Based on the directions by a High Court bench, the State government implemented the empty bottle return scheme at Tasmac liquor outlets to prevent environmental damage.

When the matter came up for hearing again before the special bench comprising Justices N Sathish Kumar and K Rajasekar, Advocate General Vijay Narayan said the existing bottle-return scheme faced practical difficulties and that Tasmac has decided to install reverse vending machines to collect empty bottles and reduce the workload of employees. He sought three months' time to implement the system.

Accepting the request, the judges granted three months' time and directed the authorities to expedite the installation process. They also ordered that the existing system should continue until then and adjourned the hearing.

Under the bottle buy back scheme, consumers should pay an additional Rs 10 per bottle, which would be reimbursed when they return the empty bottle. However, the move quickly earned the ire of Tasmac staff, who complained about inadequate manpower to implement the scheme. The corporation also faced other difficulties, including lack of space at many Tasmac outlets to store the bottles that the consumers returned.

To address these issues, it then mooted installing vending machines that can collect the bottles returned by the consumers. It was tried in some places, including in Chennai, but is yet to take off fully.

A Government Order issued by the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department Secretary J Kumaragurubaran on Friday said Deposit of Title Deeds and Deed of Receipt presented by banks and financial institutions would be registered through the Presenceless Registration system with effect from September 15.

The decision follows an announcement made by the Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on September 7. The initiative seeks to enable eligible documents to be presented online without requiring the parties to physically visit Sub-Registrar offices.

The Inspector General of Registration had proposed the measure to operationalise the announcement and expand the use of the digital infrastructure established under the Presenceless Registration framework.

A Deposit of Title Deeds is presented for registration when immovable property is offered as security for a loan. A Deed of Receipt is presented upon repayment or discharge of the secured loan to evidence the release of the liability.

The government said mandating their registration through the presenceless system would enable banks and financial institutions to submit the documents electronically without deputing officials to Sub-Registrar offices. The move is also expected to reduce physical footfall and manual intervention, facilitate faster processing, improve traceability of mortgage-related transactions and ensure secure digital preservation of registered documents.

The measure is intended to strengthen safeguards against multiple mortgages over the same property. Banks and financial institutions have been asked to ensure that the registered Memorandum of Deposit of Title Deeds or mortgage entry is reflected in the Encumbrance Certificate.

The system also incorporates security features such as the digital signature of the registering authority, a QR code on every page and digital availability of registered documents to ensure their authenticity and traceability.

The bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the petitioner had approached it in advance, without any cause of action, even as the green panel and the government were issuing and implementing guidelines from time to time. When the petitioner pointed out that the guidelines were not followed last year, the court said the petitioner should have approached it then instead of waiting until the eleventh hour.

"We cannot issue directions based on apprehensions. As of today, there is no cause of action to entertain this petition. It is all in advance," the court orally remarked.

The court dismissed the plea as withdrawn, granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum.

Dr R Karpagam, a social activist and founder of the Coimbatore-based Oli Awareness Movement, filed the PIL. In the plea, he submitted that the case did not concern any religion, denomination, or place of worship, but only sought effective and uniform enforcement of statutory provisions, government orders, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines, and judicial directions on environmental protection, noise control, and idol immersion.

The petitioner warned that non-compliance would lead to recurring concerns over water and noise pollution, accumulation of non-biodegradable waste, public safety, and traffic regulation.

The petitioner called upon the State government to place on record details of inspections, violations detected, enforcement action taken, artificial immersion facilities created, noise-level measurements, and water-quality assessments.

The petitioner alleged that the State had failed to discharge its constitutional and public trust obligations by permitting the continued immersion of polluting idols and the resultant contamination of waterbodies.

ISRO's EOS-06, also known as Oceansat-3, has detected changes in ocean Chlorophyll-a levels during June 2026, indicating changes in phytoplankton activity in the Indian Ocean. The satellite observations also show a shift in surface wind patterns, offering an indication of how changing climate and ocean conditions are influencing the region.

