Following the boy’s death at Puthupatti village near Namagiripettai, Namakkal District Collector L Madhubalan inspected the locality to review the dengue-prevention and mosquito-control measures being implemented in the area.

During his visit to the boy’s residence, the Collector met the grieving parents. They told him that their son had received treatment from Usha (38), who had undergone nursing training and was running a pharmacy while also treating members of the public.

Acting on the information, a team comprising District Health Officer K Poongodi, Rasipuram Government Hospital Chief Medical Officer Kalaiselvi and Namagiripettai police officials inspected the pharmacy.

The officials seized injections, medicines and other medical supplies from the premises and subsequently sealed the establishment. Usha was arrested, and a case was registered by the Namagiripettai police. Further investigation is under way.

The DVAC had registered a disproportionate assets case in 2011, alleging that Panneerselvam and his family members had failed to satisfactorily account for assets worth Rs 3.01 crore acquired during the check period between 2006 and 2011, when he served as Health Minister.

Panneerselvam, Senthamizhselvi, and Kathiravan filed a discharge petition in 2013, which the Cuddalore Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) allowed in 2016. However, the DVAC filed a revision petition challenging it.

In 2025, Justice P Velmurugan allowed the revision petition, set aside the CJM's order, and revived the criminal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the three accused filed a second discharge petition before the Sessions Court, which dismissed the plea.

Thereafter, they approached the Madras High Court challenging the Cuddalore Principal District and Sessions Court's June 30 order refusing to discharge them from the case.

In their plea, they also sought a stay on the trial proceedings and exemption from personal appearance before the trial court.

However, Justice V Lakshminarayanan dismissed the discharge petition.

On the instructions of Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V Sampath Kumar, District Collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar issued orders to ensure an uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders to Kamalathal.

As an immediate measure, three cylinders were delivered to her on Monday (September 21) night and Kamalathal resumed her routine on Tuesday (September 22) morning, serving steaming hot idlis to customers as usual.

A resident of Vadivelampalayam near Thondamuthur, Kamalathal has been selling idlis for just Rs one for nearly three decades. She began the venture using a firewood stove and switched to LPG cooking around 10 years ago.

Despite rising prices and increasing cooking costs, she has continued to keep the price of an idli unchanged. For several years, a gas company had been providing her with LPG cylinders free of cost. However, the supply was stopped about two months ago, leaving her struggling to keep her small kitchen running.

Seeking the restoration of the supply, Kamalathal visited the Coimbatore Collectorate on Monday and submitted a petition to the district administration.

“I am very happy and relieved that the LPG supply has been restored. I was worried about how I would continue serving my customers without the cylinders. I am grateful for helping me continue my service,” Kamalathal said.

Police said Annalakshmi, a resident of Avarangadu near Pallipalayam, had given birth to the twins at the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital on September 3. The couple already have a daughter.

After completing postnatal treatment, Annalakshmi returned home with the newborns on September 16. The tragedy came to light on Tuesday afternoon when she picked up the babies from their cradle to feed them.

To her shock, both infants were found unresponsive. The parents immediately rushed them to the Erode Government Headquarters Hospital, where doctors examined the babies and declared that they had already died.

The Pallipalayam police subsequently registered a case and began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The bodies of the two infants have been sent to the Government Medical College Hospital in Perundurai for a post-mortem to ascertain the exact cause of death.

“Only a post mortem report will shed light on the mystery shrouded death of the two newborns. Further action will be initiated based on the findings,” said a cop. Health department officials have also initiated a separate inquiry into the incident.

The admission process, which began on May 7, is being conducted across 181 government arts and science colleges in the State. The process is still under way, and the number of admissions is expected to increase further. For UG courses, 1,30,154 seats are available, including 3,195 additional seats allotted this year. Of these, 96,477 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 74.13% of the available seats. Of the students admitted to UG courses, 40,887 are male, and 55,566 are female. Meanwhile, PG admissions have recorded a comparatively lower enrolment. Of the 24,812 seats available, 13,700 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 55.22%. Among the PG students admitted, 4,061 are men, and 9,627 are women.

Officials said the admission process is continuing and the number of students admitted to both UG and PG courses is expected to rise further.

The sincerity of the initial probe, contained in a ‘further action dropped’ report filed by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) before the Special Pocso Court, have now come under scrutiny after the court refused to accept the closure report and ordered further investigation.

The report dated February 18, 2026, was filed in a case registered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act based on a complaint filed by an activist on October 6, 2025, after an unidentified man handed over a pen drive containing a video of a minor girl with a man.

The CCB registered the case on October 7 and questioned Veeramani. However, the investigation subsequently focused on the inability to establish the identity of the girl in the video and the absence of corroborative evidence. The forensic examination of the pen drive and a digital video recorder did not yield identifiable data establishing the identities of those seen in the footage, the police claimed in the report. Investigators also noted that the video carried a 2019 timestamp.

The police said they inspected the alleged scene in the presence of the local Village Administrative Officer and residents. The report stated that there were no CCTV cameras at the premises and that cameras in the surrounding area were not functioning.

Veeramani denied knowing the man in the video and disputed the location shown in the footage. Domestic workers and neighbours questioned by the police also said they could not identify the persons seen in the video.

However, after the special court rejected the attempt to drop further action, the revived probe led the police to identify the girl in the video. She identified herself and Veeramani, and her statement was recorded before a magistrate, said police sources.

According to the complaint, a note accompanying the pen drive claimed that the man in the video was Veeramani and that the footage had been recorded at a house associated with his acquaintance Shanthi in Chennai.

The renewed investigation has also resulted in the identification of several other survivors, some of whom were minors when the alleged offences took place. The police are now examining whether the abuse extended over several years.

