he said.

On delimitation, the VCK chief said the DMK had been strongly opposing the exercise in Parliament and urged its MPs to maintain their stance. Any increase or reduction in parliamentary representation in the name of delimitation would not be good for democracy, he said, adding that the BJP was attempting to secure members' approval for the exercise.

Thirumavalavan also called on the State government to crack down on drug trafficking, particularly methamphetamine smuggling, and take stringent action against those involved, irrespective of their political affiliations.

He also expressed grief over the death of music director Deva, recalling his iconic introduction music for Superstar Rajinikanth, which fans continue to celebrate.

The government said it will rectify the difference between the interim payout and the final pension amount in the future.

In a recent circular issued by Finance Secretary (Expenditure) N Venkatesh to the Director of Treasuries and Accounts, the Finance Department stated that retired government employees with more than 10 years but less than 18 years of qualifying service would be sanctioned an interim monthly payout of Rs 10,000 at a flat rate, excluding applicable dearness relief.

Venkatesh had stated that if pensioners were credited with a payout equivalent to 30 per cent despite not having completed 18 years of qualifying service, the excess amount would be recovered from their bank accounts in 10 equal instalments.

The announcement triggered protests among government employees and teachers, prompting the government to withhold the Finance Secretary's order.

The TVK-led government has decided to continue the TAPS introduced during the previous DMK regime and issued detailed guidelines for interim pension payments to eligible government employees retiring on or after January 1, 2026.

A Division Bench of Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel passed the interim order in a petition filed by A Sampathkumar seeking protection of the properties covered by Document No. 1646 of 1887.

The court observed that the deed showed the absolute dedication of the lands mentioned in its schedule to the temple. The petitioner has sought comprehensive identification and verification of the properties, alleging that some of the lands may have been alienated or otherwise dealt with contrary to the terms of the endowment.

He has also sought directions to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and temple authorities to verify the properties against the original deed and relevant revenue and registration records, and to initiate appropriate legal action if unauthorised transactions are established.

The interim injunction restraining the Sub-Registrars of Srirangam, Tiruchirappalli Joint III, Musiri and Kulithalai from registering documents relating to the scheduled properties will remain in force until November 5, 2026, when the case is to be heard again.

The Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and smaller parties, including actor Karunas-led Mukkulathor Pulipadai and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, have recently submitted their views to the Commission.

The CPM, CPI and IUML have met the Commission more than twice and submitted their representations.

"We have sent invitations to all recognised political parties, including the DMK, AIADMK, PMK and TVK. We are awaiting their views and responses on honour killings. Apart from political parties, a large number of organisations and human rights groups have submitted their opinions and representations to the Commission," said KN Basha, chairman of the Commission.

The bigger parties shying away from providing their inputs has raised questions about whether they are more worried about losing OBC votes, as oppressed Dalits are at the receiving end in most of the murder cases.

During the Assembly session, Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu said that the government would enact a separate law to prevent honour killings once the Commission submits its report.

In addition to collecting opinions and suggestions from various stakeholders, the Commission has also been conducting awareness programmes on the legal aspects of preventing honour killings, particularly among college students.

"The entire panel has visited various colleges and delivered lectures on the Commission's work and the legal aspects of honour killings. We have gathered fresh ideas from Gen Z students on measures to prevent such killings," Justice Basha said.

The State government under the then Chief Minister MK Stalin constituted the Commission in November 2025 to recommend measures to prevent honour killings in the State, after a spate of horrific caste-based killings of couples falling in love beyond their own community. It is headed by retired High Court judge Justice K N Basha, with retired IAS officer V Palanikumar and retired IPS officer S Ramanathan as members.

The Commission has been receiving suggestions and views from the public, legal experts, social activists, non-governmental organisations, political parties, academicians and other stakeholders.

Speaking at a welfare programme organised under the 'Kaaval Kudumbam' scheme at the Avadi Police Commissionerate, the DGP said the force would be deployed wherever required to assist the public during flooding, tree falls and power-related incidents. He added that meetings have been held with revenue, fire, municipal and electricity departments to ensure swift response. He also assured that long-pending feeding allowance dues of police personnel were being examined and would be settled.

The event also focused on family welfare. Vanitha Aggarwal, president of Kaaval Kudumbam, inaugurated a daycare centre set up at the SM Nagar police quarters in Avadi. The centre will look after children of police personnel during duty hours, helping women personnel in particular.

