Talking to reporters at airport here, the Minister said the proposal to establish a medical college at Tambaram was under consideration and would be discussed with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay before a formal announcement.

Addressing complaints about prolonged waiting times at hospital pharmacies, Arunraj said the Health Department was working on introducing a slot-booking facility through Nalam AI, allowing patients to select a convenient time to collect their prescribed medicines.

“Most patients visit government hospitals between 8 am and 10 am to collect medicines, resulting in overcrowding and delays. Through this facility, beneficiaries can book their slots in advance and visit the hospital at the allotted time. This will prevent congestion and eliminate unnecessary waiting,” he said, adding that the system would be implemented shortly.

On dengue prevention, the Minister said the situation in Tamil Nadu was under control, with intensified preventive measures, including mosquito eradication and the destruction of mosquito larvae at the source. Dedicated personnel had been deployed to visit households and carry out these activities.

He said government hospitals had also been instructed to closely monitor patients reporting with fever and take immediate preventive measures, with doctors and medicines kept ready.

The Minister also announced the launch of the State’s first Healthy and Hygienic Food Street at the Race Course Road in Tiruchy on Sunday.

Modelled on the organised food outlets in Tirupati, the initiative aims to provide affordable, quality and hygienically prepared food through regulated roadside eateries. It is expected to benefit auto and taxi drivers, truckers, young people and other sections of the public who depend on affordable food outlets.

“We want to introduce a similar system in Tamil Nadu, ensuring uniform standards of cleanliness and hygiene at roadside eateries. Tiruchy will be the first to implement the initiative,” he added.

The incident triggered protests and tension in the area.

The deceased was identified as Balamurugan, a resident of Sottaiyan Thoppu under the Mappillaiurani village panchayat.

Police said he operated a vegetable shop and also worked as a van driver

After returning from the market and unloading vegetables at his shop, Balamurugan went to a fuel outlet on Davispuram Road to refuel his two-wheeler. An armed gang accosted him there and hacked him to death before fleeing the spot.

He died instantly due to grievous injuries.

District Superintendent of Police R Siva Prasad inspected the crime scene and conducted preliminary inquiries. Police suspect that previous enmity over the placement of a digital banner for a recent event in the locality was the motive behind the murder.

The brutal killing in a highly populated area triggered widespread tension. Relatives of the victim and local residents staged a road blockade on Rameswaram Road, demanding the immediate arrest of the assailants.

This incident has escalated panic in the area, coming just after nine other murders were reported across Thoothukudi in the past week alone.

A heavy police force has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order and prevent further untoward incidents.

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations at the Government Museum in Egmore here, Rajmohan said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had approved the proposal, which would cover the Secretariat and other government offices.

The Minister also announced that a Tamil Sangam would be established at the Secretariat, bringing existing Tamil associations under a common umbrella, with the Chief Minister serving as its president. He further said the government would organise World Tamil Conferences at venues across the world.

He also announced that Tamil-related competitions would be conducted in schools, adding that the initiative would encourage children to develop an interest in the language.

In a politically significant remark, Rajmohan alleged that an individual had offered him Rs 5 crore in return for securing the chairmanship of the Iyal Isai Nataka Manram. He said he had conveyed the offer through Layola Mani but made it clear that Vijay would not appoint an unsuitable candidate even if offered Rs 500 crore.

“The Chief Minister directed that the post be given to Pushpavanam Kuppusaamy, who was considered suitable, without accepting even a rupee,” he said.

Praising Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, Rajmohan said he had convened a meeting with contractors and instructed them not to pay bribes. “Tamil Nadu has a Cabinet that does not accept bribes,” he asserted.

The celebrations marked November 1, 1956, when the present-day State was formed following the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines. The Vijay government has restored November 1 as Tamil Nadu Day while also retaining July 18, which marks the renaming of Madras State as Tamil Nadu, as a day of historical significance.

Later, Rajmohan attended ‘Punnagai 2026 – A Day with VIPs’, an event organised in the city to provide children with special needs a platform to showcase their talents, creativity and abilities.

5 held for circulating counterfeit notes in Vellore

The Vellore police arrested five people for circulating counterfeit currency notes.

Rafiq Ahmed (46) of Gudiyatham had paid for a Flipkart delivery using two counterfeit Rs 500 notes.

The delivery agent tipped off the police, and Rafiq was arrested. He told the police he acquired the notes from Zubair Ahmed (52), who in turn revealed that Gopal (47) and Kamaraj (48) were his suppliers.

The duo named Babu (65) as their supplier. Further probe revealed that Babu had been arrested in counterfeit currency cases in West Bengal around 10 years ago and had served a prison term.

Police have seized counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 1.50 lakh and are Babu's connections in West Bengal.

Chennai: 26-year-old Siddha medical student dies by suicide

A 26-year-old postgraduate Siddha medical student dies by suicide at the girls hostel of the National Institute of Siddha in Tambaram on Thursday. The deceased was identified as T Shenbagavalli, who was pursuing her third year of postgraduate Siddha medicine at the institute and was staying at the college hostel along with two other students.

Police said that Shenbagavalli was also preparing for central government recruitment examinations. The question papers were difficult, and she was worried about whether she would clear the exam and secure a government job.

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12-year-old FSC detainee accused of sexually abusing infant in Tiruchy

 A 12-year-old Bangladeshi boy, lodged as an alleged illegal immigrant at the Foreigners Special Camp (FSC) in Tiruchy, has been accused of sexually abusing a one-year-old girl inside the facility.

Sources in the Centre said the incident occurred because the boy, who should have been housed in the men’s block, was instead allowed to stay with his mother in the women’s block. The child he allegedly abused belongs to another Bangladeshi family lodged in the women’s block, they said.

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Thanjavur: 3-yr-old girl sexually abused; mother, lover held

Thanjavur police arrested a man for sexually abusing a three-year-old child.

The police also arrested the child’s mother for supporting the accused on Friday. Yogaraj (32), a collection agent in a finance firm in Kumbakonam, had an extramarital affair with a 24-year-old woman whose husband was said to be working abroad.

On October 26, Yogaraj, who went to the woman’s house, had reportedly sexually abused the woman's three-year-old child. Yogaraj had also bitten the baby in several places.

When neighbours inquired about it, the mother gave an evasive response. Based on the alert, the Natchiyarkoil police found that the child was sexually abused and arrested Yogaraj and the baby’s mother.

Tamil Nadu: 3 assault cop and HG personnel, held

A gang of three arrested for attacking a policeman and a home guard personnel after being warned against consuming alcohol in a public place in Ariyalur in the wee hours of Friday.

When Raja Kannan (37), a policeman from Thalavai station near Sendurai, along with home guard personnel Venkatesan (47), were on routine patrol in the late hours of Thursday, a gang of three were consuming alcohol at a shed along the main road.

Both personnel urged them to leave the spot immediately. However, they picked up a quarrel and hurled abusive words at the personnel.

Soon, the police constable Raja Kannan contacted the Thalavai police station and passed on the information. Suddenly, the trio attacked the duo and escaped.

However, the police secured the trio, identified as Mathivanan, Thamaraikannan and Elamparithi, all from Silappanur village.

Tiruchy: 3 held in separate ganja peddling cases

Three persons, including a woman, were arrested for peddling ganja across Tiruchy City.

Based on a tip-off, the City Commissioner of Police Rupesh Kumar Meena ordered an elaborate raid across the city.

When a team from E-Pudhur police were searching at Panjapur, they found one Pavithran (22) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja.

Soon, the police arrested him and seized ganja packs. Similarly, another team found Sakthivel (24) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja in Rettamalai and arrested him.

A 35-year-old woman selling ganja was arrested from a house in Ariyamangalam.

Jewellery dealer cheated of 7.3 kg gold; man arrested in Triplicane

A 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly cheating a jewellery dealer of 7.30 kg of gold ornaments worth several crores of rupees in Triplicane.

The accused, Masook Jain of Vepery, was arrested by the Triplicane police on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody.

According to the police, the complainant, Seerak (25), runs a jewellery shop and workshop on Irulappan Street in Sowcarpet. Jain had reportedly been collecting gold ornaments from him on a commission basis, claiming that he would sell them to jewellery shops operated by his contacts.

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Chennai man, Bangladeshi mother-in-law held for serial robberies

Thanjavur police arrested a Chennai man and his Bangladeshi mother-in-law for stealing 30 sovereigns of gold jewellery from a house. The duo were habitual offenders involved in a series of theft cases across the state, targeting houses locked for a long period.

On October 23, K Karthi, who runs a finance firm at Pillayarpatti near Tiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur, returned home in the evening after work, and he found the front door of his house broken and 30 sovereigns, 250-gram silver articles and Rs 2.50 lakh cash were missing. A complaint was filed.

During a vehicle check, on suspicion, the police secured B Gunasekar (40) from Choolaimedu in Chennai and his mother-in-law Hannah Begam (59) from Bangladesh. The probe found that the duo had been involved in the robbery at Karthi's house, and valuables were recovered. The duo was lodged in prison.