Ex-aide arrested as cops widen probe, summon another tycoon for grilling

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Chennai Police have arrested a former employee at granite baron “Gem” Veeramani’s firm in connection with the investigation into the Pocso case against the businessman.

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time. Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025.

Addressing a review meeting with engineers of the Public Works and Highways departments here, Aadhav stressed the need for modern administrative infrastructure with adequate facilities like the ones in neighbouring Karnataka and Telangana. "Government buildings should have infrastructure comparable to private establishments," he said, adding that public facilities should be designed keeping people's needs in mind.

The minister's remarks come in the backdrop of his earlier statements that the site for the proposed complex had not been finalised and that concerns of the fishing community of Pattinapakkam would be considered before a decision was taken. He had said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would take the final call after examining the detailed project report.

Aadhav directed officials to ensure that government buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities. If departmental manpower is inadequate for the proposed inspection, private personnel may be engaged, he said.

He said 45,139 km of district roads would be taken up for immediate repairs and announced plans for a sea link between Chennai and Mamallapuram. Roads transferred from the Greater Chennai Corporation to the Highways Department would be upgraded within a year after the monsoon, he added.

Colour coding to indicate building safety

The government will introduce a colour-coded system to publicly indicate the condition of government buildings. Red stickers will identify buildings in poor condition, yellow those requiring repairs, and green those in good condition. The exercise will begin with schools and them cover colleges and hospitals. Details of the buildings and their maintenance status will also be made available online.

AI cameras to curb accidents

Noting that more than 88,500 people had died and over 1.2 lakh suffered serious injuries in road accidents during the past five years, Aadhav said AI-enabled cameras will be installed across more than 76,000 km of roads within three months, with surveillance planned at 100-metre intervals. "If private buses travel at 120 kmph with loud music, it is not merely the operator's fault; it is also the administration's failure to establish proper controls," he said.

Venkatesan alleged that the BJP was unable to accept the Keezhadi findings because the excavations indicated the existence of a civilisation predating that of the Gangetic plains.

“The evidence unearthed at Keezhadi points to the existence of a prosperous urban culture in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, before the emergence of urban civilisation in the Gangetic plains. This is the historical significance of Keezhadi. If this conclusion cannot be accepted, it should be scientifically challenged, and not through political allegations,” Venkatesan told reporters on Tuesday.

The Keezhadi study was not based merely on stratigraphy. It incorporated the findings of various scientific studies, including dating, stratigraphy, metallurgy and archaeobotany, he pointed out, the Left MP said.

It has been three years since archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna submitted his report to the Archaeological Survey of India, but it has not yet been released, he charged.

The central government had informed the court that it would release the report within nine months, but failed to do so. Later, before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, it stated that the report was being examined. Subsequently, the government said that an expert committee had been constituted, he said.

Amarnath Ramakrishna had also responded to the questions raised by the expert committee, Venkatesan said. “Now it is the responsibility of the Union government to release the report,” he said.

He further stated that if the report was incorrect, the central government should clearly state which parts were wrong and provide scientific evidence to substantiate its objections.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel also directed the district Collector to coordinate the inspection and to include in the status report an assessment of the feasibility of providing compensation to the elderly woman. The court directed the Collector to file the status report and adjourned the case to October 15.

The directions followed advocate Jayashree’s narration of the alleged poor sanitation conditions at the hospital in her PIL. Petitioner’s counsel, advocate R Alagumani, told the court that R Tamilkodi (68) was bitten by a rat on her left toe on the night of July 21 while recovering in the general ward after undergoing surgery for a leg fracture a day earlier. She also suffers from diabetes, the counsel said.

The incident allegedly occurred despite Tamilkodi’s family alerting hospital authorities about severe rat infestation in the ward three days earlier.

Following the incident, an advocate team, including the petitioner and her counsel, inspected the hospital and allegedly found poorly maintained toilets, broken or missing toilet doors, inadequate cleaning and water facilities, sewage leakage, stagnant drainage water, open drains near the wards, rodent access and stray dogs roaming the hospital premises.

The counsel contended that stagnant water could facilitate the breeding of vectors such as mosquitoes and other insects, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, as well as secondary bacterial infections among patients.

In a memo issued on September 16, the utility said several maintenance works were progressing at a slower pace and needed to be expedited. The works include replacement of aged conductors, strengthening of conductors, rectification of damaged pillars, and replacement of damaged high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) poles.

The directive follows a review meeting on northeast monsoon preparedness and flood mitigation works chaired by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar at the Secretariat on September 1.

The corporation has also directed officials to expedite pillar-heightening works identified by the utility and immediately prune trees near substations and distribution transformers. Tree branches near substations, distribution transformers, and power lines have to be cleared as part of the monsoon preparedness measures.

The utility has asked chief engineers and superintending engineers to take urgent measures to ensure completion of all pending works by September 30. The objective is to maintain uninterrupted power supply and prevent electrical accidents during the monsoon, it stressed.

The memo also warned that the executive engineer and assistant executive engineer concerned would be held responsible in case of electrocution accidents. Chief engineers and superintending engineers have been instructed to ensure compliance and put in place necessary safety measures.

Highlighting that senior citizens, particularly those managing co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension, are highly vulnerable to severe complications from infectious diseases, FESCATN outlined a charter of key demands.

V Rama Rao, president, FESCATN, emphasised the need for a structured elderly protection plan prioritising citizens aged 70 and above, followed by those in the 60–69 age bracket. “We recommend introducing pneumococcal vaccination under medical supervision for high-risk seniors to guard against pneumonia as part of broader geriatric care during this period,” Rao said.