Later, the DGP inaugurated a comprehensive medical camp organised in association with Apollo Hospitals at the SM Nagar Police Convention Centre. Around 500 police personnel and family members underwent general health check-ups, cardiac, pulmonary, vascular screening and eye examinations.

Avadi Police Commissioner T Senthilkumar, deputy commissioners and senior officers participated in the programme.

The police identified the deceased as Vijay (22), a resident of Manja Pettai in Pudukkottai and his friend Sudarsan (19). Both Vijay and Sudarsan were studying in a college in Pudukkottai, according to the police.

They both were proceeding to Sengipatti in Thanjavur by a two-wheeler when the accident occurred on Saturday. Vijay was riding the bike, and Sudarsan was riding pillion. According to the police, Vijay and Sudarsan were travelling to Sengipatti to contest in a Kabaddi tournament.

When the duo was nearing Arputhapuram on the Thanjavur-Pudukkottai National Highway, Vijay, who was riding the bike, lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding and hit a stationary lorry alongside the stretch of the Thanjavur-Pudukkottai National Highway. In the impact, both Vijay and Sudarsan were crushed to death on the spot.

Upon receiving the information, Vallam police rushed to the spot and inspected it. After the inspection, they retrieved the bodies and sent them to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. The Vallam police have registered a case, and further investigations are under way.

The aspirant, R Dinesh, faced trial in a case arising from the 2017 Jallikattu agitation, the state’s bull-taming sport. A Division Bench of Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel, who heard the case, directed the authorities to comply with the single judge’s order and appoint him within 12 weeks.

As per the proceedings, the recruitment authorities had rejected Dinesh's candidature under GO Ms No. 1410, which says a person acquitted on the benefit of doubt, or because the complainant turned hostile, shall be treated as having been involved in a criminal case for recruitment purposes.

The Bench, however, held that Dinesh qualified as 'honourably acquitted', noting that the expression appears neither in the Code of Criminal Procedure nor in the Indian Penal Code, but has evolved through judicial pronouncements.

It referred to a Supreme Court judgment stating that when the accused is acquitted after full consideration of the prosecution case, and the prosecution miserably fails to prove the charges leveled against the accused, it can be said that the accused was 'honourably acquitted'.

The Sessions Court had acquitted Dinesh and others of charges of unlawfully assembling during the agitation, pelting stones at police personnel causing simple injuries and damaging vehicles in 2017, it noted. The acquittal was not due to any lapse by the prosecution, a compromise or a technicality, but purely due to lack of evidence, the judges observed.

After being informed that the prosecution had examined 24 witnesses, the High Court went through the depositions available on the e-Courts website and found that none of the witnesses identified any of the accused, including the writ petitioners.

Further pointing out that the Sessions Court had also relied on a February 2021 Government Order recording a policy decision to withdraw 308 cases registered during the 2017 Jallikattu protests, the Bench said it applies to Dinesh’s case as well, as the offences alleged against him were under the Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992.

The Bench further noted that Dinesh had disclosed the criminal case in his recruitment application dated August 1, 2022, about four months after his acquittal on April 19, 2022. Hence, the writ petitioner's acquittal qualifies as an 'honourable acquittal' in the context of service jurisprudence.

The allegations were made in a resolution adopted at a meeting of DMK MPs chaired by party president MK Stalin on Saturday.

Accusing the Congress of adopting a dual stand, the DMK alleged that the party's position on the SIR varied from State to State, despite what it described as errors in the revision exercise across the country.

The resolution alleged that the Congress remained a mute spectator when the agitation began and was later compelled to support the protests because it had no other option.

"The party has a character of appropriating the hard work of others and backstabbing them after the journey is over," the resolution said, criticising the Congress.

The DMK also described the Congress's protest against the SIR as a drama and questioned why the national party had not raised the issue in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In proceedings issued by the Director of School Education, the department has instructed school heads to allocate one period every month for quiz club activities and appoint a teacher in charge for every section of Classes 6 to 9.

The initiative aims to move beyond conventional question-and-answer competitions and encourage students to ask questions, explore information, connect ideas, and develop analytical thinking.

The department plans to provide standardised learning resources for the quiz club through the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) portal to ensure students across schools have equal opportunities to learn and practise. The teacher in charge of each class must download these resources from the school's EMIS portal and use them during the designated quiz period.

The learning materials will introduce students to different question formats, quiz procedures and competition rounds. According to the department, this will help students become familiar with the formats and rounds used in state-level quiz competitions.