Further investigation revealed that Gunasekaran had befriended Hannah Begum's daughter on social media and managed to go to Bangladesh illegally and married her. He returned with his mother-in-law and they targeted several locked houses in a similar manner in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Tiruchy.

Villupuram man strangles 14-year-old daughter to death for having a relationship

A 14-year-old Class 10 student was allegedly strangled to death by her father following an argument over her relationship with a young man in Villupuram district's Vanur on Thursday night (October 29).

According to a Maalaimalar report, the accused, identified as Sivasastri (40), a lorry driver, later surrendered before the Vanur police and was arrested.

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Poverty drives Panruti woman to sell newborn boy for Rs 4.5 lakh; auto driver arrested

A three-day-old baby boy allegedly sold for Rs 4.5 lakh by his mother, who was struggling with poverty, was rescued by the police from a woman in Tiruchy.

An auto driver, identified as Zafar Khan (41), who allegedly acted as a middleman in the transaction, has been arrested.

Fatima (30), from Thattanchavady near Panruti, gave birth to the boy at the Panruti Government Hospital on October 19. Already having two daughters and living separately from her husband, she reportedly struggled to raise the children.

Taking advantage of Fatima's financial difficulties, Zafar Khan, an auto driver from Panruti, allegedly persuaded her to sell the baby. Through him, the child was handed over to Renuka Devi of Tiruchy for Rs 4.5 lakh on October 22.

Zafar Khan allegedly took a major portion of the money, leaving Fatima with only a small amount. This led to a dispute between the two. Fatima later asked Renuka Devi to return the baby. However, Renuka Devi allegedly refused.

Fatima subsequently lodged a complaint at the Panruti police station on October 28. The police registered a case and formed a special team, which went to Tiruchy, rescued the baby from Renuka Devi and safely handed him over to Fatima. The police have arrested Zafar Khan in connection with the case.

Two arrested in separate Pocso cases in Ambattur, Guduvanchery

Two men were arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Thursday in separate cases involving the alleged sexual assault of minor girls in Ambattur and Guduvanchery.

In the first case, the Ambattur All-Women Police arrested Mohammad Rafeeq alias Sarphul Dewan (40), a native of Jharkhand, for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl who had gone to a mosque to attend Quran classes.

According to the complaint lodged by the girl’s father, the accused had assaulted the child while she was returning from the mosque after her classes. The girl later informed her parents, who approached the police.

In the second case, Kilambakkam All-Women Police arrested Manoharan (50), a financier, for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl at her house near Guduvanchery in Chengalpattu. Police said Manoharan, a resident of Thailavaram, runs a small chit fund business.

On October 24, he visited the house, located two streets away from his residence, to collect money. The child was alone at the time, and he sexually assaulted her. Following a complaint from her parents, police registered a case, arrested Manoharan and produced him before a Chengalpattu court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

20-year-old son beats woman to death after quarrel in Dharmapuri

A 20-year-old construction worker, who was released on bail three days ago, beat his mother to death with an iron rod following a quarrel at their house in Dharmapuri district on Thursday night.

The police identified the accused as Devaraj of Old Indur village. Earlier on August 3, the Indur police had arrested him for creating a public nuisance while wearing a police cap and brandishing a knife. He had chased passers-by on the road and attempted to attack a man identified as Veeramani, according to the police. After a complaint, police arrested him and remanded him in judicial custody at Salem Central Prison. On October 28, he secured bail and returned home.

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Villupuram man argues with wife, then throws six-year-old son into well; arrested

A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly throwing his six-year-old son into an agricultural well following an argument with his wife over money near Senji in Villupuram district.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased boy, identified as Sanjay, was the couple's only son. His father, Selvaraj, allegedly threw him into a well behind the government hospital in the area after a prolonged argument with his wife, Devi, over the spending of borrowed money.

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Two arrested for murdering 19-year-old, burying body near Pulicat

Two men from Cuddalore were arrested for murdering a 19-year-old youth at Thirupalaivanam near Ponneri and burying his body on Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat. The arrested men were identified as G Dinesh (23) and S Devarasu (18), both from Siruvathur village in Cuddalore.

The body was exhumed on Friday following their confession, police said. The deceased, Prashanth (19), was working as a tile layer along with his maternal uncle Ramesh in Cuddalore. He is the son of Ezhilarasi, a domestic help working at actor Radhika Sarathkumar’s house in Chennai.

On October 27, Prashanth informed his uncle that he was travelling to Chennai to meet his mother. The following day he went missing. Based on a complaint lodged by Ramesh, Cuddalore police registered a missing person case and launched an investigation.

During the probe, police found that Prashanth was in a relationship with Devarasu’s wife. During interrogation, the accused confessed to assaulting Prashanth to death at Thirupalaivanam before burying his body at Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat.

Following the confession, Cuddalore police, with the assistance of Thirupalaivanam police, exhumed the body on Friday. It was subsequently sent to the Ponneri GH for a postmortem examination.

Kancheepuram: Three, including school student, killed in accident

CHENNAI: Three people, including a school student, were killed and three other school students injured in two separate road accidents in Kancheepuram district on Wednesday night.

In the first incident, four school students — Sanjay (16), Joshua (15), Jaswanth (14) and Chandru (14) from Echur near Sriperumbudur — were travelling on a bike towards Panrutti near Sunguvarchatram on Wednesday night. 

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Rashly driven MTC bus kills woman on way to hospital near Puzhal

CHENNAI: A 49-year-old woman who was on her way to a hospital for a health check-up was killed in a road accident at Kathirvedu near Puzhal on Wednesday after a rashly driven MTC bus hit the two-wheeler she was travelling on.

The deceased woman was identified as K Savithri, a resident of Sholavaram. On Wednesday, Savithri, along with her husband, Kumar, were on their way to a hospital, police said.

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22-yr jail for kidnap, assault of minor

CHENNAI: The Tiruvallur Pocso court on Wednesday sentenced a 22-year-old man to 22 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2018. Police said that the incident occurred on Dec 28, 2018.

The accused, Peter (aged 21 at the time) lured a 13-year-old girl on the pretext of marrying her and sexually assaulted her. Based on a complaint from the victim’s mother, a case was registered at the All Women Police Station, and the accused was arrested and remanded. After investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the Pocso Court.

Retired Warden killed inside CSI school in Sivaganga

A woman was murdered by unidentified persons who allegedly broke into her house inside the premises of the CSI School in Manamadurai, Sivaganga district, on Thursday evening. Vasantha Mallika, wife of Easwaran, was killed, and the assailant snatched the jewellery she was wearing before fleeing the scene. The incident occurred while the school was functioning. The deceased had worked as a warden at the school. The incident came to light only after her husband found her dead upon his return home. Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta inspected the spot. Further probe is under way.

5-member armed gang robs car dealer of Rs 1 crore in Erode

A five-member armed gang robbed a used-car dealer of Rs one crore at knifepoint near Perundurai in Erode on Thursday.

The police said Arun Kumar (55) of Rajendra Prasad Street in Perundurai was engaged in the used-car business and was also overseeing the construction of a temple on a 55-cent plot on Kanjikovil Road through receiving donations.

The police said a businessman from Tirupur had donated Rs one crore towards the temple's construction. On learning about the cash, some unidentified persons contacted Arun Kumar over the phone and offered to give him Rs 1.15 crore through online transfer in exchange for Rs one crore in cash.

Tempted by the prospect of making an additional Rs 15 lakh, Arun agreed to the deal and asked them to come to Perundurai. “Arun Kumar was counting the cash using a currency-counting machine at a house on Kanjikovil Road when five men arrived armed with knives and iron pipes on Thursday. When he attempted to raise an alarm, the gang threatened to stab him to death. The assailants then fled with the Rs one crore kept in a suitcase,” the police said.

Following the robbery, Arun Kumar lodged a complaint with the Perundurai police, who registered a case and special teams have launched a search for the accused.

Theni jailbreak: Last four inmates nabbed, all 17 back in custody

The police on Wednesday recaptured four more inmates, bringing all 17 inmates who escaped from the Theni District Jail on Monday night after assaulting three prison staff back into custody. The inmates had pretended that one of them was suffering from an epileptic seizure to trap the guards and carry out their escape plan.

On Wednesday morning, around 100 police personnel intensified their search in the Amachiyapuram hills to trace four inmates: Rejin from Kanyakumari, and Tirupathi, Meenatchisundram and Ponmuthuselvam from Madurai.

The police team recaptured Rejin and Ponmuthuselvam from the hills. The other two, Tirupathi and Meenatchisundram, who are brothers, allegedly fled after learning that police had entered the area where they were hiding. They allegedly assaulted a motorist who was passing by on a motorcycle, seized his bike and escaped, a police source said.