The federation urged the government to direct the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to conduct bi-monthly special health camps across all 200 wards in the city, with similar camps extended to all districts across TN. These camps should offer fever screenings, BP and sugar checks, early dengue diagnosis, and guidance on mosquito prevention, alongside the distribution of Kabasura Kudineer and approved Siddha medicines.

FESCATN also requested a dedicated budgetary allocation managed by a special monitoring committee to fund these medical camps, supplies, vector control, and transport for vulnerable seniors.

While civic body workers have been conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns and clearing water-stagnating items from residential premises, FESCATN leadership pointed out lingering gaps in municipal sanitation. TN Srinivasan, treasurer, FESCATN, pointed out, “Stagnant rainwater pools on low-lying roads often take up to 4 days to evaporate, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Additionally, the federation raised concerns regarding contaminated drinking water supply. “Residents in southern localities like Nanganallur, Adambakkam, Pazhavanthangal, and Alandur have recently received foul-smelling tap water containing worms,” Rao highlighted, urging Metro Water to immediately ensure the supply of clean drinking water.

The clarification follows the State government’s gazetting of an amendment providing for an Environmental and Social Welfare Cess of up to Rs 20 on each unit container of alcoholic liquor.

The provision was introduced through the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026. Under this, the government can prescribe the cess based on the type and quantity of liquor and the nature of the container, subject to a maximum of Rs 20 per unit container. The levy is in addition to the existing VAT.

Vignesh, however, said the government would levy only Rs 10 as cess and adjust the amount against the Rs 10 already collected under the bottle buy-back scheme. “We’re collecting Rs 10 extra under the bottle buy-back scheme. The cess will be Rs 10 only, and not more than that. It will be adjusted against the Rs 10 already being collected. There won’t be any retail price hike in the near future just because of this,” the Minister told this correspondent.

Officials said that the existing Rs 10 collected separately for the bottle buy-back scheme would be incorporated into the MRP of the liquor. The government has also decided to hand over the responsibility of collecting, transporting and recycling empty bottles to the respective liquor manufacturers.

The new cess is intended to support recycling, safe disposal and reuse of liquor containers, rehabilitation and de-addiction programmes, welfare and livelihood support for families affected by alcohol addiction, awareness campaigns and ecological protection and restoration.

The Act defines a unit container as a bottle, jar, flask, pot, tin, can, tetra pack or similar receptacle designed to hold a specified quantity of liquor. The cess will not form part of taxable turnover and will come into force on a date to be notified by the government.

Citing the trial in the Sathankulam custodial death case, the Judge warned the accused police personnel, including an Inspector, that their properties could be confiscated and included in the case if they attempted to abscond without appearing for the trial proceedings.

The Judge further directed them to execute bail bonds within 20 days, failing which each of them would have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000. The court asked them to appear again on October 9.

According to the prosecution, the six police personnel — the main accused, Inspector Dhilipan, Sub-Inspector Guhan, and constables P Mahendran, L Deivendran, L Kaleesaran and B Palaniyappan — were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for allegedly subjecting Scheduled Caste youth Akash Delison to severe torture with the intention of killing him. He died in March 2026.

The CB-CID filed a chargesheet before the court on June 18. The chargesheet stated that the six accused policemen, who belonged to a dominant caste, were aware that Akash belonged to the Hindu Devendrakula Velalar (SC) community and assaulted him with the intention of killing him.

More than 50 police personnel were present when the Special Court heard the case involving the six accused policemen

"The investigation conducted so far reveals that the accused, fully aware that the deceased Akash Delison belonged to the Hindu Devendrakula Velalar community, took him in a police vehicle on March 6, 2026, around 5.30 pm to a secluded, low-lying area full of eucalyptus trees, off the road to Maanambathi village. With the intention of causing his death, all the accused beat Akash below his right knee and above his ankle with an iron rod, inflicting severe fractures. This assault led to fat embolism, which directly caused his death,” the chargesheet states.

Meanwhile, more than 50 police personnel were present when the Special Court heard the case involving the six accused policemen on Tuesday.

The SPV, which is still at the planning stage, is being considered as the structure through which the platform and related driver welfare measures can be operated.

The development comes as CUMTA begins the groundwork for the app announced by Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar in the Assembly in August. A GO authorising CUMTA to undertake the project is expected in the coming weeks.

“The tender document for selecting a technical partner has already been prepared and submitted to the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for vetting, as the project is proposed under a public-private partnership model,” said an official from the authority. CUMTA is targeting June-July 2027 for launching the platform.

The proposed SPV could make the initiative more than another government-backed alternative to existing aggregators such as Ola and Uber. CUMTA plans to retain a small portion of the per-ride charge collected through the platform, with the money potentially being used to fund driver welfare measures, including health insurance. It is also exploring whether autorickshaw drivers using the platform can become shareholders in the SPV, giving them a formal stake in the system.

Officials said the broader idea is to gradually move autorickshaw drivers, who largely operate in an unorganised environment, towards a semi-organised structure.

The proposal combines elements of models of Kerala and the Union Government's initiative. Kerala’s Savaari, launched as a government-backed auto-taxi platform, uses a service charge collected from passengers, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for project implementation, incentives and promotional offers for drivers and passengers.

At the national level, Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, has taken the driver-ownership route, with drivers becoming members and stakeholders in the cooperative. Unlike this, CUMTA is not proposing a driver-owned cooperative. At the same time, the proposed SPV would allow CUMTA to retain a portion of the platform’s per-ride revenue for possible welfare measures, while the proposed shareholding model could give drivers a stake in the entity running the platform.

The platform will also use a digital meter. Officials said that this would also make future fare revisions easier. When fares are revised, the tariff can be changed centrally on the server and reflected across the digital meters. A committee involving the Transport Commissionerate officials has now been constituted to examine how the fare revision should be carried out.

