He demanded that the Centre identify gaps in the supply chain, and explain the corrective measures and fix the accountability.

"Merely announcing fast-track courts will not really solve the systemic problems. There are specific reasons why these leaks are happening regularly because of the commercial angle of the coaching centres. There's an incentive for them to show inflated results. So, they are willing to indulge in all kinds of unscrupulous practices by encouraging paper leaks and initiating paper leaks," Karti told PTI videos.

Also, the fault lies with the system of NTA and agencies which run the exam, as the paper leaks are happening, he said.

"This fast-track court is only post fact. After an illegal act happens, they apprehend the perpetrators and take them to court. But this will not stop the league itself. They must say where is the chink in supply chain by which the leak is happening and how they are correcting it, those sponsible for it and who are they holding accountable," he said.

The MP criticised the government's response to the NEET exam row and stressed on fixing the onus rather than merely announcing setting up fast-track courts.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that the welfare and interests of the country's youth was the top priority of the government and anyone trying to harm their future will not be spared.

Amid continuing protests by youths over the NEET paper leak, the prime minister said that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.

The panel will begin collecting details of temple properties and submit a comprehensive report to the government soon, sources said.

The move comes in the wake of an alleged Rs 100-crore land scam involving 1.4 acres belonging to the renowned Arulmigu Shri Dhandayuthapani temple in Palani that surfaced in July, prompting a high-level probe by the Crime Branch-CID.

As part of the investigation, CB-CID officials conducted searches at several locations linked to officials and individuals accused of fraudulently registering the temple land, estimated to be worth Rs 100 crore, for just Rs 2 crore.

Official sources here on Thursday said the probe would be conducted transparently and that anyone found involved in irregularities relating to the registration of temple property would face legal action.

A senior official said the investigation would examine unauthorised ownership transfers, manipulation of land records, illegal encroachments and undervalued land registrations.

"The investigation team will comprise officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), Registration and Revenue departments, besides officials from the collector's office," he said.

After the Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of K Vellathurai of Tirupur, the prime accused in the alleged fraudulent registration of 1.4 acres of prime temple land, another petitioner moved the court seeking a CBI probe into the alleged land grab.

In a related development, Vinoth Suryakumar, who was booked for allegedly defaming HR&CE Minister S Ramesh in connection with the Palani temple land dispute, was granted conditional bail by the High Court.

Without directly naming the national test for medical aspirants, the Makkal Needhi Maiam leader and Rajya Sabha member alleged it was a rotten system where "anxiety replaces curiosity" and "criminality replaces merit."

In a post on 'X,' Haasan said: "We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died. A system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit is rotten.

A nation has failed when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers. @Wangchuk66, the nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast. To the children of India: You are the best of us. You have done your duty. It is now time for the country to do its duty by you. May your dreams forever be bigger than our failures."

In a statement, Palaniswami described the incident as shocking and alleged that it reflected the poor maintenance of government hospitals under the present TVK government.

He questioned what explanation the government had for the elderly woman, who had sought treatment at a government hospital but allegedly suffered such an incident during her stay.

Palaniswami also criticised the state government, alleging that while people were facing hardships, ministers were preoccupied with watching the first show of the film Jananayagan and posting selfies on social media. He further claimed that several ministers, including the Chief Minister, had taken time off to watch the film.

The AIADMK leader urged the government to ensure the woman received proper medical care and demanded that adequate compensation be provided to her.

AIADMK to stage protest against hydrocarbon project

In a separate statement, Palaniswami announced that the AIADMK would stage a protest in Cuddalore against the proposed hydrocarbon project along the Parangipettai coast.

He said the protest would urge the government not to grant permission to Hindustan Oil Exploration Company to establish hydrocarbon wells and extract crude oil along the Parangipettai coast in the Chidambaram Assembly constituency.

Palaniswami said the protest would also condemn the TVK government for allegedly engaging in horse-trading by persuading MLAs elected on AIADMK tickets to switch allegiance.

When the bail petition filed by Markandayan came up for hearing before Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan, Public Prosecutor John Sathyan sought time to file a response to the plea. Accepting the request, the Judge adjourned the matter to July 27.

A public meeting was held near Krishnan Temple in Kovilpatti on July 18, 2026, to thank voters on behalf of the DMK. During the meeting, Vilathikulam MLA Markandayan allegedly made threatening remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay while addressing the gathering.

According to the prosecution, the MLA allegedly used insulting language and issued criminal threats, including statements suggesting that the Chief Minister would be confronted inside the Legislative Assembly and physically harmed if certain actions were taken.

Following a complaint lodged by S Balasubramanian, TVK district secretary, Thoothukudi North, the Thoothukudi police registered a case against Markandayan under Sections 351 (3), 352, and 353 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Meanwhile, Markandayan has moved the Madras High Court seeking bail. In his petition, he contended that the Thoothukudi police arrested him without issuing a notice under Section 35 (3) of the BNS and without affording him an opportunity to appear before the investigating officer.

He further submitted that he is an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly representing the Vilathikulam constituency and is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation. Being a public representative, he stated that he is required to attend to the day-to-day affairs and welfare of the constituency. He, therefore, sought to be enlarged on bail and to set aside the remand order passed by the Judicial Magistrate-I, Thoothukudi.

Over 100 protesters were detained by the police.

Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), farmers' organisations and women's groups attempted to enter the railway station. They demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET question paper leak, sought the cancellation of the NEET examination, condemned the alleged assault on students participating in the protest in Delhi, and demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation for those injured in the police crackdown in the national capital.

Police personnel led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Inigo Divyan were deployed in large numbers around the Tiruparankundram railway station to foil the rail roko. Barricades were erected on roads leading to the station, and security was tightened to prevent protesters from entering the railway premises.