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Trio snatches gold chain from home alone woman

An unidentified trio robbed a home alone woman of a 2.5-sovereign gold chain in Tiruchy on Wednesday after gaining entry into the house and locking it from inside.

The victim, a 41-year-old woman, lived alone in KK Nagar and works as a domestic helper. On Monday evening, while the woman was cooking, three unidentified persons had reportedly gained entry into the house and locked the doors from inside.

On seeing them, the woman raised an alarm, but one of them gagged her. They snatched her 2.5-sovereign gold chain and fled. She immediately ran out of the house, raising an alarm, but the trio had escaped. She lodged a complaint with the KK Nagar police, who registered a case and are searching for the culprits.

Thanjavur ganja peddler nabbed in Ariyalur

A notorious peddler from Thanjavur was arrested in Ariyalur while attempting to smuggle ganja from Odisha on Wednesday evening.

A police team led by Jayankondam inspector Balaji conducted a vehicle check following a tip-off and suspected a youth, who fled. After a chase, the man was caught and identified as R Shanmuga Ganapathi (29) of East Street, Thanjavur.

They found 6 kg of ganja concealed in his belongings and arrested him. Further probe revealed that the accused sold to regular customers in the neighbouring districts and procured the contraband from Odisha. He faces several pending cases in Thanjavur.

Two murdered in Otteri, Avadi

Two people were murdered in separate incidents in Chennai and Avadi on Tuesday night. In one incident in Otteri, an elderly man was beaten to death after an argument with a neighbour.

The deceased has been identified as S Ponnurangam (69), a resident of Rettaimalai Srinivasan Street in Otteri. Police said there was an existing enmity between Ponnurangam’s family and the family of his neighbour, Subramani.

A few days ago, Ponnurangam’s daughter-in-law was cleaning the entrance of their house when Subramani’s sons – Sathish (27) and Santhosh (25) – allegedly spat near the spot, which triggered an argument between the two families. On Tuesday night, an argument broke out between Ponnurangam’s son Kandhan and Sathish and Santhosh.

Hearing the commotion, Ponnurangam came out of the house and reprimanded the brothers after which they attacked him and pushed him to the ground. Ponnurangam was severely injured, and collapsed after which he was rescued and rushed him to the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital.

Doctors who examined him declared him brought dead. The Otteri police have registered a case and are searching for the duo, who fled after the incident.

In another incident in Thirumullaivoyal in Avadi city police limits, a 30-year-old man was hacked to death by his friend during a drinking session in the victim’s house on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Gokul.

Police said that Gokul and the accused, Rajesh (25) lived in the same neighbourhood and would argue often. On Tuesday, Rajesh made fun of Gokul, which had infuriated him and both of them argued and left.

The same night, the duo gathered again for a drink when Gokul questioned Rajesh about his comments and took a knife from the kitchen and attempted to attack him. Rajesh dodged the attacks, managed to retrieve the weapon from Gokul and stabbed him to death. On information, Thirumullaivoyal Police arrested Rajesh.

Man arrested for kidnap, murder of a Chennai woman

A 45-year-old man was arrested for kidnapping and murdering a woman from Aminjikarai and dumping her body in a farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur in Chengalpattu district.

Police said the murdered woman had failed to repay the loan which she had borrowed from him. The deceased was identified as Manimegalai (41), wife of Gurunathan, and a resident of Aminjikarai in Chennai.

Two days ago, the body of an unidentified woman with a slit throat was found in a private farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur. The Melmaruvathur police recovered the body and sent it to the Chengalpattu GH for a postmortem.

During the investigation, the police found that Manimegalai had borrowed money at interest from Jani Anbu Das (45), a resident of Egmore. He had allegedly threatened to kidnap her when she failed to repay the loan.

A special police team from Melmaruvathur detained Das for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to kidnapping Manimegalai and murdering her by slitting her throat over the unpaid debt. Police said that the accused also allegedly removed the gold earrings and silver anklets worn by the woman, along with her mobile phone, before dumping her body in the farm well and escaping from the spot.

Following that, the Melmaruvathur police arrested Das for the murder, and he was remanded to judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison.

Kanniyakumari: Four arrested for murdering panchayat staffer after he refused to steal lotuses from ponds

Four people, including Cyrus (32), have been arrested for allegedly murdering Kavin (27), a temporary electrician with the Alagappapuram Panchayat, after he refused to help them steal lotus flowers from local ponds, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

According to the police, Cyrus, a resident of Alagappapuram, had been illegally cultivating lotus flowers in ponds in the area. He allegedly asked Kavin, who hailed from Achankulam near Kottaram, to switch off the lights to facilitate the theft. Kavin’s refusal reportedly led to a dispute, following which Cyrus allegedly plotted to kill him.

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Man hacked to death by friend following argument in Thoothukudi market

A man was allegedly hacked to death with an axe by his friend following an argument at a daily market in Tittangulam near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district in the early hours of Tuesday (October 27).

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased, identified as Kaliraj, was employed as a load lifter at a private daily market in the area. According to the available information, Kaliraj and his friends were talking at the market premises when a light-hearted exchange of jokes and teasing reportedly escalated into an argument. One of his friends, identified as Ayodhya, allegedly attacked him with an axe, killing him on the spot.

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Newborn rescued from pvt clinic toilet succumbs, cops mull altering case to murder

A newborn girl rescued from a private clinic's toilet succumbed on Tuesday. Police are contemplating altering the case based on postmortem findings.

A 19-year-old girl who was in a relationship with a lorry driver went to a private clinic on October 24 after experiencing labour pains. Despite her parents' knowledge of her pregnancy, she went alone.

She told the clinic staff that she had diarrhoea and locked herself in the toilet for nearly two hours. When the staff checked in on her, they found she had given birth there and shifted both of them to Government Stanley Hospital.

The girl is undergoing treatment; however, the newborn succumbed and was taken for autopsy. The reports indicated injuries, following which officials are considering altering the case to murder. The girl has not been arrested yet. The lorry driver has married another woman. Further probe is ongoing.

Woman arrested for allegedly setting husband on fire after domestic quarrel in Virudhunagar

VIRUDHUNAGAR: A 35-year-old construction worker, Shankar Guru, died after his wife, Sankareswari, allegedly poured kerosene on him and set him on fire following a domestic quarrel at their house in VVR Colony in Allampatti, Virudhunagar, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to police, Shankar Guru frequently returned home intoxicated and quarrelled with his wife. The couple had divorced in 2022 but later reunited and resumed living together.

On Monday night, Shankar Guru returned home after consuming alcohol and picked up a quarrel with Sankareswari in the early hours of Tuesday. In a fit of anger, Sankareswari allegedly poured kerosene on her husband and set him on fire, said the police source. She subsequently surrendered at the nearby Virudhunagar East police station.

The police recovered Shankar Guru's body and sent it to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Virudhunagar SP Gautham Goyal conducted an inquiry.

History sheeter hacked to death in Indira Nagar

Chennai: A 22-year-old history sheeter was murdered in broad daylight in Adyar's Indira Nagar on Tuesday. The police identified the victim as Maithreyan, originally from Mylapore and currently residing in Tiruvanmiyur.

According to officials, Maithreyan was listed as a C-category history sheeter with multiple criminal cases. Last week, he had secured bail in a case with a condition to report at Mylapore police station every day. Around 11 am on Tuesday, he was returning from the station in his autorickshaw when he was intercepted by a gang.

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Missing 7-year-old found dead in Madurai's abandoned house

A seven-year-old boy who went missing while playing near his house at Thaniyamangalam near Melur in Madurai district yesterday was found dead in an abandoned house nearby on Monday.

The deceased, Muthuchelvan, a Class 3 student, had left home around 11 am on Sunday to play and did not return. His relatives and villagers searched for him with police assistance. Police recovered the body and sent it to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for a post-mortem examination. Senior police officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

College student killed in clash over wastewater

A 20-year-old college student was hacked to death on Sunday night following a clash between two families over wastewater flowing in front of their houses at Alwarkarkulam near Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district.

The deceased, Isakkiraja, son of Mariappan, was a second-year student at an arts and science college near Srivaikuntam. The families of Mariappan and Sundararajan had reportedly been at loggerheads for a long time over the issue, the police said.

During an argument on Sunday night, both parties took to weapons and Isakkiraja was killed during the clash. The police have booked over 10 people in the issue.

Man held after pregnant wife dies by suicide in Otteri

Police have arrested a man on charges of abetment to suicide after the death of his pregnant wife in Otteri. The arrested man was identified as Santhosh (29), who worked in a mobile phone accessories shop.

Santhosh had married Kokila (26) on March 6 this year after being in a relationship with her. The couple lived in a rented house in Pudhu Vazhai Nagar.

Police said differences had developed between them within months of their marriage and the duo had frequent arguments. The couple had an argument on Saturday too after which Santhosh left the house. Kokila had video-called Santhosh on Saturday night and threatened to kill herself.