The app and the fare revision are part of a longer-pending demand from autorickshaw drivers. Drivers have sought a minimum fare of Rs. 60 for the first 1.5 km, Rs. 30 for every subsequent kilometre, a waiting charge of Re. 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff.

TIMELINE

2022: Auto drivers demand with fare revision, government-backed app

October 2023: State Transport Dept explores auto ride-hailing app called TATO

March 2024: Unions reject private ownership, suggest using funds from welfare board to fund software

May-July 2024: CUMTA’s Common Mobility App to eventually integrate private aggregators such as Ola, Uber

February 2025: CUMTA moves towards auto-booking app, begins survey among commuters, auto drivers for reasonable fare

August 2026: Minister announces CUMTA auto/cab app integrated with digital meters

September 2026: SPV model takes shap;, launch around June-July 2027 while long-pending fare revision measures still under way

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time.

Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025, and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. The police had earlier sought to close the case after they were reportedly unable to identify or locate the girl. A special Pocso court rejected the closure report on August 19 and ordered further investigation. The fresh probe led to Veeramani's arrest.

Recently, Police identified the elderly man in the video as prominent industrialist R Veeramani and began a probe. Investigations revealed that he had rented a house in Teynampet where he sexually exploited several minor girls and women, while video evidence is available for one act of sexual abuse.

Police found that Veeramani had entrusted the management of the rented property to his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

City police have also identified the survivor in the sole video evidence and have found over 9 additional survivors.

Viswanathan said 39,049 participants had registered for the festival, which featured 227 events, with 100 participants from foreign countries.

“Science and technology knowledge is essential for any developing country. Nations that have excelled in these fields have emerged as leading countries,” he said.

He said India has more than 15 crore people aged between 18 and 23, but only around 30 per cent have access to higher education.

“If India has to become a developed nation, higher education should be made available to all children. Poor and middle-class students should also have access to higher education,” he said.

Viswanathan said the All for Higher Education Foundation was providing scholarships to eligible students in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts. He called for similar initiatives across India involving private organisations and the Central and state governments.

Cognizant Senior Vice-President of Global Talent Acquisition Atul Sahal said the “AI tsunami” had already arrived and urged students to adapt to the technology.

“People who use AI will move ahead of those who do not,” he said, advising students to develop their skills, reputation and professional networks.

Prizes were presented to winners of various Gravitas competitions. A special session by boAt co-founder Aman Gupta was also held.

Asking Aadhav not to live in the past and to stop questioning the previous government, Veerapandian said that the Left's understanding with the Stalin-led government was at the constituency level.

Urging the PWD Minister to read Communist history and share it with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Veerapandian said that the Left had the courage to face the barrage from those in power.

"Now, we extend outside support to the TVK government. We should not be asked to answer for this government's actions after five years. Our support was for democracy," he said.

He claimed that no Communist leader had been convicted by a court for corruption in the party's 100-year political history and said the party had never accepted bribes.

Veerapandian said the CPI had no intention of bringing down the government.

However, he said the party would criticise the government when it made mistakes and support it when it took decisions in the interests of the people. "We will always stand on the side of the people, Tamil Nadu's interests and the poor," he said.

On the upcoming Assembly bypolls, Veerapandian appealed to voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram to support the Left candidates.

CPM has fielded P Sugandhi in Madurantakam, while CPI has fielded construction worker Lakshmanan in Dharapuram.

State president Nainar Nagenthran issued the order with immediate effect, appointing national executive member H Raja as convenor and state joint treasurer M Sivasubramaniyan and national council member R Umarathi as members. The panel will conduct an inquiry and submit its report to the state and central units.

Divya had submitted a complaint to the BJP leadership alleging physical abuse, mental harassment, coercion, criminal intimidation and threats. She also alleged that Muruganandam had represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her children’s school records and had assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election.

Muruganandam has rejected the allegations, claiming that fabricated, AI-generated photographs and a false complaint were used against him. He also alleged that he was removed without an inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee and said he would pursue legal action against those circulating what he described as false information.

The BJP had on September 18 relieved Muruganandam of all party responsibilities. Divya was subsequently removed as state OBC wing secretary.

The committee’s report is expected to place the allegations, responses and other relevant material before the party leadership for further consideration and action after examining all relevant material available.

Of the sanctioned cost, Rs 1,580.33 crore has been earmarked for civil works, Rs 281.78 crore for signalling and telecommunications, and Rs 379.56 crore for electrical works, including traction and general electrical works.

The Salem-Karur-Dindigul section, which currently has a single line, forms an important link in the route connecting Bengaluru with the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Once the doubling of this section and the Hosur-Omalur section are completed, a continuous double-line corridor will be available from Bengaluru towards Madurai and Thoothukudi.

Southern Railway had already initiated preliminary activities for the Salem-Karur-Dindigul project, including geotechnical investigations and boundary stone fixing. About Rs 7 crore had been earmarked for preliminary works covering the Salem-Karur-Dindigul doubling, Morappur-Dharmapuri new line and Erode-Karur doubling projects.

At present, the Bengaluru-Coimbatore route via Hosur is about 376 km, and the route via Jolarpettai-Tirupattur is 419 km. The Bengaluru-Jolarpettai-Salem route has two lines, while the 48 km Baiyappanahalli (Bengaluru) -Hosur stretch is a single-line section, with its doubling expected to be completed by January next year.

The 147 km Hosur-Dharmapuri-Omalur stretch is also single-line, while the 8.2 km Omalur-Salem section already has two lines. Further south, the 159 km Salem-Karur-Dindigul section remains single-line, while the Dindigul-Madurai-Tirunelveli section has double lines.