Despite the security arrangements, a group of protesters breached the barricades and attempted to reach the railway tracks. They were stopped by the police near the station.

Later, another group of protesters arrived on the Palakkad–Tiruchendur Express and got down at Tirupparankundram railway station. When the train halted to allow passengers to alight, the protesters entered the tracks and staged a rail roko by sitting in front of the locomotive, disrupting the train's departure for about 10 minutes. Some protesters also climbed onto the locomotive and raised slogans. Police personnel rushed to the spot, removed the protesters from the tracks and detained them. Brief arguments broke out between the protesters and the police during the eviction. Following their removal, the train resumed its journey.

Police detained 24 male students, 12 female students and eight members of a women's organisation who participated in the rail blockade. More than 65 others who staged a demonstration in front of the Tiruparankundram police station were also detained.

The detained protesters were taken to a nearby marriage hall and were later released, police said.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the train, which departs from Jalpaiguri at 4.45 pm, will now arrive at Tirunelveli railway station at 9.50 pm on the third day of its journey, 10 minutes earlier than its existing scheduled arrival time of 10 pm.

The train will continue to halt at Tirunelveli for five minutes before resuming its journey towards Nagercoil. With the revised timing at Tirunelveli, the train is expected to reach Nagercoil Junction at 11.05 pm, five minutes later than its earlier scheduled arrival.

Southern Railway said the change has been made as part of a revised timetable and urged passengers travelling on the route to take note of the updated timings while planning their journey.

Jana Nayagan, billed as Vijay's last film before entering full-time politics, hit theatres worldwide on Thursday after overcoming several hurdles. With the film also being his first release after assuming office as Chief Minister, fans and TVK cadres celebrated its release across Tamil Nadu with banners, fireworks and music performances outside theatres.

While Vijay watched the film at Tagore Film Institute in Adyar, Chennai, on Wednesday night, Minister Mohamed Farvas watched the first show at a theatre in Pudukkottai.

Moved to tears

During Vijay's introductory sequence, Farvas was seen sobbing inside the theatre and wiping away tears. Those present at the screening said the emotional moment coincided with the opening montage that showcased scenes from Vijay's three-decade-long film career.

Farvas, who was elected from the Aranthangi Assembly constituency, had earlier served as a district and State-level office-bearer in Vijay's fan club before entering electoral politics and becoming a minister.

Videos of the minister's emotional reaction have since gone viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions and triggering debate online.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph is likely at one or two places over the Western Ghats districts on Friday and Saturday. Similar weather is also expected over Cuddalore, Villupuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvannamalai districts, besides Puducherry. The rest of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal may receive light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds.

On July 26, light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds is likely over the Western Ghats districts, coastal Tamil Nadu, north interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, while isolated places in the remaining districts may receive light rain with thunderstorms.

From July 27 to July 29, light to moderate rain is likely at isolated places over the Western Ghats districts, while the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive light rain at isolated locations.

Temperature to remain above normal in some districts

The RMC said there is no significant change expected in maximum temperatures across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between July 23 and July 27. However, maximum temperatures are likely to remain 2-4 degrees Celsius above normal at isolated places in Erode, Karur, Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts. Elsewhere in the State, temperatures are expected to remain near normal.

Chennai forecast

For Chennai and its suburbs, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy on Friday, with light to moderate thunderstorms likely in some parts of the city during the evening or night. The maximum temperature is likely to hover between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be around 27-28 degrees Celsius.

Fishermen advisory

No warning has been issued for the Tamil Nadu coast until July 26. However, on July 27, squally winds reaching speeds of 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, are likely over the Tamil Nadu coast, Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Comorin area.

Over the Bay of Bengal, squally weather is forecast over the Andaman Sea and adjoining east-central Bay on July 26, extending to the south Andaman Sea, southeast Bay of Bengal and north Andaman Sea on July 27. Strong winds are also expected over parts of the Arabian Sea through July 27.

The weather department has advised fishermen not to venture into the identified sea areas during the warning period.

The film, Vijay’s latest and final release after assuming office as Chief Minister, opened in theatres across the world on Thursday amid massive celebrations by his supporters and TVK workers. Giant cut-outs, banners and special arrangements greeted audiences at several theatres, while hundreds of fans thronged the Sathyam multiplex in Royapettah from early morning for the 9 am premiere.

Prabhakar joined the audience for the inaugural screening and later addressed reporters outside the theatre, where he likened the excitement surrounding Jana Nayagan to the release of MG Ramachandran’s iconic Ulagam Sutrum Valiban.

“There were many attempts to prevent Ulagam Sutrum Valiban from being released. Watching its first-day-first-show remains one of the happiest moments of my life. Today, I experienced that same joy once again,” he said.

Describing Jana Nayagan as a film with universal appeal, the Speaker said, “It is a movie that Indians, Tamils and cinema lovers across the world should watch and marvel at.”

The film’s opening day witnessed packed theatres and celebratory scenes across Tamil Nadu, with supporters turning the release into a public spectacle.

Fans who watched the film with the Speaker hailed the release as a memorable cinematic event, with celebrations continuing outside the theatre long after the first show concluded.

The Labour Welfare Department said the notices were served to companies that had failed to house their employees at least 300 metres away from facilities where ammonia is stored or used, as mandated under industrial safety regulations. The units have been directed to relocate worker accommodation beyond the prescribed safety buffer and ensure immediate compliance with statutory norms.

The enforcement drive comes in the aftermath of the June 21 gas leak at St Peter and Paul Seafoods Exports Pvt Ltd in Kannigaipair village near Periyapalayam, where an ammonia leak from the plant killed 18 workers, most of them migrant women, and left more than 80 others hospitalised. While many have since been discharged, several victims continue to receive treatment.