When Santhosh reached the house, he found her unconscious and rushed her to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Doctors declared her brought dead after which Otteri Police rescued her and sent the body for a postmortem. 

Meanwhile, Kokila’s family filed a complaint alleging that she had been subjected to dowry harassment by Santhosh’s family and protested demanding his arrest.

After investigations, police arrested Santhosh. As the couple had been married for less than a year, the police have recommended an RDO inquiry.

Man held for sexual assault of toddler in Ennore

Avadi City Police on Monday arrested a 32-year-old man for sexually assaulting a two-and-half-year-old girl child in Ennore. The arrested person was identified as D Ranjithkumar, a fisherman, a neighbour of the victim.

Police said that he was separated from his wife and lives alone, and that he had lured the child to his house twice last week and had sexually abused her.

The child’s parents, who noticed injuries on her body, took her to the Institute of Child Health in Egmore. The incident came to light on October 23, when doctors examining the child suspected sexual abuse and alerted the authorities. 

Based on the information received from the hospital and a complaint filed by the child’s mother, the Ennore All Women Police Station registered a case and launched an investigation on the same day. After investigations, Police arrested the accused under the Pocso Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences).

The child is undergoing treatment. The accused was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. 

Techie flees after running over sleeping senior citizen in Chengalpattu; nabbed

An elderly man was killed after a techie who was reversing his car from a marriage hall reportedly ran over him, unmindful of the man sleeping on the roadside in Chengalpattu on Saturday.

Visuals showed the victim's friend sitting beside the body, holding an umbrella over it to protect it from the rain while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The deceased was identified as Kumar (77), who lived in a thatched hut in the neighbourhood. According to local residents, Kumar was sleeping along the roadside when a car reversing from a nearby marriage hall ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Police sources said the techie, who was behind the wheel, got down to check on the man but drove off upon seeing a mob gathering at the scene, as his wife and child were inside the vehicle.

The elderly man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the Chengalpattu police traced the car using CCTV footage and arrested the driver, G Saravanan (43), an employee with a private IT firm.

Bizman held under Pocso in Tirunelveli

A 52-year-old real estate businessman was arrested under the Pocso Act at Panagudi in Tirunelveli district for allegedly sexually harassing a six-year-old girl on Sunday.

According to police the accused was found committing the sexual offence after examining the CCTV footage. The accused was sitting in front of a church in the area on the night of October 23 when the girl walked alone on the road, said the police, adding that he allegedly called her over and sexually abused her.

The girl went home crying and told her parents, who lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under the Pocso Act and arrested him.

Special Sub-Inspector transferred to Armed Reserve on bribe charges

Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police Viswesh Sastri on Saturday transferred a Special Sub-Inspector attached to the Seethaparpanallur police station to the Armed Reserve following a complaint that he accepted a bribe in a sand smuggling case.

According to the police, Special Sub-Inspector Muthupandi (54) is alleged to have received Rs 5,000 from the owner of a lorry linked to a sand smuggling case under investigation.

The money was reportedly transferred through his wife's GPay account.

Guest worker killed over card game in Chennai

A 26-year-old guest worker from Nepal was murdered after an argument during a card game in Perungudi on Saturday. Thoraipakkam police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the absconding suspect.

The victim has been identified as Ganeshkumar, who had been employed at a metal fabrication unit in Perungudi and was staying with his brother-in-law Umesh. The police said the suspect, Saurav (25), also a Nepali national, was working at a private eatery. Ganeshkumar and Umesh had gone to Saurav's house on Friday night. During a card game, a heated exchange between Ganeshkumar and Saurav turned into a physical confrontation. Saurav attacked Ganeshkumar with a knife.

Chennai: Woman dies after pushed to floor while rescuing son

A 62-year-old woman died after she was pushed to the floor while trying to rescue her son, who was being attacked by a group of men during a family dispute in Perungalathur. The deceased, Naseema Bee (62), was the mother of Vasivudeen (43), a resident of Kamarajar Street in Perungalathur.

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

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Kancheepuram silk showroom owners arrested in Rs 20 crore fraud case

Two owners of a popular silk saree showroom in Kancheepuram have been arrested by the Kancheepuram District Crime Branch police in connection with an alleged Rs 20 crore fraud involving wholesale saree suppliers from Rajasthan, Chennai and Salem.

Krishnamoorthy (52) and Sathish (50), both residents of George Town in Chennai, jointly operated Murugan and Kalikambal Silks, located near Rangasamy Kulam in Kancheepuram.

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Sathankulam man kills teen lover’s mother for opposing relationship

A 23-year-old man launched a sickle attack on a couple in their house, killing the woman and injuring the man and their minor son, and kidnapped her two minor daughters, at Mudalur near Sathankulam early on Friday. The girls were rescued shortly and the man, Gnanaprakash of Anandapuram, was apprehended by the Thoothukudi police after the girls shared their live location with them via WhatsApp.

The father Muthukrishnan (50) and son Pleasant Raja (12) sustained grievous injuries and are in the intensive care unit of the Government Super Specialty Hospital in Tirunelveli. Muthukrishnan’s condition is said to be critical.

2 lorry drivers confess to murder of coworker in Tiruvallur

Two lorry drivers allegedly confessed to murdering their colleague following a drunken quarrel and burying his body in an isolated spot near Alamathi in Tiruvallur district, police said. The police are scheduled to exhume the remains on Saturday in the presence of a Tahsildar.

The deceased, M Gokul (27), a native of Kanniyakumari district, worked as a lorry driver for a private transport company in Alamathi. His younger brother, Rahul, lodged a complaint with Sholavaram police stating that Gokul had been missing since October 7.

Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the Alamathi area and identified two suspects, Ayyappan (18), and Sathish (33), who worked as lorry drivers.

READ FULL STORY HERE

According to the official communication, the state has asked authorities to follow standard operating procedures for disaster management.

On November 1, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Tiruvallur district, while heavy rain is expected at isolated places in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and the Nilgiris.

On November 2, heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in Chennai and Tiruvallur, with heavy rain continuing in Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore and the Nilgiris.

The intensity is expected to taper off on November 3, with heavy rain confined to isolated places in the Nilgiris.

The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration has instructed the district collectors to mobilise all administrative machinery and take adequate preparedness measures. Authorities have also been asked to maintain strict vigilance and immediately report any untoward incident to the State Emergency Operations Centre.

In its 4.30 pm weather bulletin on Sunday, the Regional Meteorological Centre said, "Yesterday's depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands intensified into a deep depression and into the cyclonic storm 'Murasu' on Sunday. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over west central Bay of Bengal around November 2 morning.

Thereafter, it is likely to cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Narsapur in the early hours of November 3."

The bulletin also said light to moderate rainfall would occur at many places in northern Tamil Nadu, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places on November 2 and 3.

The speech was delivered during the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations held at the Egmore Museum in Chennai.

In the widely circulated clip, Rajmohan can be heard revealing that an unnamed individual approached his friend and colleague Loyola Mani, Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, seeking the top cultural post in exchange for the hefty sum.

In the widely circulated clip, the minister can be heard revealing that an unnamed individual approached him seeking the top cultural post in exchange for the hefty sum.

"I haven't told anyone this before, only brother Loyola Mani knows about this," he said adding "Someone asked Mani for the Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram president post, offering Rs 5 crore to me."

Rajmohan said he laughed off the offer, telling Mani that the government would not give the post to an unsuitable candidate even if offered Rs 500 crore.

He noted that the position was instead awarded to prominent folk singer Pushpavanam Kuppusamy based purely on merit, without taking a single rupee.

However, the minister's open admission of receiving a multi-crore bribe offer, without naming the individual or indicating whether it was reported to the authorities, has triggered a row.

Critics and political observers are taking to social media to mount pressure, demanding that Rajmohan disclose the identity of the person and file a formal complaint.

In a X post, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy questioned the minister's responsibility, asking if a complaint shouldn't be filed against the person who attempted to offer the Rs 5 crore bribe and Loyola Mani, who allegedly acted as an intermediary.

"Does the minister know or not that receiving a bribe is a crime, and offering a bribe is also a crime?," Thirupathy posted on X.

DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai demanded that the identity of the person who made the offer be publicised.

He urged both Minister Rajmohan and Mani to file a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), pointing out that under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, any promise to bribe a public servant is an offense.

The Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram is a state-run body dedicated to promoting and preserving traditional Tamil arts, literature, music, and theatre

The CM will inaugurate a modern bus stand constructed at Rs 23 crore and an indoor sports stadium built for Rs 8 crore. He will also distribute welfare assistance to local beneficiaries, they said.

As per the tentative schedule, the Chief Minister will fly from Chennai to Tiruchy on a special aircraft, then take a helicopter to Pudukkottai.

He is expected to land at the helipad at the Armed Reserve Police grounds.

After wrapping up the official functions, Vijay will attend a 1.5-kilometre roadshow across town before returning to the Armed Reserve Police grounds.

