Citing his age and health condition, the magistrate directed police to question him within the Central Prison, Puzhal. The magistrate also allowed for Veeramani's advocate to be present during the interrogation and directed the investigating officer to videograph the interrogation and submit a copy to the magistrate.

Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl. Police said that the action was taken based on a video evidence submitted by an activist to the city police's ITPU (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit), which showed an elderly man sexually exploiting a young girl.

Police sources said that a pendrive with the video was sent to the ITPU in October 2025 and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. The police had earlier sought to close the case after they could not identify or locate the girl. A special POCSO court rejected the closure report on August 19 and ordered further investigation. The fresh probe led to the arrests of Veeramani and his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

Meanwhile, Police have also submitted that the survivor in the video has been identified and her statement was recorded before a magistrate.

The State government has postponed the launch of the expanded breakfast scheme from September 17 to September 22. According to the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment department, the scheme will be inaugurated in Chennai and simultaneously rolled out across the state.

While the expansion has been welcomed, educationists and teachers say the government should not stop with middle-school students. They have called for the breakfast programme to cover Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 and for the noon-meal scheme to be extended to Classes 11 and 12.

Stakeholders also point out that the TVK government must begin by extending the existing breakfast and noon meal schemes to all school students instead of contemplating providing chicken biryani to students.

"Children do not stop needing a nutritious breakfast when they enter higher classes. Nutritional and educational needs of adolescents are equally important. The schemes should cover students up to Class 12 so that no child is left out simply because of the class they study in," said an educationist.

Teachers also pointed out that students in Classes 11 and 12 often spend long hours in school and attend additional academic activities. "A student preparing for board exams needs adequate nutrition and concentration. Providing breakfast and lunch can help students remain attentive during lessons and reduce the burden on families," a teacher said.

Speaking on its importance, a child psychologist added, "Breakfast is particularly important for children and adolescents as it provides energy after the overnight fasting period and can support concentration, classroom participation and overall well-being." Therefore, advocates of universal school nutrition argue that access should be based on the needs of growing children rather than their class level.

The LoI seeks to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan's ICT sector and Karnataka's technology and innovation ecosystem and is expected to pave the way for a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

TCA Manager Hsin-Lun Tsai and IIIT-B Registrar Cmde SR Sridhar signed the agreement in the presence of TECC Chennai Director General Stephen Hsu, Foundation for Commerce and Culture Interchange CEO Dennis Hu and Karnataka Digital Economy Mission CEO Sanjeev Kumar Gupta.

The two organisations will explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, electronics, smart manufacturing, smart cities and cybersecurity. The framework also provides for knowledge sharing, policy dialogues, business matchmaking, joint seminars and conferences, and bilateral delegation exchanges.

Hsu said Taiwan's strengths in ICT, semiconductors and electronics manufacturing could complement Bengaluru's technology and innovation ecosystem.

TCA's Tsai said the partnership would seek to combine IIIT-B's academic and research capabilities with Taiwan's hardware manufacturing and semiconductor expertise.

IIIT-B Director Prof Debabrata Das said the LoI would help explore mutually agreed initiatives across technology, innovation and the digital economy.

KDEM CEO Sanjeev Kumar Gupta said the initiative could strengthen global partnerships and academic-industry engagement in Karnataka.

In Madurantakam, 48 nominations were filed, of which 20 were rejected and 28 accepted. In Dharapuram, 51 nominations were filed, with 29 rejected and 22 accepted.

In Madurantakam, the scrutiny was conducted at the RDO office under the supervision of election officer Narendra. The rejected nominations were mainly due to incomplete forms and failure to submit the required documents, officials said.

The accepted nominations include those of TVK's Maragatham Kumaravel, DMK's Parandhaman, AIADMK's Kanitha Sampath, CPM's Suganthi and NTK's Janakiraman.

In Dharapuram, scrutiny was conducted under the supervision of RDO Felix Raja. Among the 22 candidates whose nominations were accepted are TVK's P Sathyabama, DMK's S Suganya, AIADMK's K Bhanumathi, CPI's P Lakshmanan and NTK's M Karthika. The nominations of 13 Independents were also accepted.

Officials said 29 nominations were rejected in Dharapuram for procedural deficiencies, including failure to submit affidavits within the prescribed time, non-submission of mandatory documents and discrepancies in polling station numbers mentioned by some proposers of Independent candidates.

Saturday is the last date for withdrawal of nominations, following which the final list of candidates will be published. In Madurantakam, the election officer said two EVMs would have to be deployed at each polling station if the number of candidates in the final fray remains above the permissible limit for a single machine.

The Madurantakam election officer said flying squads had so far seized cash and other items worth around Rs 8 lakh. Two complaints received through the online grievance mechanism were resolved within 100 minutes, he said.

There have been no complaints so far alleging distribution of cash or gifts to voters in Madurantakam, Narendra said.

The Madurantakam bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, who later joined TVK and is contesting the bypoll on its ticket. The Dharapuram bypoll followed the resignation of AIADMK MLA P Sathyabama, who subsequently joined TVK and is contesting as the party's candidate.

The BJP had removed Muruganandam from all party positions with immediate effect following a complaint by Divya Sheshadri, the party’s state OBC wing secretary. The complaint alleged physical abuse, mental harassment, coercion, intimidation and threats, besides other serious allegations, and sought an inquiry, police protection and disciplinary action.

Muruganandam, however, said his more than three-decade association with the BJP had been without any complaint and alleged that action was taken against him without an inquiry by the party’s disciplinary committee.

He said he had spoken to BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh and state in-charge Aravind Menon, who had assured him that action would follow a disciplinary inquiry.

“Taking action against me solely on the basis of fabricated, AI-generated photographs and a fake complaint, without any inquiry, is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Muruganandam also warned of stringent legal action against those circulating what he described as fake news and rumours.

The Minister said dengue cases rose from 61 on September 14 to 133 on September 15 and 283 on September 16, before declining to 244 on September 17. He attributed the fluctuations to seasonal factors and said the Health and Family Welfare department was taking all precautionary measures.

“People need not panic,” Arunraj said, adding that adequate mosquito-control workers had been deployed across all districts. A dedicated dengue treatment protocol has also been prepared and government hospital doctors trained to follow it.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had convened a review meeting on dengue and issued directions to ministers and officials, he said. Mosquito-control workers have been conducting house-to-house visits and removing stagnant water. Industries and construction companies have also been warned against allowing water to accumulate, with fines to be imposed for violations.

“Public cooperation is essential in mosquito-control activities,” the Minister said, stressing that preventing dengue required a coordinated effort involving multiple departments and the community.