The initiative is intended to make quizzing an inclusive learning activity rather than an exercise limited to a small group of students who participate in competitions. The department has stressed that every student in Classes 6 to 9 should be encouraged to participate, seek information independently, and expand their knowledge.

The department has outlined several objectives for the 'Sol! Vel!' quiz club, including improving general knowledge, developing inquisitive minds, strengthening observation and comprehension skills, and enhancing memory and quick thinking.

The department has stressed that the quiz club should function not merely as a training centre for competitions but as a learning platform that nurtures a community of students who question, think, research, learn and share knowledge. The intended outcome is to encourage students to replace the response "I do not know" with the attitude "I will find out."

A TASMAC board meeting was held on Saturday to discuss sales strategies for the Deepavali season. During the meeting, officials discussed introducing new liquor products, including beer brands sourced from other states.

Four new beer varieties proposed for TASMAC

The four proposed beer varieties are Bira, Heineken Silver, Simba Roar and Lone Wolf. According to the Daily Thanthi report, Heineken Silver is to be sourced from Karnataka, while Simba Roar and Lone Wolf are to be procured from Chhattisgarh.

The starting price of the new varieties is expected to be at least Rs 250. The beers are proposed to be made available at Elite liquor outlets, which stock a range of premium alcoholic beverages.

Officials said the procurement process would begin once the state government grants the necessary permission. The proposed launch is being planned ahead of Deepavali, though availability will depend on the completion of the approval process.

Over 800 liquor products sold across Tamil Nadu

TASMAC retail outlets and Elite shops across Tamil Nadu sell more than 800 different liquor products, including brandy, whisky, rum, gin, vodka and beer. These products are manufactured at local distilleries or procured from other states.

According to the report, 17 varieties of beer are currently available in the category cited, including Kingfisher British Empire, SNJ 10000, Spiel Triple Strong, Black Pearl, Tuborg, Carlsberg, Budweiser, Haywards 5000, Godfather, Boom, Max 11000, Zingaro, Kalyani Black Label, Bullet, Woodpecker and Black Buster.

Beer varieties expected to increase to 25

TASMAC currently procures 21 varieties of beer along with seven other categories of alcoholic beverages, according to the report. With the proposed addition of four new beer varieties, the number of beer varieties in this procurement category is expected to rise to 25.

The introduction of the new products remains subject to government approval. The timing of their availability at Elite outlets will depend on when the required permissions are granted and procurement arrangements are completed.

Industrialist Veeramani (84) was arrested and incarcerated by the police over sexual abuse allegations involving minor girls.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently probing the complaints lodged against him.

According to police, so far, 10 young girls have filed complaints against Veeramani, leading to seven cases being registered.

He has been arrested in four of these cases under the stringent Goondas Act.

After a 3-day police custody, court permission was granted to interrogate Veeramani by the police for an additional two days.

Accordingly, a SIT interrogated Veeramani inside the prison facility from morning until evening on Friday and recorded his official statement.

Police are expected to continue interrogating him inside the prison on Saturday as well.

In light of his advanced age, the court permitted this custodial inquiry to be conducted directly within prison premises.

The high-spirited celebrations at the Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Maaligai in Royapettah, the party's state headquarters here, saw the participation of hundreds of cadres and several senior leaders, including K P Munusamy, C Ponnaiyan, M Thambidurai, B Valarmathi, joining Palaniswami in paying floral tributes to the statues of late Chief Minister and founder M G Ramachandran and late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, to commemorate the Dravidian major's entry into its 55th year.

Scores of party leaders and cadres had gathered at the party headquarters early in the morning to celebrate the party's Foundation Day, and accorded a warm reception to Palaniswami upon his arrival. The AIADMK chief distributed sweets to the party members after unfurling the party flag.

However, a heavy political shadow hung over the high-spirited event, as the disgruntled leaders like S P Velumani, C Ve Shanmugam, P Thangamani, and Natham Viswanathan, and their loyalists completely skipped the headquarters celebrations under Palaniswami.

These senior leaders were among the rebel legislators who voted in favour of the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government during the floor test on May 13. They have been demanding a structural rehaul of the party following its electoral defeat in the April 2026 Assembly elections.

Later, speaking at the celebrations, Palaniswami said none can shake the AIADMK and regardless of the numerous challenges it faced, the party would rise like the proverbial phoenix and capture power in the state.

In Villupuram, C Ve Shanmugam urged the leadership to hold talks to ascertain reasons for defeat in the elections and work out a strategy to return to power.