Officials said the newly constituted 21 inspection teams will verify compliance with safety protocols, ammonia storage systems, emergency response mechanisms, statutory approvals and occupational health standards in every ammonia-handling unit. Particular attention will be paid to worker housing, safety infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

The tightening of enforcement also follows the National Green Tribunal taking suo motu cognisance of the tragedy and issuing notices to the Central and State pollution control authorities, the Union Environment Ministry’s regional office and the Tiruvallur district administration over the incident.

Officials said the inspections are intended to prevent a repeat of the Tiruvallur tragedy, with stringent action to follow against industries found violating industrial safety and labour welfare laws.

The meeting, held at Amma Maaligai in the Ripon Buildings complex here, focused on clarifying procedural aspects of the new registration framework through an interactive discussion and a live demonstration of the digital workflow. Officials explained the electronic submission process, documentation requirements and every stage of registration while responding to queries raised by participants from the real estate and banking sectors.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the consultation reflected the government’s emphasis on preparing stakeholders before the rollout of the new system. He said the State has been consistently leveraging technology to simplify public services and improve transparency, describing presenceless registration as a landmark reform in the Registration Department.

“The government has been working to deliver citizen-centric services by understanding people’s needs. The presenceless registration system is a major step towards making registration services simpler, faster and more transparent,” Logesh Tamilselvan said.

He said the training programme would equip builders, developers, banks and financial institutions with a clear understanding of the new procedures, helping reduce documentation errors and ensure seamless coordination between the government and private stakeholders. The initiative, he said, is expected to improve the efficiency and quality of registration services while making implementation smoother through active stakeholder participation. Senior officials of the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department also attended the consultation.

The police denied the allegation, maintaining that he had collapsed on his own inside the station lock-up and had no external injuries at the time of his medical examination.

According to the police, the Thoothukudi South Police registered a case (Crime No. 751 of 2026) against Arunachalam (24) of Amudha Nagar, Thoothukudi on July 17 under Sections 4(1)(a) and 14A of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act after he was allegedly found in possession of 120 liquor bottles (180 ml each) during a prohibition enforcement drive.

Police said all legal procedures relating to the arrest were followed, including videographing his personal search and serving arrest intimation on his family members. He was taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital at around 5.50 p.m. for a medical examination, during which the attending doctor certified him fit and recorded that he had no external injuries, according to the police.

A senior police officer said Arunachalam was thereafter brought back to the station to complete further legal formalities and was kept in the station lock-up with other accused persons who were in the police station at that time.

While conversing with the other inmates, he suddenly collapsed on his own, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras installed outside the lock-up, said the officer.

Police personnel immediately attended to him, provided drinking water and first aid, and called his mother, who was waiting at the police station. As his condition appeared normal, he was released on station bail and allowed to leave with his relatives for a further medical check-up as a precaution, the police added.

According to the police, his relatives later informed them that Arunachalam had again collapsed near the hospital and was admitted for treatment. “During the course of treatment, he underwent a medical procedure. Despite treatment, he was declared dead on 23rd July,” said the police officer.

However, Arunachalam's family disputed the police account. They alleged that he sustained injuries to his head and legs after being assaulted by four policemen during interrogation.

Claiming that the injuries led to his death, the family demanded action against the police personnel concerned and refused to receive the body.

The relatives staged a protest outside the Government Medical College Hospital, insisting that those responsible be proceeded against before they accepted the body. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Town) Sunil and other police officials held talks with the protesters to persuade them to withdraw the agitation.

The police said a case had been registered on the complaint lodged by Arunachalam's father following the death and that further investigation was underway.

The film has released in four theatres across Thanjavur city on Thursday, with people having already booked tickets online. However, those who booked tickets for a show at one of the theatres reportedly received a WhatsApp message, informing them that the ticket price has been fixed at Rs 700.

The message allegedly asked the moviegoers to pay the remaining amount through a QR code. Fans were left shocked after being asked to pay an additional amount for tickets they had already booked.

The issue has also sparked discussions on social media, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction over the theatre's alleged move.

Many have questioned the theatre's decision to revise the ticket price after accepting bookings at Rs 200.

In a post on X, Stalin said that NEET had merely shifted the centre of learning from schools to coaching centres. "The problem with NEET has always been structural, not merely procedural. Recent events have vindicated that concern," he said. Stalin said the ongoing student protests should serve as a "wake-up call" for the Union Government and urged it to "trust the states" and abolish NEET.

Earlier on Wednesday, Stalin backed the protesting students in the national capital and called for the "abolition of NEET", saying that "only scrapping" the medical entrance exam can provide a lasting solution to the issues raised by students.

In a post on X, Stalin said that the students' protest in New Delhi had "now captured the attention of the entire country", adding that they were the ones who first warned that NEET was designed to "enable large-scale irregularities". "The students' protest in New Delhi has now captured the attention of the entire country. We were the first to warn that NEET was designed to enable large-scale irregularities.

That is why the DMK has opposed NEET from the very beginning, consistently pointing out the dangers it poses," Stalin wrote. Stalin further asserted that the "abolition of NEET" should be at the centre of the ongoing CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

"Tamil Nadu, which led India in defending social justice and paved the way for the First Constitutional Amendment, has only one demand: Abolition of NEET. More than any other demand, the abolition of NEET must be at the heart of these protests. Only scrapping NEET will provide a lasting solution to all these problems. Ban NEET, Save Students," Stalin said.