Arunraj was speaking after launching the pre-release event of Vizhithirai Kaappom, a State initiative for early detection of retinal disorders, at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital in Egmore here.

The programme will cover 385 block-level government primary health centres, 37 district headquarters hospitals and 150 urban primary health centres, besides government general, district and medical college hospitals. The Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital will serve as the nodal institution, providing technical support, training and equipment.

The initiative aims to screen people aged above 30 once a year, besides those with diabetes and hypertension, to detect retinal disorders early and facilitate specialised treatment. Arunraj said public opinion would be sought before making fundus screening mandatory for diabetics.

On medical education, he said six new nursing colleges would be established in Tirunelveli, Tiruchy, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Namakkal at a cost of Rs 270.26 crore. Additional seats have also been created in nursing, pharmacy and 12 allied-health courses.

Divya Sheshadri, BJP OBC Secretary, had lodged the complaint seeking a time-bound inquiry into allegations of physical abuse, harassment, coercion, intimidation and threats against Muruganandam. She had also sought his suspension pending the inquiry and appropriate action if the allegations were established.

In her complaint, Divya alleged that Muruganandam had represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her wards' school records and had assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election. She said she had shifted from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and had been residing in Tiruchy since 2024.

She further alleged that she became pregnant during their relationship and was coerced into terminating the pregnancy against her wishes. She also alleged physical abuse and threats to kill her and/or her children. Divya said she was prepared to submit electronic evidence and details of witnesses in support of her allegations.

The complaint was submitted to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, state in-charge Arvind Menon, Nagenthran and other senior leaders. It sought examination of relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, police protection and disciplinary action, including Muruganandam's removal from the post and expulsion from the party if the allegations were established.

Muruganandam's response

When contacted by DT Next, Muruganandam said he was unaware of the complaint.

“I still don’t know what the complaint is. I’m unaware of that. Without knowing the complaint and charges made against me, I couldn’t respond to anything. After I get to know the details, I will issue a clarification,” he said.

Following the complaint, the BJP state leadership removed Muruganandam from all party positions with immediate effect. The allegations made in the complaint remain subject to inquiry.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased was identified as Pandiammal, a resident of Sivakasi. She worked as a cutter at the paperboard manufacturing company.

On Friday morning (September 18), while Pandiammal was working at the factory, her saree accidentally got caught in the cutting machine, which pulled her into it.

Her hand was severed in the accident, and she died on the spot due to excessive blood loss.

Sivakasi East police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. They recovered her body and sent it to the Sivakasi Government Hospital for an autopsy.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident

Another case of a factory worker's death in Tamil Nadu

On September 5, a worker named Madasamy (38) was killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Othayal village near Sattur, Virudhunagar district. He was preparing a mixture in a chemical mixing room when the blast occurred.

The Chinnathambi Fireworks factory where the blast occurred is co-owned by Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu's sister, Jayashakthi.

Jayashakthi, her daughter Selvamari and son-in-law Muraleeswaran, and factory manager Surya Prakash have been booked under four sections, including causing death by negligence and careless handling of explosives.

While Surya Prakash has been arrested by Sattur taluk police, the other three are absconding, according to a Maalaimalar report dated September 7.

Preparations are under way for grand public meetings in both constituencies, where Vijay will address party cadres and voters. In Dharapuram, a public meeting is planned at Thirumalaipalayam on the Udumalpet Road, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

The by-elections in Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tirupur district have already begun generating political activity, with the ruling TVK, DMK, AIADMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and Left parties contesting separately, resulting in a five-cornered contest. The CPI (M) and CPI announced that they would contest as an independent Left front, breaking away from traditional electoral coalitions, placing them in direct opposition to both the DMK and TVK.

This will be the first electoral battle in the state after the TVK formed its maiden government with the help of allies after winning the April 23 Assembly polls.

CM Vijay has nominated former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama from Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively.

Both Kumaravel and Satyabama had won from their respective constituencies as AIADMK candidates in the April 23 polls, before resigning as legislators and joining the ruling TVK later.

Madurantakam bypoll candidates

In Madurantakam, TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA and a TVK deputy general secretary K Maragatham Kumaravel, while the DMK has nominated Parandhaman, its legal wing joint secretary and party spokesperson.

The AIADMK has fielded its former Madurantakam MLA Kanitha Sampath.

The CPI(M) candidate is Suganthi, State Committee member and the General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF).

The NTK has fielded K Janakiraman.

Dharapuram bypoll candidates

In Dharapuram, TVK has fielded former AIADMK MLA P Sathyabama who is seeking re-election under her new party banner.

The DMK has nominated advocate and women's wing member S Suganya.

The AIADMK has fielded K Bhanumathi, joint secretary of its Tirupur suburban east district women's wing.

The CPI candidate is P Lakshmanan.

The NTK has fielded M Karthika.

Meanwhile, the nominations of 58 candidates for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls were accepted on Thursday (September 17), following scrutiny, the EC said.

The final list of candidates for both constituencies is scheduled to be released on Saturday (September 19), which is the last date of withdrawal.

Following this, political parties are expected to intensify their campaigns after September 20, with local functionaries making arrangements for visits by their leaders.

Leaders set to campaign for TN bypolls 2026

DMK president MK Stalin, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, NTK chief coordinator Seeman and leaders of the Left parties are also preparing to campaign in the two constituencies.

Stalin is expected to campaign for two days across Madurantakam and Dharapuram, while a detailed campaign schedule for Udhayanidhi Stalin is also being worked out.

Security stepped up for TN bypolls 2026

The visits by senior leaders have prompted authorities and party functionaries to step up preparations. Security arrangements are also being strengthened in both constituencies, particularly for Vijay's public meetings.

With this being Vijay's first election campaign as Chief Minister after the TVK came to power, his proposed meetings have generated considerable interest among party workers and supporters.

With several major leaders set to hit the campaign trail after September 20, the electoral battle in Madurantakam and Dharapuram is expected to intensify in the coming days.

So far, nine people have died of dengue, while Chennai alone recorded 87 new cases in a day, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

Which of the districts in Tamil Nadu reported high cases of Dengue?

Dengue cases are reported to be high in districts including Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur, Salem and Krishnagiri.

The department said dengue is prevalent in 10 districts, including Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram. More than 25,000 people are involved in mosquito-eradication work across the state.

The Health Department has intensified prevention measures across the state amid an increase in the number of Aedes mosquitoes due to changing weather conditions.

The health department has also ordered District Collectors to carry out dengue monitoring and coordination work, and has appointed separate 45 special nodal officers for districts. Officials have been ordered to visit districts and monitor the spread of dengue fever, record the daily incidence of the disease, and conduct inspections and studies to prevent mosquito breeding. 