Local authorities said that while the helicopter journey remains the primary plan, police are also preparing contingency plans for a potential road journey from Tiruchy to Pudukkottai if bad weather disrupts the helicopter journey or logistical factors require a last-minute schedule change.

Recalling the movement’s rallying cry, “What if we lose Malavan Kundram (Tirupati) We must at least retain Velavan Kundram (Tiruttani),” Stalin said the agitation had ensured that Tiruttani, Hosur, Kanniyakumari and Sengottai remained part of Tamil Nadu.

He paid tribute to several leaders who spearheaded the movement, including Silambu Selvar MP Sivagnanam, Marshal Nesamony, Mangalankizhar, Thanulingam Nadar, Ponnappa Nadar and Abdul Razak. Several participants in the struggles had also laid down their lives, he recalled.

Highlighting the DMK government’s recognition of surviving participants of the struggle, Stalin said 110 people who took part in the border agitation and were imprisoned were honoured in 2021, during his government’s tenure. Each received a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and a memento in recognition of their contribution.

Describing the movement’s participants as those who fought to safeguard Tamil land, Stalin called upon people to remember their sacrifices and pay their respects to the martyrs. “Let us bow our heads in gratitude to the martyrs who safeguarded Tamil land,” he added.

Issued in connection with the northeast monsoon in TN, the guidelines highlighted the need to strengthen building safety, maintain infrastructure and protect students from accidents, particularly during the monsoon season.

The guidelines directed school heads and education officials to conduct thorough inspections of school buildings, including roofs, walls, parapets and sunshades. Damaged structures must be repaired immediately, while rainwater drainage pipes should be kept clear to prevent water stagnation and seepage.

The department has also stressed the need to inspect compound walls, as prolonged rainfall could weaken them and increase the risk of collapse. Damaged or potentially dangerous areas must be barricaded, with warning signs put up to prevent students from entering them.

Buildings with damaged ceilings, leaking roofs or other structural defects must not be used until they are repaired and declared safe by the competent authorities. Officials have been instructed to ensure that students are not allowed near unsafe structures.

The guidelines further call for inspections of abandoned and unused buildings, proper barricading of construction and renovation sites, and safe storage of construction materials such as cement, steel and bricks away from areas frequented by students. School authorities must also verify the condition of drainage systems, septic tanks, sumps and overhead water tanks.

Officials have been directed to conduct regular inspections across schools in their respective jurisdictions. The department has instructed district-level education officials to monitor compliance with the safety measures and ensure that any deficiencies identified during inspections are addressed without delay, prioritising the safety of students.

The man was accused of sexually harassing the girl while she was travelling in his auto-rickshaw to school on October 30.

Following the alleged incident, the girl’s parents and relatives assaulted the driver, leaving him with injuries to his head and back, police said.

He was rescued by his son and admitted to the Periyar Nagar Government Hospital. Based on a complaint lodged by the girl’s mother, a case was registered at the W-36 Puzhal All Women Police Station under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

However, the accused went missing from the hospital at around 5.30 am on October 31.

Special police teams were formed under the supervision of the Kolathur Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Puzhal Assistant Commissioner of Police to trace him.

The accused was subsequently arrested, police said.

More than 50 employees took part in a protest outside the TASMAC depot in Ambattur, representing unions of Chennai district TASMAC workers. Shops were also reported closed in districts including Tiruvallur, Madurai, Erode, Karur, Vellore, Kanyakumari and Krishnagiri.

The implementation of revised liquor prices from November 1 ended the practice of collecting Rs.10 separately under the bottle buy-back scheme during the purchase. However, customers can continue to receive Rs.10 for returning eligible empty bottles, subject to verification.

“The government cannot suddenly implement a scheme without addressing practical difficulties,” said an employee. “The retail outlets lack sufficient space to store returned bottles. We were also required to scan the bottles multiple times. Either the TASMAC has to outsource private workers for this job or bring in automatic collection machines at all outlets. We cannot carry the burden of additional work,” the employee added.

According to the latest directive, the collection of empty bottles will be handled by staff deployed at each liquor outlet, with the bottles to be handed over to approved vendors until a reverse vendor is finalised through a tender process. As an interim arrangement, each liquor outlet within Chennai corporation limits will receive up to Rs 2,000 per day to manage the additional work. Outlets in other municipal corporations will receive Rs 1,800 per day, while those in municipalities and town panchayats will get Rs 1,600. Shops in village panchayats will receive Rs 1,500 per day. Consumers can return empty bottles at any Tasmac outlet and need not visit the shop where they purchased the liquor.

“We don't want the reimbursements,” the TASMAC employees say, who also questioned the government's failure to address basic facilities at shops despite employees having worked there for years. They cited the lack of toilet facilities and said their working conditions had not received adequate attention, even as the administration pushed ahead with the bottle-return scheme.

The orders were issued on the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, with the stated objectives of reducing the pendency of cases, expediting judicial proceedings and ensuring timely justice for victims.

Of the 26 new courts earmarked for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, 12 will be newly established, while 14 will be additional courts. The government has sanctioned Rs 46.59 crore for setting them up.

Tamil Nadu currently has 22 operational POCSO special courts, with another four in the process of becoming operational. Once all 26 newly sanctioned courts are established, the State will have 52 special courts exclusively dealing with POCSO cases. The courts will cater to the State’s 47 police districts.

The decision follows a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister to assess the status of pending POCSO cases across Tamil Nadu. He reviewed the number of cases, their progress and the requirement for additional courts dedicated to trying offences under the Act. He directed officials to take immediate steps to establish POCSO courts in all districts and ensure speedy disposal of cases.

Separately, as part of its ‘Drug-Free Tamil Nadu’ initiative, the government has ordered the establishment of four additional special courts to exclusively try cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Of these, three courts will be established in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore, while Chennai will get an additional court. Tamil Nadu currently has 11 special courts dealing with NDPS cases.

The government said the additional courts would help expedite the disposal of pending cases, strengthen judicial processes and intensify efforts to curb drug trafficking and consumption.

Deepavali falls on Sunday (November 8) this year. The additional holiday on Monday will give students, parents, teachers and government employees more time to return after celebrating with their families.

According to the government order, the holiday will cover all government offices, public sector undertakings, schools, colleges and other educational institutions throughout Tamil Nadu.

November 28 has been designated a working day to compensate for the additional holiday. The decision allows those covered by the order to plan their return journeys for Monday instead of having to travel immediately after the celebrations on Sunday.

For families travelling together, it also aligns the holiday arrangements of government employees and students. The compensatory working day falls on a Saturday. Offices and institutions covered by the announcement will therefore observe the revised schedule, with a holiday on November 9 and work resuming on the designated compensatory date later in the month.

Meanwhile, Chennai’s Koyambedu vegetable market will remain closed for one day on November 9, following a separate decision taken by traders’ associations ahead of the festival.

The closure was unanimously approved at a consultative meeting chaired by G.T. Rajasekaran, president of the Integrated Federation of Market Associations. Participants decided that all vegetable shops would remain open until Deepavali, enabling customers and traders to complete their purchases before the holiday. The association said the market would resume its normal operations on Tuesday (November 10).

The announced closure is limited to the vegetable market for the day after Deepavali. Members of the public and traders have been asked to plan their essential purchases in advance, taking into account the Monday closure. Those depending on the market for vegetable supplies should make the necessary arrangements before the festival-day trading ends.

The two announcements set out the post-festival schedule for government establishments, educational institutions and the vegetable market.

While the state government’s holiday is intended to ease return travel after Deepavali celebrations, the traders’ decision provides for a one-day break before regular vegetable trading resumes on Tuesday, allowing buyers to organise their purchases around the announced closure.

In her message, President Murmu extended greetings to the people of 13 States and Union Territories marking their Formation Day, including Tamil Nadu. Describing them as regions with rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions, she said they had played an important role in powering India’s growth. She wished their people prosperity and well-being.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted Tamil Nadu’s contributions to India’s economic and technological advancement, citing its achievements in manufacturing, automobiles, textiles, electronics, space technology, healthcare and emerging industries.

“The hardworking and enterprising people of Tamil Nadu have made outstanding contributions to India’s progress,” he said, noting that the State had distinguished itself through innovation, skill and industrial excellence.

He also acknowledged the richness of Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity and traditions, saying Tamil culture had enriched India’s civilisational journey in innumerable ways. He wished the people happiness, success and new opportunities.

Governor RV Arlekar extended his heartfelt greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu and Tamils living in other states and across the world on the occasion of Tamil Nadu State Day.

In his message, Chief Minister Vijay recalled the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought to protect the Tamil language and secure the merger of Tamil-speaking regions with Tamil Nadu during the linguistic reorganisation of states.

“The history of those who fought to protect our mother tongue, Tamil, and to bring Tamil-speaking regions under Tamil Nadu will remain an enduring inspiration for the Tamil people’s sense of rights and unity,” he said.