EOS-06 is the third-generation Oceansat mission developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was launched on November 26, 2022. The satellite is designed to provide ocean-related data and strengthen remote sensing capabilities for oceanography, meteorology and climate monitoring.

Chlorophyll-a is a natural green pigment found in plants, algae and cyanobacteria. It plays a crucial role in photosynthesis by absorbing sunlight and helping convert water and carbon dioxide into energy, while releasing oxygen.

In the oceans, microscopic plants known as phytoplankton contain Chlorophyll-a and form the foundation of the marine food chain. Changes in Chlorophyll-a concentrations can therefore provide valuable information about variations in phytoplankton abundance and ocean productivity.

Areas with higher concentrations of phytoplankton often support greater numbers of small marine organisms and fish, which subsequently support larger fish through the food chain.

Satellite-based monitoring of Chlorophyll-a is consequently useful for identifying potential productive fishing zones and understanding changes that could affect fisheries.

Phytoplankton also play a major role in the global carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Monitoring ocean Chlorophyll-a levels from space can therefore help scientists study changes in ocean productivity and the role of the oceans in absorbing atmospheric carbon.

The latest Oceansat-3 observations for June 2026 show a reduction in Chlorophyll-a compared with earlier observations, alongside a shift in surface winds. The changes are being viewed in the context of the evolving El Niño conditions and can be compared with ocean signatures observed during 2024 and 2025.

VS Chandrasekaran, former principal scientist at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), told DT Next that the warming of the ocean surface associated with El Niño conditions could reduce the upwelling phenomenon in the ocean.

"Upwelling is the process by which cold, nutrient-rich water from the deeper parts of the ocean rises to the surface. When this nutrient-rich water is reduced, the population of phytoplankton can also decline, " he said.

He explained that Chlorophyll-a is a colour-based index used in satellite observations to estimate the abundance of phytoplankton.

"A reduction in Chlorophyll-a indicates a reduction in phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are the primary food producers in the ocean, just as trees and plants are primary food producers on land. A reduction in phytoplankton can affect fishery production through a chain reaction, " he said.

According to the scientist, a decline in phytoplankton could affect organisms at the lower levels of the marine food chain, eventually influencing fish populations.

The State government has been according State honours during the final rites of Tamil scholars, writers and personalities from the film industry. Following this practice, the government announced State honours for Pappaiah.

The deceased was identified as Nikhil Reddy from Kadapa, who completed MBBS and was pursuing an MS degree at a private medical college near Kelambakkam. He was staying in a rented apartment on the 14th floor near the college along with some of his fellow students.

When the results of the final-year examinations were released on Thursday night, Nikhil found that he failed in two subjects, which left him dejected. His friends consoled and encouraged him before they went to bed.

Around 7 am on Friday, Nikhil allegedly got up and went to the balcony of the apartment and jumped from the building.

Residents who were out for a morning walk and security guards rushed to the spot and immediately called for an ambulance. However, he had died on the spot.

A team from Kelambakkam police went to the spot and sent Nikhil’s body to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. His parents in Andhra Pradesh were also informed.

The Kelambakkam police have registered a case and are conducting further investigation.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

Palaniswami said the proposed location, along Santhome Road adjoining the Pattinapakkam beach, was already heavily congested. The area has fishermen's settlements, residential neighbourhoods, schools and significant vehicular movement, and the construction of a major administrative complex could further worsen traffic congestion and inconvenience residents, he said.

He recalled that during the AIADMK governments led by former Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, efforts had been made to identify a suitable location for a new Secretariat without space constraints or traffic-related problems.

He urged the government to drop the proposal and consider constructing a new Secretariat only after the State's financial position improved. Any future site, he said, should be selected carefully to ensure that it does not create traffic problems or cause hardship to residents.