Dengue cases in Chennai

The figures assume significance as the city enters a period of intermittent rainfall, which can create conditions favourable for mosquito breeding. In August, around 4,500 fever cases were reported, including 160 dengue infections.

The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed about 3,700 mosquito-control workers across its 15 zones. Field teams have been instructed to inspect residential areas and other potential breeding sites, including vacant plots, construction sites and public institutions. Private hospitals have also been asked to share daily information on fever cases to strengthen surveillance.

(With inputs from Bureau)

Divya Sheshadri, BJP state OBC secretary, submitted the formal complaint to the BJP national president Nitin Nabin, national general secretary (org) BL Santhosh, state in-charge Arvind Menon, state president Nainar Nagenthran and other senior leaders, seeking a time-bound inquiry and Muruganandam’s suspension pending the probe.

Divya Sheshadri alleged that Muruganandam represented that he would marry her, was named as guardian in her wards’ school records and assured her support for her candidature from Srirangam in the 2026 Assembly election. She said she shifted from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu and had been residing in Tiruchy since 2024.

She further alleged that she became pregnant during their relationship and was coerced into terminating the pregnancy against her wishes. She also alleged physical abuse and threats to kill her and/or her children, and said she was prepared to submit electronic evidence and witness details.

The complaint sought examination of provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and police protection. It also sought disciplinary action, including removal from the post and expulsion from the party, if the allegations are established.

When contacted by DT Next, Muruganandam said he was unaware of the complaint. “I still don’t know what the complaint is. I’m unaware of that. Without knowing the complaint and charges made against me, I couldn’t respond to anything. After I get to know the details, I will issue a clarification,” he added.

The tiger was trapped in the early hours of Friday in a cage installed in the Silver Cloud forest area. The operation had been launched following the deaths of two villagers in separate tiger attacks on August 8 and August 21. In both incidents, the victims’ bodies were found partially consumed, prompting the forest department to mount an extensive search for the suspected animal.

As part of the operation, 14 cages fitted with bait were placed at strategic locations. The department also deployed 305 automatic and GSM-enabled camera traps to monitor the tiger’s movements and identify its movement patterns.

Several search teams carried out intensive ground-level surveillance across the Gudalur forest division and adjoining areas. The prolonged operation had also drawn criticism from local residents, who had raised concerns over the delay in locating and capturing the tiger following the two fatal attacks.

During the search, two leopards were captured in the traps and released in suitable dense forest habitats. Following the capture of the tiger, the forest department has begun the process of comparing its photographs with images recorded by the camera traps during the search operation to confirm whether the animal caught in the cage is the same tiger suspected in the two fatal attacks.

A pass system (red, yellow, purple and green), with each marking a specific area closest to the temple’s inner sanctum, was in place. Devotees without passes were permitted entry only after 10 am for darshan.

“Is the consecration ceremony organised only for VIPs?” questioned a cross-section of devotees who were stopped by the police on the four Chithirai Streets, located in proximity to the gopurams (towers) where the consecration was performed.

“During the Meenakshi Thirukalyanam (sacred celestial wedding) organised over the years, we have been allowed to gather on the four Chithirai Streets,” noted the devotees.

“We are not asking the police to allow us inside the temple, but only onto these streets so that when holy water is poured over the kalasams during the Kumbabishekam, it will be sprinkled on us,” they noted.

Some people were seen forcibly crossing barricades erected by police to gain entry into the Chithirai Streets. Over 100 devotees waiting at the entrance raised slogans and staged a protest over holy water not being sprinkled on them.

Subsequently, police personnel brought a large vessel filled with water and sprinkled it on the devotees. This led to further protests, with the devotees alleging that the water being sprinkled was not holy water but ordinary water.

Meanwhile, members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers also expressed disappointment over the cancellation of 30 passes allotted.

After the Kumbabishekam, Minister R Nirmal Kumar urged devotees gathered on Chithirai Street near the police control room to remain patient and said that everyone would be allowed inside after Kumbabishekam is completed. Barricades had been put up in the interest of people's safety and to prevent some untoward incidents, he said.

On the occasion of the 148th birth anniversary of social reformer and founder of the Dravidar Kazhagam, Periyar, Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar, Chief Minister Vijay and Ministers, including N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna, took part in the pledge event held at the Parade Ground at the Secretariat on Thursday.

During the event, the Chief Minister read out the pledge, followed by the other participants.

In the pledge, they stated that they would follow the principles of "Pirappokkum Ella Uyirkkum" (By birth, all are equal) and "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir" (Every place is our native, every person is our relative) in their lives.

"My activities will be based on the characteristics of self-respect and leadership qualities. I would dedicate myself to the principles of equality, brotherhood and socialism. I would uphold humanity and form a society based on social justice, " the pledge stated.

Before the event, Chief Minister Vijay paid floral tributes to a portrait of Periyar. Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and other officials also participated in the event.

Periyar’s legacy guiding light for equality: Aadhav

Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna on Thursday paid tribute to social reformer 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy on his birth anniversary, recalling his lifelong struggle for equality, self-respect and social justice.

In a statement, Aadhav said the first Self-Respect Conference, held at Chengalpattu, had declared that the notion of people being superior or inferior by birth must be rejected in its entirety. Periyar propagated this principle of equality throughout his life and served as a guiding light for the people of Tamil Nadu to live with dignity and self-respect, he said.

Aadhav described Periyar as a leader who took the idea of equality to the masses and fought relentlessly for social justice. He also credited Periyar's movement with creating the circumstances that led to the First Constitutional Amendment.

Highlighting his advocacy of women's liberation, Aadhav recalled Periyar's words: "The first step towards human equality is a society in which men and women are equal."

He also described Periyar as a steadfast opponent of Hindi linguistic dominance and recalled his message that a life of self-respect is a life of happiness.

"Let us honour the legacy of Thanthai Periyar, whose principles continue to guide us as a bulwark against caste and religious majoritarianism," Aadhav said.

He called upon people to pledge themselves to the path of secularism and social justice without compromise, asserting that Periyar's principles continued to provide direction in the pursuit of an egalitarian society.

Aadhav later paid floral tributes to Periyar by garlanding his statue and portrait on Anna Salai here.

Speaking after paying floral tributes to Periyar on his birth anniversary, Shanmugam said Periyar had encouraged people to question everything and spread rational and scientific thought while instilling self-confidence among the people. He said Periyar's ideas and thoughts continued to have considerable influence on Tamil society.

However, Shanmugam questioned whether the present-day Dravidian movements were following Periyar's principles in practice. "Whenever Dravidian leaders speak, they refer to what Periyar said and his thoughts. But they do not intervene constructively against caste discrimination and caste atrocities in Tamil Nadu, " he said.