Urging people to take pride in the State’s historical legacy, Vijay called for a renewed commitment to honouring the Tamil language, preserving the art, culture and traditions of the Tamil people, and upholding the State’s distinct identity.

He also urged people to work together to enhance Tamil's glory and preserve the State’s heritage for future generations.

According to a Government Order, R Krishnaraj, Superintendent of Central Prison, Madurai, has been transferred to Central Prison, Salem, to fill an existing vacancy.

A Parasuraman, Superintendent of Central Prison, Cuddalore, has been posted as Superintendent of Central Prison, Madurai, in place of Krishnaraj.

G Vinoth, Additional Superintendent of Central Prison, Salem, has been transferred to Central Prison, Cuddalore, to fill the existing vacancy.

Pending the completion of the transfers, A Murugesan, Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Madurai Range, will temporarily take charge as Superintendent, Madurai.

The transfer and posting orders were issued by K Shankar, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that within two days of Theni jail break in which 17 inmates escaped, the government had transferred out DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore and posted Shankar in his place.

All the 17 escaped inmates were recaptured by police within two days of the incident.

Hemalatha, also known as Hemavathi, went missing in the early hours of October 12, while her parents, Bhavani and Vadivelu, were sleeping. The local police took up the case initially, but with no leads even after 10 days, the case was moved to the CB-CID.

With no clues emerging even after 20 days, the CB-CID is planning to conduct searches in the forest areas of Alampoondi and its surroundings in coordination with the Forest department to look for evidence relating to the girl’s disappearance.

The teams have questioned Bhavani, Vadivelu, the girl’s grandmother Shanthi and elder sister Vijayalakshmi separately. They also examined school attendance records and questioned teachers. Meanwhile, a history-sheeter and a godman also reportedly fled.

Vadivelu’s relatives were also questioned following information that the girl was in Bengaluru, but in vain. Manimegalai (75), who lives alone on a field about 200 metres from the girl’s house, had told police that someone had knocked on her door twice around 3 am on October 12.

The CBCID had planned to question Vadivelu over the past two days, but postponed it as he was unwell. He was summoned to a temporary investigation centre in the village on Tuesday and questioned. A history sheeter from Bharathanthangal village, who had already been questioned, was summoned again and subjected to further questioning.

With the ground-level search yielding no results, the CB-CID has begun examining digital evidence. Police have obtained data from three mobile phone towers in the Alampoondi area that were active around midnight on the day of the disappearance. More than 600 mobile phone numbers active at the time are being analysed, and suspicious numbers are being monitored.

According to a representation submitted by Citizens’ Voice Coimbatore to Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Saturday, the shortage of members is affecting the institutions’ ability to hear and dispose of consumer disputes.

“The State Commission’s president has been given additional charge of the Madurai Circuit Bench, but the arrangement does not address the absence of Members at either institution,” said CM Jayaraman, president of the organisation. “The absence of members affects regular hearings and case disposal, increasing pendency and prolonging hardship for consumers seeking redressal.”

The issue had also drawn the Madras High Court’s displeasure. On February 9, 2025, the court, under then Chief Justice KR Shriram, had questioned the State government’s failure to appoint the required members, despite financial constraints being cited as a reason for the delay. According to the representation, the president of the State commission had sought the appointment of an additional member nearly 22 months before the court’s observations, but no meaningful action had followed.

The court had also expressed concern over inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of supporting staff, including stenographers and research assistants.

The organisation has urged the CM to direct the department to publish the sanctioned strength, existing vacancies and working strength of every consumer commission in Tamil Nadu, and fill the vacant Member posts within a publicly declared time-frame.

Pavithra and Jagadeesan of Pudur in Vaniyambadi have two daughters. As Pavithra was pregnant again, the couple allegedly illegally determined the sex of the foetus at a private hospital in Tirupattur and approached intermediaries to terminate the pregnancy as they were told the foetus was female.

Geetha (45) and Indirani (60) from Santhapet near the Chittoor bus stand in Andhra Pradesh allegedly arrived to perform the abortion. Acting on a tip-off, personnel from the Health department, who had already been deployed in the area, apprehended the two women and handed them over to the Vaniyambadi Taluk police.

Police registered a case against them for allegedly attempting an illegal abortion. They are also investigating the role of intermediaries and others who may have helped determine the sex of the foetus.

During questioning, the arrested women reportedly told police that WhatsApp groups operated through intermediaries in Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Gudiyatham and Vellore were being used to exchange information about such cases.

They allegedly said that information about pregnancies was shared through these groups, following which intermediaries visited the homes of the concerned people to carry out abortions.

Police are investigating these claims. Social activists have urged the district police and Collector to conduct a detailed investigation into the alleged network and take action against those involved.

The petition, filed by advocate R Baskaran, seeks to quash the GO issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department on October 19, appointing government officials as Special Officers from October 20 pending an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994.

The petitioner pointed out that the five-year term of elected representatives in 28 districts had ended on January 5, 2025, while the term in the remaining 9 districts expired on October 19. However, elections had not been conducted. He contended that the Constitution mandates the completion of Panchayat elections before the expiry of the five-year term and that delimitation and reservation cannot be cited as grounds for indefinitely postponing elections.

He further alleged that the government had repeatedly extended the tenure of Special Officers through executive orders, pending legislative approval or amendments to the Act. The petitioner sought directions to complete ward delimitation and seat reservation within a stipulated period and asked the court to direct the State Election Commission to conduct elections to all Village Panchayats, Panchayat Unions and District Panchayats across the State within a time-frame fixed by the court.

The matter is expected to be listed for hearing shortly.

According to a complaint lodged by Namachivayam, Chief Manager of SBI’s Regional Business Office-II, the incident occurred on July 21 when branch manager Harsheen Singh contacted Kayalvizhi, the building owner, regarding the repair of a faulty lift.

He reportedly approached her after her representative failed to respond to his complaints. Aggrieved by the manager contacting her directly over the issue, Kayalvizhi visited the branch and confronted him.

The complaint alleged that she abused, assaulted and threatened Singh during the altercation. CCTV footage of the incident, which subsequently went viral, showed her slapping the bank official.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case against Kayalvizhi under Sections 296(b) (uttering obscene words), 329(4) (house trespass), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Kayalvizhi subsequently moved the Madras High Court seeking to quash the FIR.

Hearing the petition, Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan directed the Shastri Nagar police in Adyar to file the final report within four weeks.

According to a press release issued by the State government on Saturday, the decision followed instructions from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Protests against NEET took place across the State between May 10 and July 31, 2026. During this period, police registered 65 criminal cases against around 1,800 protesters at various police stations. The cases are currently pending at different stages.

The Chief Minister was made aware of the criminal cases registered against those who participated in the anti-NEET protests, along with their current status.

The Chief Minister had already announced that the DMK regime would withdraw cases filed against protesting farmers and teachers.

He accused the former MK Stalin-led government of treating those protesting democratically in an "inhumane" manner.

While addressing the State Assembly, Vijay said several cases were filed against protesting farmers and teachers between May 2021 and 2026, and many of them still face difficulties because the cases remain pending.

Meanwhile, the Left parties urged the Vijay-led TVK government to withdraw cases filed against protesters of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), including students.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has admitted a petition filed jointly by Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TNPGCL) and TNPDCL, seeking approval for a capital investment plan of Rs 13,544.07 crore for the first stage of the project in Thoothukudi.

Through a daily order dated October 27, TNERC directed that the petition be hosted on its website to invite objections and suggestions from stakeholders till November 13. According to the petition, the revised cost estimate has been placed before the TNPGCL board for consideration and approval.

While the EPC component has declined from Rs 10,781.87 crore to Rs 10,165.47 crore, the non-EPC component has increased from Rs 383.97 crore to Rs 419.16 crore. The major escalation is in the start-up fuel, interest during construction, and financing charges, which rose from Rs 1,910.87 crore to Rs 3,986.97 crore, an increase of Rs 2,076.10 crore.

The petition states that expenditure on the project had reached Rs 13,544.07 crore as of June 30, 2025, exceeding the original approved project cost. This included Rs 13,382.54 crore spent up to FY 2024-25 and another Rs 161.53 crore during the first quarter of FY 2025-26. Interest during construction alone stood at Rs 2,792.94 crore as of March 31, 2025.

The 2x660 MW project is being executed through two major engineering, procurement and construction packages. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is responsible for the main power plant, while ITD Cementation India Limited is executing the captive coal jetty, unloading facilities and pipe conveyor system. The first unit has commenced commercial operation on September 5 this year, the second unit to start generation very soon.

Explaining the time overrun, the corporation cited delays in finalising project management consultants, modifications required to comply with revised emission norms, COVID-19 pandemic and abnormal rainfall during November and December 2021. Land allocation for seawater intake and outfall pipelines, interruptions in the supply of construction materials following a quarry accident in Tirunelveli, and delays in obtaining approvals for soil quarrying were among the other reasons listed.