“People regarded as respected members of society being involved in such cruel acts against children is shocking. It is deeply concerning that such offences are alleged to have continued since the 1990s and that those involved could have continued for so long in an environment that enabled such crimes,” she said in a social media post.

“Whoever is involved in this heinous crime, irrespective of their position or status, must be severely punished in accordance with the law,” Kanimozhi said.

She said justice should extend beyond the children allegedly affected and ensure that no child is subjected to similar abuse in the future.

“This is not justice that should be secured only for the children affected now. We must ensure a safe social environment so that no child is subjected to such cruelty in the future,” she said.

The DMK leader also stressed that those who aided the alleged offences should face the law.

“Not only those who committed the wrongdoing, but also those who aided or abetted it, must be brought before the law,” added Kanimozhi.

The reply was placed before the court, as Aadhav Arjuna has claimed that DMK's IT Wing published a defamatory post under the orders of party chief Stalin, seeking Rs 1 crore in damages. The court posted the matter to October 26.

When the matter came up before Justice K Govindarajan Thilakavadi, the court was informed that Stalin had filed his counter and that the IT Wing would also file its counter.

In his counter, Stalin said the attempt to hold him vicariously responsible for the alleged social media post was unfounded. He said that although, as the head of the party, he exercises administrative control over the office-bearers of various party wings, he could not be held legally responsible for the individual acts of the members or wings.

Stalin called upon Arjuna to prove that he had specifically instructed the party to publish the alleged information against him.

Stalin also pointed out that Arjuna, who claimed his reputation was tarnished by his association with a person under investigation, was himself facing CBI prosecution in connection with the Karur stampede case.

Stalin said the allegation that he was responsible for the publication and dissemination of the alleged post merely because he exercised control and supervision over the party was baseless and legally untenable. He said he did not instruct or approve the DMK IT Wing to publish any post linking Arjuna or his family members to John Britto or any drug-trafficking case. He denied the attempt to fasten vicarious responsibility on him and said that merely being the DMK president did not make him liable for every post published by the party's wings or functionaries, or for their individual acts.

He further said that Arjuna had not denied having a relative, John Britto, who was facing a criminal case and prosecution by the Enforcement Directorate. Stalin reiterated that he had no role whatsoever in the alleged publication.

Stalin also alleged that Arjuna had used intemperate and abusive language against him and his family during the election campaign and even after becoming a minister. He pointed out that Arjuna had referred to him as a "foolish Chief Minister" and argued that a person who had publicly used such language against him could not claim that his own reputation or goodwill had been damaged.

He further argued that Arjuna had not produced any material showing any loss of reputation, public standing, or goodwill. Stalin therefore sought dismissal of the suit with exemplary costs.

In a statement, Seeman criticised the TVK government for informing the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the existing ban could not be lifted. He questioned the government's decision to promote products such as neera, palm jaggery and palm sugar while continuing to prohibit the sale of toddy.

Seeman said concerns cited by the government, including the possibility of adulteration and difficulties in monitoring toddy production and sales, could be addressed through licensing, quality control and regulatory mechanisms. "If the government can regulate the sale and quality of domestic and foreign liquor, why can't it regulate toddy production under a proper licensing and monitoring system?" he asked.

He also referred to observations made by the Madras High Court regarding the need for a government action plan to permit toddy sales for the benefit of palm farmers. Seeman further claimed that the retired Justice Gokuldas Commission, which inquired into the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, had recommended permitting the sale of toddy as a natural beverage.

Pointing out that NTK and palm workers had been demanding the removal of the ban for several years, Seeman urged the government to withdraw its affidavit and lift the restrictions on toddy to protect palm workers' livelihoods.

In a statement, TNPDCL said that as of September 2026, Open Access permissions have been granted to 289 high-tension (HT) consumers, with a total capacity of 1,373 MW.

Earlier, permissions were granted to 383 HT consumers for 1,752 MW in June, 372 consumers for 1,729 MW in July and 299 consumers for 1,477 MW in August.

The board said applications from only 87 applicants, involving 334 MW, have been kept on hold due to non-payment of outstanding dues to the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL).

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) said that applications for grid connectivity for completed renewable energy (RE) projects were being processed continuously.

Since May 2026, a total of 840 MW of renewable energy capacity has been brought into operation, it said, clarifying that applications for completed RE projects are being considered and processed.

Similar weather conditions are also expected over the Western Ghats districts of Tamil Nadu.

The weather department bulletin said that as of Tuesday (September 22) 5:30 am, a depression lay centred over the West Central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, positioned about 200 km southeast of Odisha and 200 km east-southeast of Andhra Pradesh.

The system is expected to intensify into a deep depression over the next 12 hours. Moving westwards, it is likely to cross the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur from Wednesday night through the early hours of September 24.

Additionally, an atmospheric trough extends from the southeast Arabian Sea to the cyclonic circulation associated with the depression across Karnataka and coastal Andhra Pradesh at middle-tropospheric levels. Light to moderate rain at isolated places is likely to occur over Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Western Ghats districts of Tamil Nadu on September 24 (Thursday).

Light to moderate rain is likely to occur over Western Ghat districts and north TN on September 25 and 26. Maximum temperatures across the region are expected to remain near normal till September 26.

For Chennai, the sky condition is likely to remain partly cloudy, with maximum temperature hovering around 35 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature dips to 25. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected in some areas of the city during the late evening or night on Wednesday.

The incident has caused a stir among party cadres and the video has since circulated widely on social media.

Minister Madhanraja

According to party sources, Muthukumaran, the TVK Union Youth Wing Secretary, was upset over the replacement of existing functionaries and the appointment of new office-bearers. He allegedly questioned the manner in which key party posts were being filled in the district.