He said caste discrimination, caste atrocities and untouchability were social issues and political parties should work together beyond party lines to address them. "Whether in power or in the opposition, everyone should work on these issues beyond party politics and in a manner that unites humanity, " Shanmugam said.

He urged the major Dravidian movements in Tamil Nadu to give greater attention to caste-based discrimination and atrocities, saying concrete action against such practices would demonstrate that they were genuinely implementing Periyar's ideas. CPM senior leader and former MP TK Rangarajan and Chennai central district secretary Selva were among those who participated in the floral tribute.

Taking advantage of the crowd, the gang allegedly stole purses and handbags from women and elderly persons who had been waiting for long hours for darshan.

Meanwhile, women and male police personnel who were patrolling the area in plain clothes amid the crowds caught the women red-handed while they were allegedly committing the thefts and brought them to the police control room.

During questioning, the women told the police that they were from Maharashtra. The police seized purses and handbags allegedly stolen from members of the public that were found in their possession.

The four women were subsequently taken to a police station, where the police are continuing their inquiry.

The party has submitted the list of leaders who will campaign for its candidates in the two constituencies. The omission of the three senior leaders has attracted attention, particularly amid the differences between the camp of general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders associated with Shanmugam and Velumani.

The differences surfaced after the 2026 Assembly elections over the issue of extending support to the TVK government. Subsequently, Palaniswami removed Shanmugam and Velumani from their district secretary posts. Though they were later given other organisational responsibilities, their earlier district posts were not restored.

Shanmugam and Velumani have been seeking restoration of the posts held by them and their supporters. They have also sought the convening of the AIADMK general council, but their demands have not been accepted so far.

Against this backdrop, the exclusion of their names, along with that of Thangamani, from the star campaigners list has renewed attention on the organisational differences within the party.

The development comes at a time when AIADMK is seeking to consolidate its campaign for the two bypolls, with the absence of the three senior leaders potentially underscoring the continuing divide between the EPS camp and functionaries aligned with Shanmugam and Velumani.

With the consecration of the Sri Kaliamman temple scheduled for Thursday, a group led by T Sethupathi erected a digital banner welcoming the devotees on Wednesday. Meanwhile, another group led by M Prakash decided to install a banner at the same spot, triggering a heated argument between the groups, which snowballed into a physical assault.

Shocked, the elders pacified the groups, after which both gangs left the place. However, at around 2 am, Prakash, along with his father M Mathiyazhagan (58) and his brother Rajkumar (30), went to the house of Sethupathi and picked up a quarrel. Suddenly, the trio attacked Sethupathi and his father, Thalapathi (50), with lethal weapons. Thalapathi died on the spot, sustaining stab injuries to his chest and other parts. The trio escaped.

On receiving information, Kabisthalam police rushed to the spot, retrieved the body and sent it to Papanasam GH. The police have registered a case, and further investigations are under way.

A PIL filed by Bhaskar of Kamarajar Salai in Madurai came up for hearing before the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Aravind Dharmadhikari and Justice CV Karthikeyan.

In his petition, Bhaskar has sought directions to expedite the construction of the AIIMS hospital at Thoppur and complete the project within a stipulated time.

Bhaskar submitted that the central government had announced the establishment of an AIIMS in Tamil Nadu in 2015. Pointing out that the construction work had not progressed at the expected pace and the project had remained pending for a long time, the petitioner therefore sought directions to expedite the construction work at Thoppur and complete it within a specified timeframe.

PIL filed by Bhaskar of Kamarajar Salai in Madurai sought directions to expedite AIIMS hospital construction at Thoppur and complete the project within a stipulated time

When the case came up for hearing before the Division Bench, the counsel for the central government submitted that as of August 31, around 57% of the overall construction work had been completed.

The counsel for the central government further submitted that the five batches of MBBS students admitted between 2021 and 2025, who had initially been accommodated temporarily at Ramanathapuram, had now been shifted to the AIIMS's own campus.

The central government further informed the court that a fully functional outpatient department at AIIMS Madurai was scheduled to commence operations from January 1, 2027.

After hearing the submissions, the Division Bench disposed of the petition after the counsel appearing for the Centre submitted that necessary steps were being taken to open the OPD from January 1.

Justice Sunder Mohan observed that while one may sympathise with a father over strained relationships with his children, the court cannot accept the Family Court’s view that he should be financially compensated for it.

The father, CM Goyal alias Chandrakumar M Goyal, had sought maintenance stating he was unable to maintain himself. He submitted that he had run a successful business manufacturing household appliances and computers, provided a good education to his children, and given his son a 50% share in the business.

He further alleged that after purchasing a flat in Perambur, his son and daughter-inlaw deceived him into executing a settlement deed and later defrauded him during his illness. He also claimed his son stopped paying property tax and electricity bills for the apartment, leaving him without any source of income. Aggrieved by the Family Court order directing him to pay Rs 75,000 per month, his son Suraj Goyal filed a revision petition before the High Court.

During the hearing, Suraj argued that his father had ill-treated the family and had extra-marital affairs. He submitted that although his father settled the property in his name while retaining life interest, he later sought to cancel the deed under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. After failing in that attempt, the father filed the maintenance case under Section 125 CrPC as an afterthought, the son contended.

Allowing the petition, Justice Sunder Mohan observed that the case was certainly a hard one as the son was accused of obtaining his father’s self-acquired property through a settlement and failing to provide moral support. However, this alone did not entitle the father to claim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC unless prescribed conditions were satisfied.

“No amount of money can compensate for the lack of moral or family support a person is entitled to in his old age,” the court said, adding it could only hope that good sense would prevail and the parties would resolve their issues. Holding that the ground on which the Family Court awarded maintenance could not be accepted, the High Court set aside the order.

The facility will use an alkaline electrolyser to produce at least 45 kg of green hydrogen an hour. It will also include storage tanks, compressors and a refuelling system capable of supplying up to 900 kg of hydrogen a day to vehicles. The project is a part of the ministry's broader objective to develop the port as a Green Hydrogen Hub. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the VOC Port has been identified as one of India's green hydrogen hubs.

The plant will have storage capacity for around 720 kg of hydrogen. Hydrogen will be stored at high pressure and dispensed at 350 bar. The turnkey project includes the design, engineering, procurement, civil and electrical works, automation, safety systems, installation, commissioning, testing and training. It will also cover facility operation and maintenance for seven years, including a two-year guarantee period.

The project is proposed on around three acres of land and is expected to be completed in 12 months. The port will provide 22 kV power supply and potable water free of cost, while the contractor will be responsible for the required arrangements, protection systems and other project-related works.