Sources said R Tamil Kodi (70), a resident of Alathur near Kalkandarkottai in Tiruchy, accidentally fell at her house recently and sustained an ankle injury. She was admitted to Annal Gandhi Memorial GH, Tiruchy, where she underwent surgery on Monday (July 20). Subsequently, she was shifted to a ward where she has been undergoing post-surgery treatment.

On Thursday morning, when her son Vijayakumar, who has been attending to her, went to serve her tea, he was shocked to find that her big toe was severely damaged, allegedly due to a rat bite. Since Tamil Kodi is diabetic, she could not sense the bite.

"We have been complaining about rodent movement in the wards, but the staff have been giving us evasive responses. As I feared, my mother's toe was bitten," claimed Vijayakumar. He also claimed that the hospital staff continued to give him evasive responses.

When contacted, Medical Superintendent Dr Arun said he had not received any such complaint so far.

The alleged horse-trading case, which has emerged as one of the most politically sensitive investigations in Tamil Nadu in recent months, is being investigated by the Triplicane Police in Chennai. So far, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the case, and police have seized more than Rs 3 crore in cash during various stages of the investigation.

Against this backdrop, six ED officials have reportedly travelled to Karur to assess the available evidence and examine whether the alleged movement of funds falls within the ambit of PMLA.

Sources indicated that the ED is expected to carry out searches at multiple offices in Karur, believed to be connected to individuals linked to the alleged horse-trading case.

A delegation led by federation secretary Dharmaraj, president Thangaraj and treasurer Chidambaram met the CM at the Secretariat on Wednesday and submitted their demands.

According to the federation, the CM assured them that their representations would be examined and appropriate action taken. “Around 4,600 private buses operate across TN, excluding Chennai, Madurai, Nagercoil and Ooty. Nearly 70% of the routes are running at a loss," lamented Dharmaraj.

Pointing to rising diesel prices, he added: “It costs Rs 63/litre in 2018, and that was when bus fares were last revised – to around Rs 100/litre. But now, the cost of spare parts has increased by up to 50%. Operators are finding it increasingly difficult to absorb the losses.”

The federation also expressed concern over the delay in taking a final decision on the report submitted by the committee to examine fare revision. “We provide jobs to around 3 lakh people and cater to several lakh passengers every day. The government must take steps to ensure the industry’s viability,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing protests in New Delhi, Shanmugam, in a statement, alleged that students attempting to hold a peaceful march following the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk were subjected to a brutal baton charge by the police, leaving more than 100 people injured. He also alleged that women students were treated in a degrading manner by police personnel and paramilitary forces.

Drawing a parallel with the situation in Tamil Nadu, Shanmugam alleged that SFI and DYFI activists had been prevented from staging sit-in protests in Chennai over the past three days and had been repeatedly detained and released by the Tamil Nadu Police.

He further alleged that police entered educational institutions and detained students participating in SFI-led class boycott protests in Chennai, including Tiruvottiyur, R.K. Nagar and Perambur, as well as in Coimbatore, Madurai, Cuddalore and Thanjavur. Describing the action as an unprecedented violation, he said the police had no justification for entering college campuses to arrest students.

The CPM urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately stop what it termed illegal police excesses and ensure that peaceful protests were allowed at designated venues. The party said suppressing anti-NEET protests, while the TVK government continued to demand the abolition of the examination, would effectively aid the BJP's education policy.

M Madangini (45) was residing with her daughter Harini at Kumbakonam after her husband Marimuthu passed away in 2006.

On July 12, Madangini and Harini went to Tirupur for a funeral. Upon returning home on July 19, Madangini found her jewellery missing from the almirah.

She lodged a complaint with the Kumbakonam East police, who found that Madangini’s neighbour S Abinaya (22) had frequently visited her house.

During the probe, she confessed that she had stolen 21 grams of jewellery. On Wednesday, the police arrested Abinaya and her husband Sundar (34).

The decision was taken after a review meeting chaired by HR&CE Minister Ramesh. Subsequently, the Commissioner G Vinay issued an order constituting the committee and directing officials to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the temple's immovable assets.

According to the order, the committee will be headed by the Additional Commissioner, HR&CE Department, and will comprise the Joint Commissioner of the Palani temple, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Palani, the Deputy Collector, Dindigul, the Assistant Director of the Survey and Land Records Department, and the Special Tahsildar (Temple Lands), Dindigul.

The Commissioner has also directed the Revenue Department to extend full cooperation for the exercise and make the necessary arrangements for a joint survey of the temple lands by officials of both the Revenue and HR&CE departments. A fraudulent sale registration of a parcel of land associated with the Palani temple is the latest controversy across the state.

On July 6, a 1.4-acre plot that is used as a parking lot for devotees of the Temple in Palani town was registered in the name of two private individuals. The land is estimated to be worth Rs 100 crore. Following this controversy, the HR&CE department has initiated an assessment of the immovable properties of Palani Temple.

CHENNAI: In a move that would benefit thousands of workers at liquor retain outlets across the State, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (Tasmac) has approved the implementation of the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme for all retail vending shop personnel.

According to a circular issued by Tasmac Managing Director K Nanthakumar on Wednesday, the decision was formally approved at the corporation's board of directors meeting held on July 6.

The newly approved ESI scheme will replace the existing Health Fund-cum-Accident Injury Disablement Relief Fund Scheme, bringing Tasmac workers under the framework of the more beneficial Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.

The decision will address the long-pending demand from Tasmac employees, who have been seeking social security and medical coverage. Under the official guidelines, district managers across Tamil Nadu have been directed to immediately establish contact with their respective regional ESIC offices, open dedicated ESIC accounts, and complete the online enrolment of all shop staff.