The petition also attributed delays to BHEL’s failure to deploy adequate manpower, particularly skilled welders and fitters. Changes in vendors for critical systems, including the boiler, coal handling plant and ash handling plant, also affected commissioning schedules.

The project is being developed with a captive coal jetty to receive coal and a captive desalination plant to meet its water requirements.

Stakeholders can send objections or suggestions to: cepr@tnebnet.org

or

send them to

The Chief Engineer/Projects, 5th Floor, NPKRR Maaligai, TNPGCL, Chennai 600002

Mark a copy to the Secretary, TNERC, Guindy, Chennai. Mention ‘Objections – MP. No. 48 of 2026’ in the subject line. Replies will be sent directly to the objectors, with a copy to the commission, within a week

In his complaint, I Paranthamen, former MLA and Joint Secretary of the DMK Legal Wing, alleged that the account published a digitally altered video that manipulated Stalin's voice and attributed fabricated statements to him.

According to the complaint, Stalin posted an original video on his official X account on October 30 at around 8.54 am, criticising the TVK-led government's functioning on issues including women's safety and the law-and-order situation. He had also referred to the proposed protest by the DMK Women's Wing.

However, the complaint alleged that the TVK IT Wing Official account later circulated an altered version of the video with manipulated audio, creating the false impression that Stalin had made statements not in his original speech.

Paranthamen alleged that the video could mislead the public and damage Stalin's reputation. He sought immediate removal of the content, preservation of electronic evidence and a forensic examination of the original and altered videos.

He also urged the police to identify those responsible for creating and circulating the video and initiate appropriate legal action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

The government agency, which has been conducting competitive examinations every year for Group IV posts, may see a reduction in vacancies if these positions are filled through outsourcing, officials said.

"Junior assistant, assistant, office assistant and typist posts have been included in OMCL's manpower cost list. If the government fills these posts through outsourcing, the number of vacancies during the notification by the TNPSC under Group IV could come down," an official at the Secretariat said.

The salaries offered for these posts under the outsourcing category are lower than the corresponding government pay scales. An office assistant recruited through outsourcing receives around Rs 17,000 a month, compared with a basic salary of around Rs 18,000 for a regular government employee. The latter's salary increases with years of service.

Under the outsourcing arrangement, typists and assistants are offered consolidated monthly salaries of around Rs 25,000 and Rs 32,000, respectively.

Officials said those appointed through outsourcing might also get an opportunity to secure permanent employment in the same government department, subject to their educational qualifications.

Meanwhile, a recent amendment to the Tamil Nadu government's policy has caused concern among competitive examination aspirants. Under the revised arrangement, government departments and public sector undertakings seeking to recruit staff through outsourcing must engage personnel only through OMCL. Aspirants fear that this could affect recruitment opportunities through the TNPSC.

They have appealed to the government to remove Group IV-category posts from OMCL's outsourcing list.

JACTO-JEO, an umbrella organisation of Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers, has also condemned the move. Its general secretary Venkatesan said the decision was against social justice and would affect the 69 per cent reservation system. He alleged that basic-level employees would no longer be recruited through the TNPSC but through OMCL's outsourcing mechanism.

Making the announcement ahead of deepavali, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the DA would be increased from the existing 60% to 63%, following the Union government's decision to revise the allowance for its employees.

According to a press release, the Chief Minister considered the demand from government employees and teachers for extending the benefit to State government staff and ordered the revision with effect from July 1. The revision is expected to benefit around 16 lakh government employees, teachers, pensioners and family pensioners across the State.

The government said employees and teachers played a significant role in designing and implementing various welfare programmes and that the government remained committed to their welfare.

The announcement comes after the State government recently relaxed the upper age limit for recruitment to government jobs, providing relief to young job aspirants. After assuming office, the TVK government had announced a 2% DA hike for government employees and teachers with retrospective effect from January 1, 2026. With that revision, the DA was increased from 58% to 60%. The latest announcement will take the DA to 63%.

The union government on Wednesday hiked the DA and dearness relief for central government employees and pensioners by 3%, raising the rate from 60% to 63% effective July 1, 2026. About 48 lakh central government employees and 68 lakh pensioners will benefit from the hike. The increase follows recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.

The impact of Cyclone Murasu, the second cyclone of the northeast monsoon season, on Tamil Nadu is also expected to be limited.

According to the IMD, prevailing El Niño conditions are likely to gradually reduce rainfall intensity during November. However, winter and early spring weather patterns associated with El Niño are expected to persist until March. Below-normal rainfall is forecast across most parts of the country, except for some areas in central, northwest and northeast India, which are likely to receive normal to above-normal rainfall.

An IMD official said India normally experiences four to five cyclones annually, with three to four forming between October and December and one or two between April and May.

"While the overall frequency of cyclones has been declining over the long term, the number of intense cyclones has remained stable or may even increase," the official said.

Meanwhile, a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal, adjoining the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea, moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a depression. It was located about 330 km west-southwest of Sri Vijayapuram and 1,140 km east-southeast of Chennai.

The system is very likely to intensify into a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal within the next 12 hours and subsequently develop into Cyclonic Storm Murasu. It is expected to reach the west-central Bay of Bengal, near the Andhra Pradesh coast, around Monday.

Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is likely in some areas in Chennai. The maximum and minimum temperatures on Monday are expected to hover around 34 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Responding to a question from reporters on whether the PMK would join the TVK government, she said, "There is no situation in which the PMK would become part of the State Cabinet.

We will always be ready to offer good advice and suggestions to the government." She was speaking at the 'World Connecting Cities 2026' conference in Chennai, organised by the Sustainable Development Council.

Sowmiya said the conference discussed making Chennai a fully developed city while ensuring environmental protection.

She stressed the need for green and affordable housing, protection of water bodies and effective waste management.

She also highlighted the PMK and Pasumai Thaayagam's 25-year-long efforts to protect rivers and wetlands.

The MLA allegedly made the remarks at Kallakurichi during DMK's state-wide protest on September 12.

After the inquiry, Karthikeyan claimed that portions of his speech had been edited and morphed to implicate him in a false case.

He said he had submitted audio evidence to the police and was prepared to face the case through legal means. He also accused the TVK govt of using police cases to target DMK leaders.

The guidelines outline 11 sub-missions covering sectors such as social infrastructure, safety and security, digital urban governance, and public health.

Of the total estimated, Rs 60,000 crore has been earmarked for underground sewerage projects and Rs 50,000 crore for drinking water supply in urban areas.

The government has estimated Rs 30,350 crore for urban roads, mobility and transport, and Rs 3,000 crore for integrated solid waste management. Urban greening, recreation and development of water bodies have each been estimated at Rs 2,000 crore.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Additional Chief Secretary to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, outlined the details in an order.

The mission will cover drinking water supply, underground sewerage, solid waste management, road infrastructure, urban mobility, transport, urban greening and restoration of water bodies. It will also focus on social infrastructure, safety and security of women and children, digital governance and public health infrastructure.

Under the order, the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (TUFIDCO) will serve as the mission's nodal agency and fund management agency.

The medal is given to recognise excellent work, promote high professional standards and boost the morale of the concerned official/officer.

For 2026, two officers of Tamil Nadu Police, both Superintendent of Police, Madhukumari and V Satish Kumar, have been selected for the award in the field of Excellence in Investigation. Madhukumari is serving as Commandant, Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) Batallion-VI, Madurai, while Satish Kumar serves as SP in Tiruvarur.

The announcement was on October 31, which marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India and the architect of national unity, celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), an official statement from Tamil Nadu Police said.

Following the incident, the Chief Minister ordered action against officials over security lapses at the prison.

Warning prison officials and staff, Vijay said they should discharge their duties with full alertness and a sense of responsibility. He cautioned that the government would not tolerate negligence or indifference in duty and would take stern action against those responsible.

The escape of 17 inmates from the Theni prison on October 26 had raised concerns over security arrangements and supervision at the facility.

The latest administrative action comes amid the government's efforts to strengthen prison security and ensure accountability among prison personnel.

Theni District Deputy Prison Officer N Nageswaran, who had been Prison Superintendent since August 6, was suspended from October 30 until further orders.

As part of measures to strengthen security, monitoring, and accountability in prison administration, the statement said Madurai Prison Superintendent R Krishnaraj has been transferred to Salem Prison.

Speaking to reporters in Kumbakonam, the minister stated that a series of public welfare schemes have been implemented through the Cooperative department, as a part of which the public can avail a festival grocery package of Rs 200 in all the cooperative outlets.

Stating that the procurement price for a fine variety of paddy for Rs 2,750 per quintal has been announced under Rule no. 110 of the Assembly, the minister noted that farmers, particularly from the Delta region, have received the initiative well. "This has led to more than 70 per cent of Delta farmers cultivating fine-quality paddy," the minister said.

He also pointed out that out of a total 3,500-hectare samba cultivation in Kumbakonam, fine-quality has been cultivated in an area totalling 2,500 hectare. The officials have been making all possible steps to support fine-quality paddy cultivation and crop management meetings are organised periodically to select paddy varieties, the minister said.