The tender marks a major expansion from VOC Port's existing green hydrogen pilot project, which has a production capacity of 10 Nm³ per hour. The pilot powers port streetlights and an electric vehicle charging station.

According to VOC Port chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit, the pilot project helped establish the technical feasibility of producing green hydrogen at a port and helped identify operational and technical challenges.

VOC Port intends to expand the pilot plant in phases and eventually scale up to 10 MW for green mobility applications, including deploying hydrogen-powered trucks for port operations. The chairperson earlier said the first stage of commercial green hydrogen production at VOC Port is expected in 2029.

The three-day conference, held from September 11 to 13, brought together over 200 participants, including heads of state, ministers, economic experts and investors from over 20 countries.

Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool presided over the award ceremony and presented the honour to Sekar Viswanathan, along with prominent Tamils from various fields around the globe.Discussions at the conference covered international investments, business opportunities, artificial intelligence, financial services, higher education, healthcare, startups and global trade.

VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan attended the event as chief patron and special guest. Minister for School Education Rajmohan and president of the Madras Development Society and World Tamils Economic Foundation VRS Sampath also attended the conference.

The award recognised Sekar Viswanathan's contribution to the higher education sector.

The conference provided a platform for participants from different countries to discuss economic cooperation, investment opportunities and emerging sectors, including technology and education.

The issue is likely to come up for discussion at the university's Senate meeting, scheduled for Friday after a gap of more than a year. The meeting is significant as the university is required to approve the budget and take up discussions on several administrative and financial matters.

According to university sources, the institution requires around Rs 100 crore from the government to meet its expenses, but the State has only provided Rs 52 crore in the budget. The shortfall could put additional pressure on the university's finances, including salaries, pensions and other administrative expenditure.

Last year, the University of Madras paid Rs 95 crore towards retirement benefits to retired staff from its Rs 300 crore corpus fund. The university has also been paying monthly pensions from the interest generated by the corpus fund. The university faced a similar financial situation the previous year, with government assistance proving insufficient to meet all its financial commitments.

Sources said the current situation has again raised the question of whether the university would have to depend on its corpus and other resources if additional government assistance is not released. However, no decision has been taken so far to withdraw money from the corpus fund this year.

Speaking to DT Next, former University of Madras Vice-Chancellor SP Thyagarajan said the government should allocate a special reform package to the University of Madras to help it overcome the fund crunch. He also said the university should focus on generating its own revenue and a vice-chancellor should be appointed soon. He recalled that the University of Madras was once financially strong and had a revenue surplus.

Professors from the university have also raised concerns over the State government's fund allocation, pointing out that Rs 525 crore of the Rs 767 crore allocated for State universities has gone to Annamalai University and the remaining Rs 242 crore has been distributed among other State universities, they said.

They also pointed out that timely release of adequate funds would help the University of Madras manage its regular commitments without excessively depending on its own reserves. University of Madras registrar Prof Dr Rita John replied that the university is not reeling under any financial crisis now. The Senate meeting on Friday is therefore expected to provide a clearer picture of the university's financial position, including its fund requirements and the measures proposed to manage the funding gap.

According to university data, 2,425 students from these 24 colleges sat for various semester examinations between November-December 2021 and November-December 2025, but none managed to pass. Semester exams are generally held in November-December and April-May.

Of these candidates, 1,394 wrote the first, third, and fifth-semester exams, while 1,031 appeared for the second, fourth, and sixth-semester tests.

The analysis further showed that 177 colleges had fewer than 50 students passing the examinations over the four years. This poor performance, combined with very low student intake, has raised serious doubts over whether candidates admitted to such institutions can complete their degree within the prescribed timeframe.

Questioning the rationale behind allowing such colleges to participate in admissions, educationist D Nedunchezian said: "Despite low admissions and poor performance, why are these colleges allowed to participate in counselling? This amounts to ruining the future of students." He added that institutions with just one or two students in a batch cannot provide a conducive academic environment or ensure effective teaching.

Educationist Jayaprakash Gandhi urged Anna University to set a strict timeframe for colleges to raise standards. "Colleges that have admitted a sufficient number of students in previous years should alone be allowed to participate in the counselling process. If Anna University fails to address this issue, producing quality engineering graduates will remain a challenge," he said.

Tamil Nadu currently has 418 engineering colleges with a sanctioned intake of 2,53,806 seats, of which 1,99,775 were filled during the 2026 counselling process.

The issue assumes significance as several engineering colleges have struggled to attract students, with some even shutting down in recent years. The 2026 counselling data revealed a sharp contrast: only 35 colleges achieved 100% admissions, while 104 recorded over 90%. At the other end, 24 colleges saw admissions fall below 10%, including 15 that managed only single-digit enrolments.

When contacted, Anna University Registrar Prof Dr V Kumaresan said the varsity is yet to receive the relevant performance data from the Directorate of Technical Education. "Once we receive the data, we will examine the matter and initiate appropriate action based on the findings," he said.

Academicians have urged Anna University and AICTE to conduct a comprehensive review of institutions with persistently poor results and low intake, rather than focusing solely on expanding seat capacity, and take firm action against those failing to maintain academic standards.

Justice Vijayakumar issued the directions on a petition filed by Yogalakshmi of Koodal Pudur, the mother of the deceased Tamilselvan, who sought transfer of the probe and an interim stay on the police investigation.

Yogalakshmi said that her son went out to play with his friends on September 6 but did not return home till evening and alleged that a boy had informed her that one Thuraipandi had assaulted her son a few days earlier. She also claimed that her son was in a relationship with Thuraipandi's daughter and that love letters were allegedly found at her house.

Meanwhile, Tamilselvan's body was recovered from a nearby pond on September 7. His friends, who had initially denied going to the pond with the deceased, later admitted the truth after the police showed them CCTV footage, the petitioner said.

She further claimed that she later received information that some persons had assaulted Tamilselvan and thrown him into the pond. Though she had handed over audio recordings and other materials relating to her suspicions to the police, no action had been taken, she alleged.

The police submitted that the cause of death could be ascertained only after the post-mortem report is released.

Following this, the judge directed the police to preserve the CCTV footage, examine an audio recording of a conversation between Tamilselvan's friend and his mother and adjourned the case to September 24.

Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Palaniswami alleged the TVK government has unfulfilled election promises and has also failed to rectify power shortages in the state.

On CM Vijay's visit to London, Palaniswami said that he travelled to the United Kingdom to attract industrial investment but did not include key officials such as the ministers and officials of the department concerned.

"If the Chief Minister had travelled specifically to attract industrial investments, he should have taken appropriate persons with him," he said.

Palaniswami further said that corruption has increased under the TVK government and people are forced to pay bribes for everything.