Tasmac administration noted that the current exemption under the ESI Act remains valid until September 30. Consequently, district managers have been instructed to give top priority to implement the ESI Scheme as per the provisions of the ESI Act. The board would ensure that all shop personnel are covered under the ESI coverage starting October 1, it added.

The monthly employer and employee contributions must be remitted into ESIC accounts before the 15th of each month to avoid interest penalties or damage charges. Senior Regional Managers (SRMs) will monitor daily progress, with initial completion reports mandated to be submitted by July 24.

Dismissing the petitions, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan observed that the court cannot restrain the police from proceeding in accordance with the law if the petitioners have committed any offence. The plea seeking blanket protection against possible future action was premature, the judge added, and dismissed the petitions.

During the hearing, Public Prosecutor John Sathyan submitted that the petitions sought a vague and omnibus relief, contained several allegations, and therefore required a detailed counter affidavit.

Appearing for Senthilbalaji and Ashok Kumar, senior counsel NR Elango submitted that although the petitioners had obtained anticipatory bail in the alleged horse-trading case, they apprehended arrest in some other case.

The brothers filed the petitions, contending that the FIR, registered on the complaint of Uthangarai MLA N Elaiyaraja, was based on an alleged WhatsApp call involving an offer of Rs 35 crore and threats.

They submitted that the High Court had granted them anticipatory bail after holding that custodial interrogation was not required and that they had been complying with the direction to appear before the Triplicane police daily and cooperate with the investigation.

The petitioners also alleged that PWD and Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna had publicly stated that there were "scores to settle" over the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives at a rally attended by TVK chief and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. They further contended that, according to social media reports and investigative journals, there were political instructions from the top to arrest them before the impending by-elections.

Seeking relief, they prayed for a direction restraining the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption and the Greater Chennai Police from harassing them under the guise of search, inquiry, or investigation in connection with multiple criminal cases pending against them.

They also sought a direction to the police to issue a proper written notice under Section 35 (3) of the BNSS, as mandated by law, if their presence was required in any pending or proposed case.

The issue came up at the 53rd meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of SK Haldar.

During the meeting, Tamil Nadu's representative and Water Resources Department principal secretary Satyabrata Sahu urged Karnataka to release water as per the monthly schedule fixed by the Supreme Court.

Sahu said Tamil Nadu had received only 3.442 TMC of water from Karnataka between June 1 and July 19, against its allocated share of 28.337 TMC, amounting to only 12.15% of the scheduled release.

"Karnataka has yet to release 24.896 TMC of water due to Tamil Nadu," he told the Authority.

Presenting the storage position, Sahu said the combined storage in Karnataka's four Cauvery basin reservoirs stood at 48.979 TMC, with an inflow of 31.626 TMC, compared with the 30-year average storage of 81.528 TMC, amounting to 38.79%.

He also informed the authority that the storage in the Mettur dam stood at 36.979 TMC and that 1,003 cusecs of water was being released mainly to meet drinking water requirements.

Karnataka’s representative maintained that the State was unable to release water because of inadequate rainfall and drought conditions, particularly in Bengaluru.

The issue will be reviewed at the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee meeting on July 28.

The annual festival of St Anthony's Church and Mathalai Mary Church in Vakkampatti, Athoor taluk, began with the flag-hoisting ceremony on July 18. As part of the festival, an illuminated chariot procession commenced from the church shortly after midnight. Firecrackers were burst to welcome the procession.

According to the police, sparks from the fireworks accidentally fell on a nearby stockpile of firecrackers, triggering a series of explosions. The fire spread to people gathered at the venue, causing panic as devotees ran for safety.

The injured were rushed to the Dindigul Government Medical College Hospital in cars and autorickshaws. Karan, who suffered severe burn injuries, was later shifted to a private hospital in Dindigul, and Bharath Krishna (20) was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for advanced treatment, police said.

The Dindigul Taluk police have registered a case. Police are investigating whether the firecrackers involved in the explosion had been stored or manufactured illegally in the village.

N Nithya (42), a resident of Pattukkottai in Thanjavur, came to the Pattukkottai Registrar Office with kerosene and suddenly poured it on herself and attempted to light herself ablaze. Alarmed police personnel ran to her rescue; snatched away the matchbox and kerosene can and took her to the police station.

Upon inquiry, Nithya said that her father Panneerselvam possessed 9,500 sq ft of land in the locality, which was given to one Rajendran through a power of attorney in 2009, and later, the power of attorney was cancelled.

However, despite the power of attorney being cancelled, Rajendran registered the particular land to his wife Ananda Jothi while the officials reportedly assisted Rajendran for the registration of the land, she claimed.

In such a backdrop, Nithya had approached the registrar's office appealing to cancel the registration. She also approached the court; however, the officials reportedly ignored her pleas despite a series of attempts.

Frustrated, Nithya came to the Pattukkottai Sub-Registrar Office on Wednesday with a can of kerosene and attempted self-immolation, condemning inaction by the officials. The police rushed her to the Pattukottai GH for treatment. A case was registered, and investigations are on.

Incidentally, this is the third case of death in prison in July alone.

In the communication dated July 22, Judicial Magistrate S Mohamed Suhail stated that he had conducted an inquest into the death of M James, son of Maria Soosai, a convict who died on July 15 while lodged in the Central Prison in Tiruchy. A case was registered (Crime No. 206 of 2026) in this connection at the Government Hospital police station.

In the letter, the magistrate said the body was handed over to the Department of Forensic Medicine at KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College, Tiruchy, for autopsy. A request was made on July 16 to nominate a team of doctors in accordance with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines, including videography of the post-mortem examination process.

However, despite repeated requests, no medical team had been nominated by the DME&R, resulting in the body remaining at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital for eight days.