"My only wish is that the AIADMK should regain strength to form Amma's rule again. I will fully cooperate with such initiatives and I have no personal agenda. It is enough if the AIADMK is united and emerges as a strong political force," Shanmugam told reporters.

"The 'Two leaves' should rule the state," he stressed.

Despite facing the party's disciplinary action, with Palaniswami removing them from key organisational roles in the AIADMK, Velumani and Shanmugam had been demanding that the leadership convene a meeting to discuss the reasons for the poll debacle.

In an attempt to rein in the rebels, the AIADMK chief stripped key posts of Velusamy-Shanmugam loyalists in the party.

Indicating that the core cadres were still with the AIADMK and many leaders too stood with the former Chief Minister, the party IT Wing put out posts hailing Palaniswami as a "phenomenon", who is carrying forward the AIADMK legacy in its 55th year of existence.

"This is not a group of losers who get upset after seeing defeat. This is a team of warriors who stand firm and win head-on, no matter how many odds are flung at them! Our party, full of valiant political workers, following the path of the revolutionary leaders MGR and Amma, cannot be shaken by any force!" the party's IT Wing said.

Founded in 1972 by the legendary actor and iconic leader MGR, the AIADMK completed 54 years of existence - a political journey defined by immense welfare legacies and major governance milestones. Its successive defeats in 2021 Assembly election at the hands of the DMK whose president M K Stalin became Chief Minister then, and the rout in 2026 Assembly election forfeiting its principal opposition status to the DMK and the sudden and spectacular elevation of TVK founder C Joseph Vijay as Chief Minister, led to setbacks in the AIADMK.

The mass exodus of its leaders and cadres to the ruling TVK, the AIADMK faced humiliation in the October 9 by-election in Madurantakam and Dharapuram SC reserved Assembly constituencies as its former legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama romped home the winners after contesting on TVK's Whistle symbol.

The party crisis deepened further with Velumani while speaking on the internal rift in the party demanded the re-induction of expelled leaders, explicitly calling for the return of former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, V K Sasikala, and AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran to revitalise the party after its recent string of electoral defeats.

He noted that a course correction is necessary to restore the party's strength. Party senior and Palaniswami's supporter Agri Krishnamurthy rejected the demand, saying Panneerselvam had contested and won on rival DMK's Rising Sun symbol.

As AIADMK entered into 55th year, Palaniswami urged party workers to strive unitedly with determination and overcome the new political challenges manifest before the party. The former Chief Minister stressed the need for unity and resolve among the party cadres, calling for concerted efforts to defeat the "anti-democratic forces", and "anti-people regime" through democratic means.

The party will submit a representation to President Droupadi Murmu, urging the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and the conduct of elections based on the electoral rolls prepared before the revision.

The decision was taken at a meeting of DMK MPs chaired by party president MK Stalin. A four-point resolution adopted at the meeting stressed that corrections to electoral rolls should safeguard people's voting rights and should not be used to deprive them of those rights.

"The credibility of EVMs has been questioned. The doubts have intensified because of differences between votes recorded in EVMs and those reflected in Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips. In view of this, the DMK and other opposition parties have emphasised that all VVPAT slips should be counted," the resolution stated.

The resolution also alleged that the Election Commission of India was functioning in a partisan manner and demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office.

The DMK also reiterated its decision not to participate in agitations organised by the Congress, which it accused of betraying the alliance.

Energy and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said the exercises were conducted from September 28 to October 14 to ensure public safety and restore power supply swiftly in the event of cyclones, heavy rain and flooding.

Emergency response teams comprising officials and field workers from neighbouring distribution circles were formed to carry out restoration work during disasters. Each team had around 20 personnel, supported by vehicles, including lorries and jeeps.

The drills involved removing damaged electric poles and erecting replacements, restoring tilted poles safely, replacing snapped or damaged power lines and repairing damaged electrical infrastructure. The exercises also aimed to improve coordination among field personnel and expedite power restoration during emergencies.

The mock drills were conducted in Cuddalore, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai and Tiruvallur districts.

The exercises are expected to improve TNPDCL's preparedness to handle monsoon-related outages and infrastructure damage.

The minister urged the public to avoid approaching low-hanging or snapped power lines and electric poles. People who spot fallen wires should not touch them and must immediately inform TNPDCL. He also advised residents to follow electrical safety precautions during rain and flooding.