He also expressed concern over the State's financial position, noting that since the TVK government took office, State debt has increased by nearly Rs 40,000 crore and revenue expenditure has risen by approximately Rs 36,000 crore.

He also called on the government to suspend plans to build a new Secretariat in a congested coastal area. Once the State's finances improve and a more accessible, traffic-friendly location can be chosen, said EPS.

The association stated that recovering the excess amount without issuing rules and guidelines for TAPS was an autocratic move and that the government should clarify the criteria under which an employee would be considered to have completed 18 years of service and become eligible for the interim payout under TAPS.

"The TVK government should implement its election manifesto, stating that the Old Pension Scheme would be implemented once the party came to power. The order on interim payout issued by the Finance Department should be repealed," the association said.

In a recent circular issued by Finance Secretary N Venkatesh to the Director of Treasuries and Accounts, the Finance Department said that retired government staff who had completed 18 years of service or more would be eligible for 30 per cent of their last-drawn monthly basic pay or Rs 10,000 as interim payout, whichever was higher.

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

JACTO-GEO also said that only a few government employees and teachers had completed 18 years of service, particularly among those recruited after 2007 through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in The Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts on Friday.

According to the weather bulletin, a trough extending from a cyclonic circulation over Marathwada and its neighbourhood to the Gulf of Mannar, across Interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at 0.9 km above mean sea level, is driving the rain across the State.

Moderate rain with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph is expected at a few places over the remaining Western Ghats districts, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Salem, Tirupur, Erode, Dharmapuri, Namakkal, Madurai, Sivagangai, Krishnagiri, Kallakurichi, Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Karur, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

On September 19, heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Vellore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Kallakurichi, and Salem districts. The heavy spell will continue at isolated places over The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Madurai, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi districts on September 20.

For Chennai, light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely in some areas during the evening or night on Friday. The maximum temperature in the city will hover around 37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum will be around 26 degrees Celsius.

Maximum temperatures are likely to remain near normal across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal until September 21. Moderate rain at a few places, along with thunderstorms and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph at isolated spots, will continue over the Western Ghats districts, North Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on September 22 and 23.

From 7000 cusecs on Wednesday, the inflow increased steadily to 14,000 cusecs on Thursday, 4pm. The suspension of coracle operations continued for the sixth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, the storage level of the Mettur dam stood at 86.78 feet with an inflow of 9,930 cusecs and discharge of 12,000 cusecs for delta irrigation. The inflow into the dam has increased steadily from 6,441 cusecs on Wednesday.

Further, the release of around 400 cusecs of water released for canal irrigation over the last ten days has been stopped on Thursday.

Sudarsana Natchiappan contested the 1999 Lok Sabha election from the Sivaganga constituency on a Congress ticket and won. He served as a Member of Parliament until 2004.

He subsequently served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2004 to 2016. He served as Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the Union government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from 2013 to 2014.

A senior advocate, Sudarsana Natchiappan had also practised as a lawyer in the Supreme Court.

He was also the paternal uncle of Virudhunagar Congress MP Manickam Tagore.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore and Higher Education Minister and Melur MLA P Viswanathan visited the residence of the late leader and paid their respects by placing garlands on his mortal remains.

They later met his family members and offered their condolences. Members of various political parties and the public have expressed condolences over his death.

As part of the campaign, Santhosh, along with beneficiaries of various Central government schemes, lit the 'Aashirvad Ka Diya' at Park Town railway station here, coinciding with Modi's birthday.

The BJP is organising the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' across the country to mark the milestone and highlight the Prime Minister's initiatives and service-oriented programmes.

Earlier in the day, Santhosh released a coffee-table book showcasing various schemes and initiatives of the Modi government at an event held at Vani Mahal in T Nagar.

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran received the first copy of the book.

The publication documents various Central government schemes and initiatives implemented during Modi's tenure and was released as part of the BJP's programmes marking his birthday.

The Chennai events were organised as part of the party's nationwide activities, with beneficiaries of Central government schemes participating in the 'Aashirvad Ka Diya' programme.

BJP leaders also distributed free food and welfare assistance and presented gold rings to newborns at the government Raja Sir Ramaswamy Mudaliar (RSRM) Lying-in Hospital in Royapuram as part of the party's service activities.

On August 10, a crew of fishers --Maveeran (38) from Thoduvai near Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai, Shankar (39) from Keezhamoovarkarai in Mayiladuthurai, Palraj and Manikandan from Cuddalore district-- had ventured for fishing in a mechanised boat.

A gang of sea pirates identified as being from Iran approached them and opened fire, in which Maveeran died on the spot while the others, including Shankar, sustained severe injuries.

Upon reaching the shore, the injured were rushed to the hospital, where they were undergoing treatment. However, on August 20, Shankar succumbed to his injuries while Palraj and Manikandan are recovering.

After the families of the deceased fishermen appealed to the central and state governments to retrieve the bodies, the officials initiated steps. After all procedures, Maveeran and Shankar's bodies reached Tiruchy airport on Thursday. Minister Srinath received them in the presence of the Tiruchy district revenue officials. The minister and the officials paid tribute to the mortal remains of the fishermen. Subsequently, they handed over the remains to the family members.

“The state government has already disbursed a solatium of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. The government would provide all possible support to the family based on their requirement," the minister assured.

The elephant stood on the busy road for some time, preventing vehicles from moving in either direction. Vehicles travelling from Malappuram towards Gudalur and those heading to Kerala from Gudalur were forced to remain stationary as motorists waited for the animal to move away.

“The situation turned tense when a tourist couple from Kerala, travelling by two-wheeler towards Ooty, encountered the elephant as it suddenly charged towards the vehicles. Fearing for their safety, the couple abandoned their two-wheeler on the road and ran to a safe distance. The elephant then attacked the vehicle, trampling it several times. As members of the public raised a loud alarm, the animal moved towards the roadside and remained there for some time,” said a forest department staff member.

With the elephant no longer blocking the main carriageway, buses, lorries and other heavy vehicles alone were subsequently allowed to pass through the Ghat road. A short while later, the elephant entered the forest cover, following which the tourists and other motorists resumed their journey.

The forest department personnel also urged tourists to exercise caution while travelling through the hill road, particularly in areas frequented by wild elephants.

Garlanding the statue of Periyar on the veteran leader's 148th birth anniversary in Tiruchy, DMK principal secretary Nehru reiterated that the searches conducted at the houses of former minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and the people associated with him were merely politically motivated, and the team which searched the house seized even his mobile phones.

"The DMK leaders have faced several such incidents in various periods and proved innocent each time and it would repeat this time too, " he said.