The magistrate noted that autopsies in custodial death cases should ordinarily be conducted at the earliest, preferably within two days, before the body is handed over to the family for final rites. He said the delay had caused hardship to the bereaved family and led to an unwarranted delay in the administration of justice.

Describing the matter as “most urgent”, the court directed the DME&R to immediately nominate the required team of doctors, ensure that the post-mortem examination is conducted without further delay, and facilitate the release of the body to the deceased’s family. The magistrate also warned that failure to comply could invite further legal proceedings to fix accountability.

The study, conducted by Sivachitralakshmi S and Chitra P of the SRM Institute of Science and Technology and published in the Journal of Water & Climate Change, identified a thermodynamically enhanced atmospheric river and narrow convective bands, termed ‘AR rapids’, as the primary drivers of the extreme rainfall event that battered Thoothukudi and neighbouring districts.

The findings challenge the conventional understanding that the disaster was largely caused by a low-pressure system and favourable ocean conditions. It argues that the rainfall was amplified by a concentrated corridor of atmospheric moisture that remained nearly stationary over the region for almost two days.

On December 17 and 18, 2023, Kayalpattinam recorded an unprecedented 946 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours, surpassing its average annual rainfall. Tiruchendur received 690 mm, while Srivaikuntam recorded 620 mm, resulting in severe flooding that disrupted transport networks and left widespread damage.

Using high resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model simulations, satellite-based rainfall observations and ERA5 climate reanalysis datasets, the researchers reconstructed the atmospheric conditions that led to the disaster. They found that a narrow corridor carrying large quantities of water vapour developed over the equatorial Indian Ocean and stretched towards Tamil Nadu. At its peak, moisture transport exceeded 850 kg m⁻¹ s⁻¹ (kilograms per metre-second) and was aided by a strong low-level jet over the Bay of Bengal.

As the moisture plume approached the coast, frictional effects and atmospheric convergence over the Gulf of Mannar slowed the system, causing it to remain nearly stationary over southern Tamil Nadu for close to 48 hours. The process was further intensified by warmer than normal sea surface temperatures associated with the El Niño phenomenon.

The study is believed to be among the first to document such atmospheric river rapid bands in a tropical monsoon environment without the influence of strong cold fronts. It also warns that many operational weather forecasting models may not possess sufficient resolution to detect these highly localised but destructive features, potentially leading to underestimation of flood risks.

Speaking to DT Next, independent weather analyst Srikanth said the concept of an atmospheric river can be understood as a river of moisture flowing through the atmosphere, similar to how rivers transport water across land.

“Just as we refer to a channel of flowing water on the ground as a river, an atmospheric river is essentially a continuous stream of highly moisture laden clouds moving through the atmosphere. When these moisture corridors become concentrated over a region, they can trigger extremely intense rainfall,” he explained.

Warming climate makes Chennai vulnerable to atmospheric rivers

Researchers also identified narrow convective bands between 5 km and 15 km wide moving at speeds of nearly 108 kmph. These features, referred to as ‘AR rapids’, generated the most intense rainfall bursts during the event.

According to the study, the AR rapids contributed 513 mm, or 54.22%, of the total rainfall recorded at Kayalpattinam despite being active for only about one third of the storm’s duration. During the peak hour, when rainfall intensity reached 90 mm per hour, the rapid bands alone accounted for 75 mm per hour, representing more than 83% of the total rainfall intensity.

Srikanth pointed out that atmospheric river conditions had also played a significant role during the devastating Chennai floods of 2015 and the extreme rainfall recorded in Sirkazhi three years ago, where nearly 40 cm of rain fell within two hours.

Referring to the 2023 Thoothukudi floods, Srikanth noted that meteorologists had successfully forecast the presence of a low pressure circulation and the likelihood of heavy rainfall. However, the unprecedented magnitude of the event was not anticipated. Now, with advances in weather modelling and atmospheric observations, it is possible to identify atmospheric river events in advance.

He also warned that coastal districts such as Chennai remain particularly vulnerable because moisture-rich cloud bands originating over the sea typically make landfall first along coastal regions.

While atmospheric rivers are relatively common in parts of North America, they remain rare over Tamil Nadu. However, researchers caution that a warming climate could increase the frequency and intensity of such events, underscoring the need for high resolution forecasting systems capable of detecting these hidden atmospheric threats before they cause disasters on the ground.

"The primary objective of establishing the SIPCOT complex in Pochampalli in 1993 was to boost the industrial development of the region. However, when large-scale industrial projects are introduced, it becomes essential to examine their impact on the lives of local villagers and marginalised communities," said P Sivakami, founder of the forum.

The study revealed that the farmers and workers, especially women, earn meagre incomes. Farmers and agricultural daily-wage labourers have been enduring extreme economic distress for several decades now, it said.

The researchers assessed a series of concerns, including the extent of land and livelihood loss suffered by local populations during the SIPCOT land acquisition, analysed and compared whose living standards actually improved due to industrial growth, environmental degradation, labour dynamics, land and displacement.

"The ultimate outcomes of this study are oriented toward formulating actionable corporate social responsibility (CSR) recommendations for local panchayat leaders, the SIPCOT administration, and state regulatory bodies, while proposing alternative livelihood models for affected communities," said Sivakami.

She further said, "While official SIPCOT administrative records declare an acquisition compensation rate of Rs 43,000 per acre, the affected farmers uniformly testified that they received only between Rs 14,000 and Rs 17,000 per acre."

Meanwhile, SIPCOT authorities noted that compensation amounts contested or unclaimed by farmers are currently held as civil court deposits. And 100 per cent of land-losing respondents stated that the compensation was vastly inadequate and fell drastically below prevailing market values.