Party sources alleged that Madhanraja, the Thoothukudi Suburban District Secretary and Minister, had been removing district- and union-level functionaries over the past few months and replacing them with his supporters and relatives.

Announcement of new union secretary

The latest controversy reportedly arose after Kuzhantharaja was removed from the post of Thoothukudi South Union Secretary. Bharath was subsequently announced as his replacement.

Muthukumaran and other supporters of Kuzhantharaja are understood to have opposed the appointment. Party sources alleged that Bharath had earlier been associated with the DMK and was related to Madhanraja.

The developments reportedly led to resentment among a section of TVK workers in the area.

TVK functionary Muthukumaran's suicide attempt

Against this backdrop, Muthukumaran released a video in which he spoke about his association with TVK and his support for party leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. He then allegedly consumed poison on camera.

In the video, Muthukumaran said he had been associated with Vijay as a fan for 26 years, since 2000, and had worked for the party from the time it was launched.

Emotional video addressed to TVK leader Vijay

Addressing Vijay emotionally, Muthukumaran said he considered the leader to be an important part of his life and expressed happiness over his becoming Chief Minister.

He claimed that irregularities in the Ottapidaram Assembly constituency had been affecting Vijay's reputation. He further said that he had emailed the leader several times and attempted to meet him in person, but alleged that no action had been taken.

No action taken

Muthukumaran also alleged that several loyal party workers were being overlooked while people who had recently joined the party from the DMK were being given important positions.

He claimed that such appointments were causing resentment among long-time TVK workers and alleged that the party's local functioning was giving Vijay a bad name.

TVK turning into a DMK camp

In the video, Muthukumaran alleged that the party was gradually becoming like a “DMK camp” following its election victory, as newcomers were allegedly being given key posts over loyalists.

He made the allegations while appearing distressed and subsequently consumed poison.

Police investigation begins

Following the incident, Muthukumaran was rescued in a critical condition and admitted to Thoothukudi Government Hospital, where he is undergoing intensive treatment.

The video has triggered concern among TVK supporters and is being widely circulated on social media.

Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suicide attempt and are also examining the allegations made by Muthukumaran in the video.

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Vanni Arasu had said that some students had requested beef to be added to the menu at Social Justice hostels and that the matter would be discussed with students and officials before a decision is taken. The remarks came during his inspection of the M C Raja Social Justice Hostel in Chennai.

Krishnasamy seeks balanced food for hostel students

In his statement, Krishnasamy said thousands of school and college students stay in residential schools and hostels run under the Social Justice Department. He said the focus should be on providing nutritious and balanced food to students.

Recalling his tenure as an MLA between 1996 and 2001, Krishnasamy said he had raised concerns about the quality of food provided to students and had advocated increasing the monthly food charges. He said the increase helped improve the quality of food served at the time.

He further said that food provided to students should contain adequate protein, vitamins, minerals and fats. According to him, eggs should be provided regularly, while chicken and mutton could be included in the menu at least twice a week.

Krishnasamy opposes beef proposal

Krishnasamy said food preferences differ among individuals, families and communities. He claimed that chicken and mutton are more commonly consumed among non-vegetarians in Tamil Nadu and objected to the proposal to consider beef in Social Justice hostels.

He alleged that Vanni Arasu had brought the issue into the public domain by presenting it as a demand from students. Krishnasamy said that, as a minister, Arasu should not seek to impose his personal food preferences on students.

Withdraw statement on beef'

Krishnasamy strongly criticised the minister's statement and called for its immediate withdrawal. He said the issue should not be considered for implementation in student hostels and urged Vanni Arasu to reconsider his remarks.Krishnasamy also warned that any move to implement the proposal would have serious political consequences for the minister and reiterated his demand that the statement be withdrawn.

The arrest followed the registration of a POCSO case against Veeramani and his associates Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan after a video showing Veeramani allegedly engaging in an obscene act with a minor girl was found on Ganesan's mobile phone.

Police said Ganesan was arrested for allegedly failing to report the matter to the authorities.

A man and his wife, identified as Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan, and said to be associates of Veeramani, have also been arrested in connection with the case.

The three accused were produced before a court, which remanded them to judicial custody, police said.

The arrests came amid a political row in Tamil Nadu over the POCSO case against granite baron Veeramani, who has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of several minor girls.

On Monday, ministers accused the previous DMK government of a "cover-up" and interfering with the functioning of the police department.

In a social media post, Vijay said the State government would provide the incentive to recognise Kamalini's achievement. "The State government will provide a cash incentive of Rs 75 lakh in appreciation of Kamalini's remarkable achievement," he said.

Kamalini, a wicketkeeper-batter from Madurai, was part of India's gold-winning campaign. India defeated Sri Lanka in the women's cricket final to retain the Asian Games title.

Vijay said the government would continue to support talented sportspersons and that Kamalini's achievement would provide new inspiration and confidence to the youth and women of Tamil Nadu.

He also wished Kamalini success in achieving further milestones in her sporting career.

Citing the trial in the Sathankulam custodial death case, the Judge warned the accused police personnel, including an Inspector, that their properties could be confiscated and included in the case if they attempted to abscond without appearing for the trial proceedings.

The Judge further directed them to execute bail bonds within 20 days, failing which each of them would have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000. The court asked them to appear again on October 9.

According to the prosecution, the six police personnel — the main accused, Inspector Dhilipan, Sub-Inspector P. Mahendran and constables L. Deivendran and B. Palaniyappan — were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, for allegedly subjecting Scheduled Caste youth Akash Delison to severe torture with the intention of killing him. He died in March 2026.