Reacting to the charges of VCK Chief Thol Thirumavalavan that DMK had a hidden association with the BJP, Nehru said the DMK president had never yielded on anything with the BJP, nor had he supported the ideologies of the BJP in any form. “DMK was the only political party that stood for social justice, opposed Sanatana, CAA, and one nation one election programmes proposed by the BJP, but the present TVK leaders have a special bonding with the BJP, and so they are afraid to talk against the BJP on any occasion,” Nehru said.

Responding to the recent statement of MDMK principal secretary Durai Vaiko against the DMK president MK Stalin, Nehru termed Durai Vaiko a 'childish politician', and so he thinks too much of himself and speaks a lot in the public domain. “Durai Vaiko approached me and complained against his father Vaiko about his stubbornness and expressed willingness to join DMK after dissolving the MDMK, and I consoled him, and he did not know what he was talking about then,” Nehru further said.

Nehru also said that Durai Vaiko has been speaking too much against the DMK president Stalin on social media, and he must realise that this is wrong and he should correct himself.

“You (Durai Vaiko) are too young for our leader (Stalin). Can you speak in such a way against the leader who helped you achieve in politics?” Nehru asked.

Speaking to reporters here, Thirumavalavan said he had raised the issue in the context of urging the DMK to introspect, and had not questioned the decision to allot 10 seats to DMDK.

“When DMDK was allotted 10 seats, I was the first and perhaps the only person to welcome it and justify the decision. I have no problem with DMDK getting 10 seats,” he said. He said his remarks were in response to criticism that parties leaving the alliance had done so only for posts.

“I only asked whether the Congress, Left parties, VCK and IUML had left solely because of their desire for posts. Could there not have been other reasons? The existing alliance partners could not necessarily have been happy about DMDK being brought into the alliance. I only said that this could also have affected their relationship,” he said, adding that it was not targeted at DMDK.

Taking a swipe at DMDK, VCK leader and Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu on Thursday said the party's own political choices had included negotiations over ministerial and parliamentary seats. "Those who had worked with the BJP in the past and negotiated till the last moment over which alliance to join are now questioning us. They negotiated over whether to join one alliance or another and eventually came to the DMK for a single Rajya Sabha seat," he said.

Premalatha, however, said those who had moved to another alliance had done so after securing ministerial positions.

“They have gone to another alliance because they got a ministerial post. This is the truth and nobody can hide it. Even the Communist parties are supporting from outside. If they do not want ministerial posts, why don't they say so?” she said. She said political differences had not affected her personal relations with leaders of other parties.

The police said Madan Kumar, an art master at the Government Higher Secondary School in Komaralingam near Madathukulam, misbehaved with girl students.

The issue came to light after some girl students raised the issue during an awareness campaign organised by District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) authorities in the school a few days ago.

Based on a complaint by school headmaster V Mariappan to Tirupur Chief Education Officer (CEO) Punitha Anthoniammal, a team of education department officials conducted an inquiry with students on September 15.

As the inquiry confirmed the offence, the headmaster filed a complaint with the All Women’s Police Station (AWPS) in Udumalpettai.

A case was registered under the Pocso Act; the accused was arrested, produced in a court in Udumalpettai and remanded in judicial custody to be lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.

The probe revealed that Madan Kumar had earlier misbehaved with girl students at the Government Higher Secondary School in Madathukulam, where he was working previously. However, he was then let off after he tendered a written apology to the school authorities.

"There has to be cooperative federalism," a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih observed while hearing the Tamil Nadu government's plea.

"Tomorrow, if the central government comes up with any policy in the Concurrent List and if each of the states start saying that I don't accept your policy, then what will happen to our federal structure," the bench observed.

The top court was hearing the state's plea challenging the Madras High Court's September 2017 directive to facilitate the establishment of Navodaya Vidyalaya in every district there.

The bench also asked the state government to change its mindset over the issue.

During the hearing, senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the bench that an application has been filed for recall of the apex court's December 15, 2025 order.

In its December last year order, the top court had directed the state to identify the requisite extent of land that is necessary for establishing Navodaya Vidyalaya in each of its districts. It had said that the exercise be carried out within six weeks.

"We are not recalling that order," the bench observed on Thursday.

The bench noted that between December 15 and today, there has been a change in the government in the state.

"Be that as it may, we direct the petitioner state to comply with our order dated December 15, 2025 in so far as identification of the requisite extent of land that is necessary for establishing Navodaya Vidyalaya in each of the districts of the petitioner state," the bench said.

It said the direction is always subject to the result of the special leave petition filed by the state.

"In the circumstances, we grant the state government three months time to comply with the aforesaid direction," the bench said.

It asked the representatives of the state and the Centre to have further discussion with regard to the establishment of these schools there.

During the hearing, the bench told the state's counsel, "Your mindset must first change. If you say I don't want Navodaya Schools because I don't want Hindi to be taught on the soil of Tamil Nadu..."

Gupta said the state was not at all opposing study of Hindi in Tamil Nadu.

"There are substantive number of schools (in Tamil Nadu) where Hindi is taught," he said.

Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, said the requirement of the state is only to provide land.

"Rest everything will be taken care of by the central government. There will be no burden at all on the state government," he said, adding that the issue regarding language policy can be worked out.

The bench asked both the sides to have dialogue and work out the issue.

"People in Chennai should not alienate Delhi and vice versa Delhi should not...," the bench observed.

It stressed that everybody must work together.

"We are not alienating you or alienating them. Some more type of schools come in your state which will only enhance your high standards which we are aware of. This is not going to lower your standards," the bench said and posted the matter for hearing on December 14.

The Tamil Nadu government has opposed the setting up of Navodaya Vidyalayas over concerns with regard to the three-language policy curriculum followed by the schools.

The high court had held that the State's refusal to permit Navodaya Vidyalaya curtailed students' right to choose educational institutions and was inconsistent with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009.

The top court had stayed the high court's directions on December 11, 2017 after the state challenged the decision.

On December 15 last year, the top court modified the interim order of stay and directed the state to identify the requisite extent of land that is necessary for establishing Navodaya Vidyalayas in each of the districts of the state.

The agreements and letters of intent signed in London on September 14 cover sectors including automotive components, research and development, renewable energy, power infrastructure equipment and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). The State government said the visit marked another step towards establishing Tamil Nadu as a trusted destination for global industrial investment.

The government said it has been actively attracting industrial investments to establish Tamil Nadu as a premier, investment-friendly hub. Through the ‘Vetri Tamil Nadu’ Investors’ Meet 2020, 97 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, securing investments worth Rs 67,452 crore and creating 1,06,998 job opportunities. It also noted that industrial investments exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore had been attracted within the first 100 days of the government assuming office.