Police said Naresh Kumar of Omalur in Salem was taken to Salem for questioning in connection with a criminal case. He was being escorted back to the prison in a police van.

Around midnight, as the van reached Madathupalayam Pirivu junction on the Coimbatore-Salem NH near Perundurai, Naresh requested that the vehicle be stopped so he could relieve himself. He was taken to a nearby wooded area. He seized the opportunity to flee into the darkness. Despite a chase by the two SSI’s, he managed to evade capture.

After an unsuccessful search of the area, the escorting officers alerted senior Salem police officials and the Perundurai police. Multiple police teams carried out an intensive search through the night, but Naresh Kumar remained untraceable.

Senior police officers have launched an inquiry into the escape. Departmental action is likely to be initiated against the cops for negligence in duty.

After meeting the Speaker at the Secretariat, the two MLAs said they had submitted a reply to queries raised on the AIADMK's petition seeking action against the six former legislators.

Speaking to reporters, Agri Krishnamurthy alleged that the former MLAs had betrayed both the AIADMK and the electorate that voted them to power. He claimed they had joined the ruling party through "horse-trading" and said the AIADMK had sought action against them under the anti-defection provisions despite their resignations.

Questioning the circumstances surrounding their resignations, he alleged that some of the former MLAs had switched allegiance in anticipation of ministerial berths.

Responding to a question on reported differences within the AIADMK, Thalavai Sundaram said disagreements and resentment were common in all political parties and would eventually be resolved.

On the party's complaint, Sundaram said the Speaker had assured the AIADMK delegation that the matter would be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the anti-defection law.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation's president, Advocate K Chandramohan, and general secretary, J Harikaran, said the decision was a fitting tribute to former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, whose efforts transformed the State's education sector through pioneering welfare measures.

They said Kamaraj dedicated his life to promoting education and improving the welfare of students, particularly children from economically weaker sections, by ensuring greater access to schooling through landmark initiatives.

The office-bearers said naming the breakfast scheme after Kamaraj would help the younger generation remember and appreciate his contribution to education and social welfare.

Describing the decision as historic, they said it reflected the government's recognition of Kamaraj's enduring legacy in shaping Tamil Nadu's educational progress.

The organisation expressed its gratitude to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for what it termed a thoughtful initiative and wished the state government success in implementing welfare programmes aimed at benefiting students and society.

“With the Mettur level below 75 feet, chances for water release for irrigation are less. Around 12 lakh acres of land in the Cauvery delta region may turn into desert. The farmers are sceptical about samba cultivation too," Pandian said.

Thus, the Delta farmers have decided to organise a conference on the impact of El Nino on farming activities on August 1, in which several thousands of farmers would take part, he said.

Ravishankar, the prominent scientist on climate change, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti, Agriculture University Vice Chancellor (In-charge) Subramanian and other experts would take part and interact with the farmers and would clarify their doubts, Pandian said.

Replying to an unstarred question by Tiruvallur MP Sasikanth Senthil regarding the section that currently has four railway lines, Vaishnaw said the proposed expansion would require consultations with the Tamil Nadu government and approvals from agencies, including NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance, before it is taken up.

Vaishnaw said Tiruvallur and Gummidipoondi railway stations are among the 77 stations in Tamil Nadu identified for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

At Tiruvallur station, works including the extension and improvement of the station building, booking office, parking facilities, platform surface improvements on platforms 1 and 6, platform shelters, and structural works for the new concourse and entrance porch have been completed.

Construction of a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge, lifts, improvements to the circulating area and installation of new signages are under way.

At Gummidipoondi station, parking improvements, a second-entry booking office, platform surface upgrades on all four platforms and installation of lifts have been completed.

Construction of a new station building, pedestrian plaza, drainage, approach road at the first entry, an integrated passenger information system and a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge is in progress.

There are 26 manned level crossings in Tiruvallur, of which 16 Road Over Bridge (ROB) and Road Under Bridge (RUB) projects have been sanctioned for eliminating level crossings.

While the railway portion of the ROB at LC-13 between Tiruninravur and Tiruvallur has been completed and approach works are under way, other projects are at various stages, including construction, land acquisition, preparation of detailed project reports, approval of general arrangement drawings and alignment finalisation.

The minister said completion of railway infrastructure projects depends on factors such as land acquisition, statutory clearances, shifting of utilities, approvals from State authorities and other operational constraints.

Land acquisition has emerged as one of the biggest bottlenecks for railway infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu, with nearly three-fourths of the land required for ongoing projects yet to be acquired, the minister added.

Railway projects across the State require 4,612 hectares of land. However, only 1,178 hectares, or 26%, has been acquired so far, leaving 3,434 hectares pending.

The minister said timely acquisition of land by the State government, along with statutory and forest clearances, shifting of utilities, geological conditions and law and order issues, would determine the pace of completion of these railway projects.

LANDING TROUBLE

• Among the worst-affected projects is the proposed 88-km Attipattu-Puttur new railway line, for which none of the required 189 hectares has been acquired

• No land has been acquired for the 41-km Mannargudi-Pattukkottai new line, which requires 204 hectares, and the 52-km Thanjavur-Pattukkottai new line, where 152 hectares is yet to be acquired

• The 71-km Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai new line has secured only 33 hectares out of the required 276 hectares, while the Morappur-Dharmapuri new line has acquired 47 hectares of the 93 hectares needed

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the woman had left the house with three children following an argument with her husband on July 19. As Amsa's parents also lived in the same village, Saravanan believed she had gone to their house and would return later.

However, as her whereabouts remained unknown, Saravanan and other family members searched for them over the last two days. Their bodies were recovered from a well located in a farm belonging to Amsa’s parents. Further investigations are on.