The CBCID filed a chargesheet before the court on June 18. The chargesheet stated that the six accused policemen, who belonged to a dominant caste, were aware that Akash belonged to the Hindu Devendrakula Velalar (SC) community and assaulted him with the intention of killing him.

“The investigation conducted so far reveals that the accused, fully aware that the deceased Akash Delison belonged to the Hindu Devendrakula Velalar community, took him in a police vehicle on March 6, 2026, around 5.30 p.m. to a secluded, low-lying area full of eucalyptus trees, off the road to Maanambathi village. With the intention of causing his death, all the accused beat Akash below his right knee and above his ankle with an iron rod, inflicting severe fractures. This assault led to fat embolism, which directly caused his death,” the chargesheet states.

Meanwhile, more than 50 police personnel were present when the Special Court heard the case involving the six accused policemen on Tuesday.

Rajeshwari, who was a data entry operator at the hospital, had just finished her shift and was preparing to leave when the accused Prakash, 36, of Madhavaram entered the hospital, chased her down, doused her with petrol and threw a lit matchstick on her. Rajeshwari suffered over 50% burns and is under treatment at the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital.

After the incident, the police formed special teams to trace Prakash. They tracked him down to a spot near a cremation ground. When police approached him, he allegedly attacked sub inspector Thamilarasan with a sickle. Ponneri inspector Sivakumar then shot him below the knee. Prakash was initially treated at the Ponneri Government Hospital and later shifted to Stanley Government Hospital.

According to the initial probe, Prakash and Rajeshwari were an estranged couple. Prakash was enraged after Rajeshwari severed all contacts with him and decided to take revenge, the police said.

At a meeting at the Secretariat, Vijay reviewed the progress of the DPR, the proposed facilities and preparations for inviting global tenders to ensure international technical expertise and standards in the restoration exercise.

The move comes after the State government announced in the 2026-27 Budget that Chennai’s river restoration projects would receive priority, with a DPR to be prepared for the Cooum.

As part of the initial planning, three-km stretches of the river have been identified for detailed study. The proposed interventions include pedestrian and cycling tracks, riverside walkways, viewing decks, green spaces, community facilities and nature-based environmental improvement measures.

The government’s approach is broader than routine maintenance, with the restoration plan seeking to bring together ecological improvement, public amenities and riverfront development. The government had earlier announced that global consultants would be engaged for feasibility and project reports for the Cooum and Adyar, with the proposed exercise also focusing on sewage interception, water quality, recreational spaces and flood-mitigation infrastructure.

The immediate focus will now be on firming up the DPR and concept and action plans before moving towards global tendering and phased implementation. Vijay has directed officials to adopt an integrated and sustainable approach to restore the Cooum to its natural state and improve Chennai’s river environment and public spaces.

The development also comes as the Water Resources Department continues maintenance and desilting-related works along the Cooum ahead of the northeast monsoon.

Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and senior officials attended review meeting.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Nirmalkumar said the DMK’s over-reaction to the issue raised questions. He also sought an explanation from former minister S Regupathy, who had claimed that the video in question was unclear, asking whether he had personally seen it or was speaking based on what others had told him.

Nirmalkumar alleged that R Veeramani, whom he described as a businessman with assets worth hundreds of crores, could have approached a power centre to evade action. He further alleged that only a party such as the DMK could have enabled him to escape the consequences.

Drawing a parallel with the Anna University sexual assault case, the minister alleged that the FIR in that case was released, exposing and intimidating the survivor, and that an attempt was subsequently made to suppress the investigation. He alleged that the DMK was now attempting to suppress the Veeramani case in a similar manner.

Nirmalkumar said the Chief Minister was personally monitoring the case to ensure that no one involved escaped action and asserted that strict and impartial action would be taken against all those found connected with it.

Kalaimathi of Kampayanpatti and Vidya of Chennaiyakudi gave birth to two babies consecutively at the hospital, according to a Maalaimalar report.

The nurses initially handed the babies over to their respective relatives.

Later, the nurses took back the two babies, stating that they had mistakenly exchanged them. They reportedly said that Kalaimathi had given birth to a girl, while Vidya had delivered a boy.

Why did the relatives protest?

Refusing to accept the explanation, the relatives got into a heated argument with the hospital staff and staged a protest on the hospital premises.

How will the dispute be resolved?

Minister Mohammad Parvez and District Collector Aruna held peace talks with the relatives. As the relatives refused to accept the explanation, medical officials said that the truth could be established through DNA testing. The relatives agreed.

The relatives also demanded action against the nurses, alleging negligence in handling the newborns.

Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr A Somasundaram held a video conference with health officials across the State and reviewed the dengue situation, directing them to strengthen preventive and control measures.

Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts were identified as areas reporting a high incidence of dengue, while cases were also increasing in Kallakurichi district. The review noted that children were among those affected by dengue fever.

Officials were instructed to exercise particular caution in rural areas and prevent circumstances that could facilitate the spread of dengue. The department also stressed the need to identify and address potential mosquito-breeding sources in such areas.

Joint Directors of Public Health working across the State were directed to visit villages in their respective jurisdictions and identify the sources from which dengue mosquito larvae were emerging.

They were asked to determine how such breeding sources could be controlled and eliminated and to initiate immediate measures to contain the spread.

Officials were also instructed to closely monitor the situation in areas reporting higher incidence and intensify field-level interventions wherever cases were increasing. They were told to ensure that preventive measures were implemented promptly at the ground level and that the dengue situation was continuously monitored across the State.

The meeting at the Secretariat reviewed precautionary and disaster-management measures in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, Madurai, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Theni and Virudhunagar districts, besides steps to prevent dengue and fever cases.