CM Vijay discusses UK-India trade opportunities

During his visit, Vijay met Indian High Commissioner to the UK Kumaran Periasamy on September 12. Discussions focused on trade and investment opportunities between Tamil Nadu and the UK in the backdrop of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

The Chief Minister also held discussions with companies and business representatives from various sectors as part of efforts to attract further investments to Tamil Nadu.

Samvardhana Motherson announces Rs 11,000 crore investment

Samvardhana Motherson International Limited, along with its European and British joint venture partners, signed an agreement with Guidance Tamil Nadu, the State’s investment promotion agency, to invest approximately Rs 11,000 crore in the State.

The investment will support design, engineering, manufacturing, integration and logistics facilities, with around 7,000 jobs expected to be created.

A leading European automotive component manufacturer also submitted a letter of intent expressing its preference for Tamil Nadu as the location for a proposed Rs 3,000 crore investment in India.

Global Capability Centres to create thousands of jobs

Sweden-based Sigma Technology Group, through its Indian subsidiary Shriya Solutions, signed an agreement with Guidance Tamil Nadu to expand its GCCs in Tiruchirappalli and Chennai. The expansion is expected to create 600 high-value jobs in embedded systems, electrification and industrial digitalisation.

Ernst & Young signed another MoU to establish a GCC for a multinational corporation in Tamil Nadu. Under the Build-Operate-Transform-Transfer model, the company will support the centre’s establishment and initial operations before handing it over to the parent company.

The centre, proposed along the GCC corridor on Mount-Poonamallee Road in Chennai, is expected to involve an investment of approximately Rs 1,000 crore and generate over 2,000 jobs.

UK-based Wilson Power Solutions also signed an MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu to invest Rs 300 crore in a transformer manufacturing facility in Tiruvallur district, creating 400 jobs.

CM Vijay visits Silverstone racing circuit

During his UK visit, Chief Minister Vijay visited the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit and inspected its Race Control, racing facilities, safety systems and operational arrangements for international endurance car races. He also visited the Silverstone Museum.

The visit followed his September 3 Assembly announcement that a world-class Motor Sports City would be established in Tamil Nadu. Vijay flagged off the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup race at the circuit, in which actor and racing driver Ajith Kumar participated.

Ajith also assisted in demonstrating the circuit’s operations during the Chief Minister’s visit.

Hinduja Group discusses further investments

Hinduja Group executives, including Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman of Ashok Leyland, and Prakash Chhabria, Executive Chairman of Finolex Industries, met the Chief Minister in London.

The delegation briefed him on the progress of the Rs 2,500 crore MoU signed during the Tamil Nadu Investors’ Meet in August 2026. Discussions also covered expanding investments in renewable energy, particularly wind power, and increasing exports of commercial vehicles manufactured in Tamil Nadu.

UK business partnerships on the agenda

Senior State government officials and Guidance Tamil Nadu representatives also held discussions with 10 companies and stakeholders from sectors such as aerospace and defence, chemicals, logistics, construction, financial services, retail and legal services.

The engagements included potential raw material procurement agreements between British trading firms and Tamil Nadu’s textile and garment manufacturers, a proposed visit by a UK aerospace and defence delegation to Hosur, and a planned visit to Chennai by a delegation from the UK’s North East Mayoral Combined Authority in October.

The government also discussed skill development partnerships in financial services, trade initiatives with the UK and an export workshop.

CM thanks investors, officials and Tamil diaspora

The Chief Minister directed State government officials to swiftly facilitate the necessary requirements for the proposed projects and ensure their establishment and operation in Tamil Nadu.

Vijay thanked the Indian High Commission, Silverstone and Michelin Le Mans authorities, investors and members of the Tamil diaspora in the UK for their support during the visit. He also expressed regret over the cancellation of a planned meeting with the Tamil community in London after the Metropolitan Police raised safety concerns.

Hundreds of fans had gathered outside The Shard, London’s tallest building, on Tuesday for the proposed meeting with the Chief Minister. However, the event was cancelled following concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police over security.

The Tamil Nadu government said the UK visit showcased the State’s skilled workforce, industrial infrastructure, business environment and investment opportunities. It reaffirmed its commitment to attracting global investments and creating employment opportunities for the youth.

According to reports, Somangalam police have launched a hunt for five suspects, including a man identified as Topo, who are reportedly from Assam.

Several migrant workers from northern states reside and work in factories around the Sriperumbudur industrial belt.

The deceased, Gulshan Kumar (27), and his friend Nitish Kumar (25), both from Bihar, were staying near Kattarambakkam and employed at a private factory.

A group of workers from Assam, including Topo (24), Popcorn, Vikas and Akash, were also residing in the locality.

Fight over rivalry

According to police, there had been previous verbal disputes and physical altercations between the two groups.

On Wednesday night, Topo and his associates were reportedly sitting and talking at Kattarambakkam junction when Nitish and Gulshan arrived. An argument soon broke out between the two groups.

During the altercation, Topo allegedly took out a concealed knife and attempted to attack Nitish. Gulshan intervened to protect his friend, but the knife struck him in the neck.

Gulshan sustained serious injuries and collapsed at the spot. The accused reportedly fled the area following the incident. He was rushed to a private hospital in Thandalam, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.

Search for suspects

Somangalam police registered a murder case and sent the body to Sriperumbudur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Police have launched a search for the five suspects who remain absconding.

DMK general secretary Duraimurugan announced the revised schedule on Thursday (September 17), according to a Maalaimalar report.

The annual event, which was originally scheduled for September 15, will be held at around 5 pm on Saturday (September 19) under the leadership of party president MK Stalin.

DMK’s Mupperum Vizha

The DMK organises the Mupperum Vizha every September to commemorate three significant occasions the birth anniversaries of social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy and former Chief Minister and party founder CN Annadurai, along with the founding day of the DMK.

The 2026 edition was initially scheduled to be held at the Kalaignar Arangam at Anna Arivalayam on September 15.

Event postponed

The event was postponed after Stalin developed a fever caused by a viral infection. Duraimurugan had announced that the celebration would be rescheduled and that a fresh date would be announced later.

Stalin subsequently said he was resting at home on medical advice and that his previously scheduled programmes had been postponed. He added that he would continue to rest for another two to three days as advised by doctors.

Rescheduled on September 19

With Stalin recovering at home, Duraimurugan has now announced the revised date for the Mupperum Vizha. The celebration will be held on Saturday, September 19, at around 5 pm at Kalaignar Arangam, Anna Arivalayam.

The event, which brings together the three important occasions observed by the party in September, is expected to be attended by senior DMK leaders, party functionaries and award recipients.