In a post on X, the DMK leader said, "I strongly condemn the government for forcibly arresting SFI and DYFI members using the police force while they were protesting against the #NEET exam in Chennai Egmore and Madurai Tamukkam areas. Arresting those protesting in Tamil Nadu in support of the youth fighting in Delhi under the leadership of #CJP clearly reveals the ruling party's double standards on the NEET issue."

"The government must immediately stop this suppression, which treats protests against the Union BJP government as protests against itself," he said and demanded that those arrested be released immediately.

He condemned the "high-handedness" of the police against CJP youth marching peacefully in the national capital over the NEET paper leak.

"The visuals from Delhi are shocking. Instead of addressing their concerns, the government is responding with its police force. This is unacceptable in a democracy," he added in his social media account.

"Today, Tamil Nadu's voice against NEET is resonating across the nation, including from the national capital. The demand of the nation's Youth is clear. Listen to them," he said.

As the protest against the NEET and resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Delhi by students led by the CJP, the student members belonging to DYFI assembled near the BSNL office adjacent to the Head Post Office signal, a busy road in Tiruchy City, on Wednesday and staged a protest. They expressed their solidarity with the protesters in Delhi and raised slogans against the Union Education Minister and demanded his resignation.

They also demanded to scrap NEET for medical admission and went on raising slogans. Suddenly, they went to the middle of the road and attempted to block the traffic, and soon, the police, who were on duty, held talks with the agitators and asked them to ease the traffic. This triggered a minor scuffle between the police and the protesters.

But still, the protesting members continued to block the traffic, and so, the police forcibly removed them one by one and took them to the police vehicle. As many as 10 members, including a woman, were arrested. Traffic was disrupted for a while, and the members continued to raise slogans while being taken away by the police.

The traders downed shutters along the Coonoor-Kundha Road, alleging that measures taken by the Ulikkal Town Panchayat, including fumigation, had failed to contain the infestation.

"Our business has been affected severely as these flies land on food items such as cakes and other bakery products, rendering them unfit for consumption. The state government should intervene and take appropriate measures to control the menace," said Bhaskar, a shopkeeper.

Residents said swarms of flies have invaded homes, hotels and commercial establishments across Selas, affecting daily life and business activity.

Amid growing public concern, a team of researchers from the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust and Ongil Nature Trust conducted field inspections in Selas and identified the insects as black-winged fungus gnats belonging to the Sciaridae family.

The team comprised A Samson, A Abinesh, Azad Kamil, N Sadiq Ali, N Moinudheen, Mohammed Shahir, E Vignesh and F Suhaib Yatoo. "We observed high concentrations of flies in the central town, along the Upper Road and the Downhill Road section in Selas. These flies do not pose any direct threat to humans as they do not bite, sting or inject venom. Their life cycle lasts between 21 and 28 days, during which females lay up to 200 eggs in damp soil and decaying organic matter. The adult flies feed primarily on nectar and are harmless," said Azad Kamil, founder of Ongil Nature Trust.

According to the researchers, the surge in the fly population is linked to a decline in rove beetles, which naturally prey on the larvae of fungus gnats. They said the beetle population has fallen due to the extensive use of chemical pesticides. Predatory mites also feed on the larvae and could help regulate their numbers.

The researchers noted that the nuisance becomes more pronounced after dark as the flies are attracted to artificial lights. They advised residents to keep damp areas, waterlogged spots and containers left in the open clean and dry to help reduce breeding.

"There is no need for the public to panic. Although complete eradication is difficult, the infestation is expected to subside naturally with changes in weather conditions," the researchers said.

In a statement, Palaniswami alleged that the registration of trust land worth around Rs 100 crore in favour of private individuals had triggered widespread outrage among devotees.

He said concerns over lands belonging to the Palani Dhandayuthapani Swamy Trust had been raised since the previous DMK regime and noted that a case relating to the temple land is already pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

Palaniswami further said the government itself had acknowledged that three key accused in the alleged land fraud were absconding and were being searched for by the police. This, he said, had cast doubts over the government's handling of the issue.

"If this hide-and-seek game is to end, the matter must be investigated by an impartial agency such as the CBI," he said.

Condemning the TVK government over the alleged fraudulent registration of temple land, the AIADMK will hold the protest at 9.30 am on July 25 near the Mayil Roundabout in Palani under the banner of the party's Dindigul West district unit.

The demonstration will be led by AIADMK Treasurer, Dindigul East district secretary and former minister Dindigul C. Srinivasan.

Palaniswami appealed to the public and AIADMK functionaries to participate in large numbers in the protest.

When the case came up for hearing before Justice K Rajasekar, the State Government Counsel, opposing the bail plea, submitted that the investigation had revealed a criminal conspiracy between the vendor and the purchaser.

The prosecution further submitted that although the vendor had claimed that the sale consideration was paid through five or six cheques, no actual monetary transaction had taken place. The counsel further told the court that while the government's guideline value of the property was around Rs 16 crore, the entire property had been sold for only Rs 2 crore.

The prosecution also informed the court that Rs 1 lakh had been paid to the Thanpani Mutt on the very day the property was purchased. It contended that the petitioner had purchased the land with the intention of cheating and usurping the property.

The petitioner's counsel did not offer any explanation to these allegations.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Rajasekar observed that the truth would emerge only if the investigation were allowed to proceed unhindered.

"The transfer of a total of Rs 1 lakh to those who passed the resolution to register the land raises suspicion," the judge observed.

Observing that government officials were also alleged to have been involved in the case, the judge held that granting anticipatory bail to Vellaithurai at this stage would affect the investigation. The court accordingly dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.