Vijay directed collectors to take precautionary measures based on the vulnerability of each location, with special attention to rainfall-prone areas in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Theni districts. He cautioned that heavy rain could lead to landslides, soil slips and road disruptions in these areas.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to continuously monitor landslide-prone areas, particularly vulnerable slopes and locations already identified as dangerous. Such areas should be inspected before and during heavy rain, and immediate action taken if signs such as soil cracks, slope movement or water seepage are detected, he said.

He also directed officials to expedite landslide-prevention and slope-stabilisation works, including soil-nailing works undertaken in Kodaikanal, and keep key roads and transport links under constant watch. Machinery, personnel and equipment required to clear fallen soil, rocks and debris should be kept ready in advance to restore connectivity without delay, he said.

Relief camps near vulnerable areas should be inspected and kept ready for immediate use, while VHF equipment and satellite phones should remain functional in areas where communication could be disrupted. Mock drills and evacuation exercises should also be conducted at critical locations, Vijay said.

On dengue prevention, he directed officials to identify areas witnessing a rise in cases, intensify door-to-door field inspections, identify and eliminate Aedes mosquito breeding sites, strengthen mosquito-larval control and step up public awareness campaigns. He further ordered government hospitals and primary health centres to remain prepared for early detection of dengue, timely referral, fluid therapy, treatment of severe cases and continuous medical monitoring.

Addressing media persons at Anna Arivalayam, Regupathy said the case had not been deliberately kept pending and that investigators initially lacked sufficient evidence to establish the identities of the people in the video.

Regupathy said the DMK would support action against anyone found guilty. "Whoever is involved in the case, and whoever supported them, must be brought before the law and punished. No accused should escape," he said.

Rejecting allegations that the party had favoured Veeramani, he said, "We have no need to take money from Veeramani to prevent his arrest." He maintained that the video available at the initial stage did not clearly establish the identity of the persons involved.

Regupathy also attacked the four-month-old TVK government over law and order, governance, and alleged sexual offences, accusing Chief Minister Vijay of focusing on "reels" rather than administration. He said the forthcoming Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls would provide voters an opportunity to respond to the government's record.

DMK legal wing secretary NR Elango has similarly said the investigation was not closed but kept pending for further evidence, while the TVK government has alleged that the previous regime failed to act despite the case being registered in 2025.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the directive was issued during a review meeting chaired by Natural Resources Minister TK Prabhu at the Directorate of Geology and Mining in Chennai.

What instructions were issued to district officials?

District Collectors were instructed to take prompt action on pending lease applications, identify new areas and bring them under electronic auction. They were also directed to operationalise new quarries and revive inactive quarries to achieve the set revenue target.

What was discussed with road contractors?

A consultation meeting was also held with contractors seeking permission to extract soil for national highways and other road works.

During the meeting, the government said the difficulties faced by contractors in obtaining lease permissions for such projects would be examined and appropriate steps would be taken to resolve them.

R Ramesh, Minister for Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR & CE), met the Chief Minister in Chennai on September 21 and presented the sacred `prasadam' to him.

On receiving the prasadam, the Chief Minister conveyed his greetings and appreciation for the successful conduct of the ceremony, according to an official release.

The Kumbabhishekam was held on September 17 after a gap of 17 years. The previous consecration at the temple was held on April 8, 2009.

The consecration of the 12 main gopurams and the golden vimanas of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar was performed simultaneously amid the chanting of Tamil and Sanskrit hymns.

The State government had also made arrangements for 24 Tamil Oduvars to recite Thiruvasagam and Thirumurai hymns at the kalasams of the gopurams during the consecration.

Thirumavalavan attended the event at EVP Film City near Poonamallee. Images and videos of the VCK leader arriving in a Tesla displaying the number TN 07 CM 2031 have since been widely shared online. The number has led to speculation about its possible political significance ahead of the 2031 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Thirumavalavan's car number draws comparison with GOAT

The number has also drawn comparisons with the car used by actor-turned-Chief Minister Vijay in the 2024 film The Greatest of All Time (GOAT). In the film, Vijay is seen driving a car with the registration number TN 07 CM 2026. The number was interpreted by viewers as a reference to the 2026 Assembly elections and Vijay's political ambitions.

Following the appearance of Thirumavalavan's car with CM 2031, social media users have similarly linked the number to the next Assembly election and speculated about a possible chief ministerial role for the VCK leader.

VCK leader's 2031 number sparks speculation

Some reports have also raised questions about the registration. A few outlets have claimed that the *TN 07 CM 2031* registration is associated with a two-wheeler rather than the car in which Thirumavalavan was seen. This claim has added another layer to the discussion surrounding the viral images.

Vijay launched the expanded scheme at the Chennai Middle School in Thiruvanmiyur and had breakfast with the students.

The expansion will cover 7,537 additional government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu and entails an additional allocation of Rs 217.63 crore in the current financial year. With the expansion, the scheme will benefit around 34.64 lakh students studying in Classes 1 to 8 in 44,984 schools. The total allocation for the scheme has been fixed at Rs 724 crore.

At the Thiruvanmiyur school, 199 students from Classes 1 to 5 were already benefiting from the scheme. Another 127 students from Classes 6 to 8 will now be covered following the expansion.

The government said the expansion was aimed at improving the nutritional status of schoolchildren, ensuring that they attend classes without hunger and enabling them to concentrate better on their studies.

In Chennai, breakfast will be prepared through integrated kitchens operated by the Greater Chennai Corporation. In other urban areas, the Directorate of Municipal Administration will oversee the arrangements. In rural areas and adjoining town panchayats, self-help group members will prepare breakfast at schools through the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.

The government said the expanded scheme would strengthen students’ health, nutrition, attendance and learning, besides reinforcing the foundation of school education.