"Now, the farmers are concentrating on cultivation of fine-quality paddy seeds like ADT 51, 54, 58 and 60 that were introduced by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University," he said and added that the crop insurance process is under way.

He further noted that steps have been initiated for tenant farmers to avail the facility.

He was speaking at a mass baby shower organised by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for more than 130 pregnant women at the community welfare centre in SIDCO Nagar, Villivakkam.

Describing a mother as the world's most priceless treasure, Aadhav said mothers played a crucial role in shaping responsible citizens and future leaders, including Chief Ministers.

He urged parents to provide children with a positive and harmonious environment during their first five years and teach them to treat boys and girls equally. Cautioning against comparing children with one another, he stressed the importance of identifying their individual abilities and nurturing their talents. He also encouraged parents to involve children in sports and other activities to help them realise their potential.

During the ceremony, Aadhav interacted with the expectant mothers, affectionately addressing them as his elder and younger sisters. He also presented flowers and sweets to a councillor's child who attended the event.

As part of the traditional Seemantham ceremony, he applied sandalwood paste and vermilion to the pregnant women, sprinkled rose water and showered them with rice grains as blessings.

Each participant received a silk saree, bangles, fruits, sweets, a garland and other traditional gifts, including a baby's first cradle, presented on behalf of the Chief Minister and the Minister.

The programme concluded with a traditional lunch featuring a variety of rice dishes.

The Directorate of Geology and Mining announced the enforcement measure on Saturday, as the October 31 deadline for installing the mandatory tracking devices and completing their online integration expired.

The department had earlier directed all vehicles transporting minerals in the State to install AIS-140-standard GPS devices and link them to the MiMaS portal to facilitate real-time tracking and verification of their movement.

Under the revised enforcement mechanism, vehicles without GPS devices integrated with the portal will not be issued transport permits or transit passes from Sunday. The department has also made it clear that vehicles transporting minerals without the prescribed tracking equipment will be subjected to intensive checks and seizure, and their owners face stringent criminal action under applicable laws.

The requirement covers vehicles engaged in transporting minerals, including construction materials such as M-sand, P-sand and other aggregates.

The deadline had been extended several times owing to poor compliance. Nearly 79% of the 1.4 lakh vehicles registered on the MiMaS portal remained without GPS tracking devices as of September 30. Only around 30,000 vehicles had complied with the requirement.

The department has asked contractors, leaseholders and quarry and crusher operators to submit the details of vehicles engaged in mineral transportation to their respective district mining authorities.

Vehicle owners and royalty permit holders who have already installed the prescribed GPS devices but are yet to complete portal integration have been asked to approach the department to facilitate the process.

The proposed tour follows the TVK's hard-fought victories in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, where it retained both seats but with lesser-than-expected margins of 19,312 and 9,645 votes respectively. While the wins strengthened the ruling party's Assembly position, the relatively close contests, especially for a ruling party, exposed the limits of Vijay's personal appeal and underscored the challenge of building a robust grassroots organisation, as DT Next highlighted in its post-result analysis.

The five constituencies awaiting bypolls are Tiruchy East, Karur, Viralimalai, Perundurai and Ambasamudram. The contests carry added significance for the TVK, as victories could strengthen its legislative position and reduce its dependence on allies to sustain the government.

According to sources, Vijay is scheduled to visit Pudukkottai district on November 2 to inaugurate a new bus terminus and participate in a welfare programme. The visit is likely to draw political attention as Viralimalai, one of the bypoll-bound constituencies, falls in the district.

He is also scheduled to visit Perundurai on November 3 for government programmes, while Ambasamudram is on his itinerary for November 14, when he is expected to participate in a Children's Day celebration at a government school. The State government plans to distribute cake to schoolchildren as part of the celebrations.

The Ambasamudram visit carries political significance after NTK chief coordinator Seeman announced he would like to contest the bypoll and seek support from parties willing to back him.

Party functionaries said Vijay was keen on covering all five constituencies as part of the November exercise, though dates for the remaining visits were yet to be finalised.

In a statement, Palaniswami said prisoner escapes had become a recurring incident under the present government, citing similar incidents reported earlier from Theni, Puzhal and Salem. Despite repeated assurances from the prison department that it would strengthen security and deploy armed personnel in watchtowers, he alleged that such incidents continued to occur.

He pointed out that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had issued a statement just hours before the Coimbatore incident, directing prison officials to remain vigilant and warning of strict action against those who failed to discharge their duties properly.

Taking a dig at the government, Palaniswami compared its functioning to a comedy dialogue from actor Vijay's film Pokkiri: "Only the mouth is working; everything else remains unchanged."

Questioning how undertrial prisoners could escape so easily from prisons, he warned that such incidents could lead to further criminal activities. He also questioned how the government could assure public safety when it could not ensure security within prisons.

Palaniswami asked when Chief Minister Vijay would discharge his office responsibilities instead of merely issuing statements advising officials to remain vigilant and perform their duties without negligence.

Speaking at a protest organised by the women's wings of the DMK, she said women should be provided with pepper spray as a means of protecting themselves.

The protest was held to condemn crimes against women and children, rising prices and other issues.

Kanimozhi alleged that several functionaries of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had been accused of sexual harassment and assault. Referring to incidents reported in different districts, she questioned the government's response to the allegations.

She also raised allegations of drug-related offences involving some ruling party functionaries, including the possession and sale of ganja and other narcotic substances.

Questioning the government's performance on women's safety and drug control, she recalled Vijay's election promises of ensuring women's safety and creating a drug-free Tamil Nadu. She sought an explanation for the murders and crimes against women reported since the government assumed office.

"Instead of 'Annan Seer' distribute pepper spray to every woman in the State," she said, displaying a pepper spray can at the demonstration.

She further accused the police of focusing on monitoring DMK functionaries and opposition leaders instead of addressing public safety concerns.

Claiming that women were increasingly taking to the streets to protest safety concerns and other issues, Kanimozhi said voters who had supported the TVK now regretted their decision.

In a statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said all political parties in the State, except the BJP, had long demanded such a survey. Against this backdrop, the party welcomed the Cabinet's decision to appoint a commission comprising a retired High Court judge and IAS officers to conduct the exercise.

However, the CPM stressed the need to make the commission's complete details public, including its terms of reference.

Shanmugam said the TVK government should convene an all-party meeting and seek suggestions before the commission begins its work. This would help bring out a comprehensive picture of the State's social and economic conditions and enable the government to formulate measures to ensure social and economic justice, he said.

The division bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan made observations while hearing a petition in which the petitioner contended that the Nagercoil Corporation has proposed to demolish a corporation market complex before it has been even ten years since it was opened for public use.

The petitioner runs a small business in the market complex, which was constructed in 2015 and officially opened to the public in 2017.

The judges further observed that the government should ensure sufficient land is acquired, and adequate space is earmarked for future expansion whenever it establishes public infrastructure such as bus stands, railway stations, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions.

"Such a forward-looking approach would help avoid premature demolition, prevent the wasteful expenditure of public money, and ensure the efficient and sustainable utilisation of public resources," the judges said, adding that adequate space should be provided at the initial stage itself to accommodate future needs.

The petitioner's counsel contended that public buildings constructed by government authorities are designed and engineered to remain structurally sound for 30 to 50 years, yet the Corporation proposes to demolish the market complex within ten years.

The Government Pleader, appearing for the Nagercoil Corporation, informed the Court that 150 of the 260 shops in the complex have already been demolished to expand the bus stand. The vacated area has been earmarked for a new market complex, and shops there have been allotted to those whose shops were demolished, he said.

The Court dismissed the writ petition without costs.

The case stems from a CBI investigation into the gutkha scam, in which 26 persons, including former State ministers C Vijayabaskar and PV Ramana, former Chennai Police Commissioner S George and former DGP TK Rajendran, have been named as suspects.

The case is pending before the Special Court for trial of cases against MPs and MLAs on the premises of the Chennai District Collectorate. During the proceedings, George filed an application before the Special Court seeking the removal of several prosecution witnesses from the CBI’s witness list, contending that they had not given statements to the investigating officer. Alternatively, he sought copies of the statements of all prosecution witnesses. After the Special Court dismissed his application, he challenged the order before the High Court.

On July 4, 2026, the High Court directed the Special Court to proceed with the trial and complete it within 12 weeks. Subsequently, the Special Court wrote to the High Court seeking a three-month extension to complete the proceedings.

When the matter came up before Justice V Lakshminarayanan, senior counsel K Srinivasan, appearing for the CBI, submitted that the agency proposed to examine more than 250 witnesses and produce around 498 documents. He also pointed out that the case was still at the pre-charge stage.

Taking note of the submissions, the judge directed the Special Judge to submit a report explaining how the trial, involving several accused and a large volume of documentary evidence, could be completed within three months.

The court adjourned the matter to November 6.