CPI calls for stir; CPM seeks all-party meet

Despite supporting the TVK government from the outside, the CPI has announced it will stage a protest at Pattinapakkam on Saturday against CM Vijay's pet project to construct a new Secretariat complex on the Marina, in the middle of a fishing community, while the CPM has sought an all-party meeting over the issue.

The Left party demanded that the project be scrapped at the present site and an alternative location identified. The protest will be led by CPI south Chennai district secretary SK Siva at 11 am near the Loop Road junction bus terminus at Pattinapakkam. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian will address the protest.

The party has said the proposed project would affect the residential areas and livelihood of fishing communities in the locality. It has demanded that all work related to the project be stopped immediately and a suitable alternative site be selected.

Meanwhile, CPM sought an all-party meeting over the issue. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the government should not rush into a decision on a project intended to serve as a long-term administrative complex. He said fishing villages surrounding the proposed site had already expressed strong opposition.

"Since all major government offices are currently within Chennai, shifting the Secretariat and Assembly outside the city is also not appropriate. The government should convene an all-party meeting and identify a location acceptable to all. Until then, no work should begin at the site currently selected," he said.

In an order issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar on Friday, it was stated that N Subbaiyan, Secretary of the Social Justice Department, would hold the post of Agriculture Secretary as an additional charge.

In another development, the home department shunted out R Stalin, superintendent of Kanniyakumari district and posted Anshul Nagar, deputy commissioner of Tirunelveli city, as the new SP of Kanniyakumari. Stalin was not given any posting.

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan also offered floral tributes and took to 'X' to recall Sekaran's courageous voice against social disparities.

"Having participated in the freedom struggle at a young age, he continued to strive to establish equality and social justice even after independence," the Vice-President stated.

He further added that Sekaran's ideals of building a society filled with harmony are forever memorable, noting, "May the life and sacrifice of Martyr Immanuel Sekaran continue to inspire us to strengthen unity and brotherhood in our society."

State Ministers R NirmalKumar and KG Arunraj laid wreaths at Sekaran's memorial in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district, on behalf of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Taking to the microblogging site 'X', CM Vijay hailed Sekaran as a brave martyr who fought for the country's independence and against social inequalities.

"Let us take a pledge on this day to walk in the path shown by him to create a society full of equality and self-respect," he said.

DMK chief and former Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin commemorated Sekaran's lifelong struggle for the educational, economic, and equal rights of marginalised communities.

They noted the previous state government's efforts to cement his legacy, including marking his centenary as a state event and inaugurating a memorial with a bronze statue in Paramakudi last year.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami remembered Sekaran as the voice of the oppressed who fought to eradicate untouchability.

He highlighted Sekaran's early revolt against the British, his imprisonment during the Quit India movement, and his military service.

Former Minister RB Udhayakumar paid floral tributes at the Paramakudi memorial on behalf of the AIADMK.

TNCC chief Manickam Tagore, who paid his respects alongside other Congress leaders, described Sekaran as a staunch nationalist and social reformer who never hesitated to fight injustice.

He noted the Indian National Congress's deep respect for Sekaran, recalling the release of a postal stamp in his honour in 2010 and state recognition in 2011.

AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also issued a statement honouring Sekaran's enduring efforts to eliminate social disparities and sow the seeds of equal rights among the masses.

State BJP chief Nainar Nagendran also visited the memorial in Paramakudi to pay his respects.

NTK chief coordinator Seeman and VCK leader and Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu also paid tributes to the martyr.

In a health bulletin issued at 2.30 pm, MGM Healthcare said Babu was continuing to receive appropriate medical management.

"VS Babu is presently admitted in MGM Healthcare, Chennai, since September 9, 2026, with a respiratory ailment.

He is clinically stable and continues to show improvement under appropriate medical management, " the hospital said.

Senthilnathan of Thalaiyari Street in Pattukkottai had a bicycle and spares godown in the locality, and a sudden fire broke out early Friday.

Based on the information, the fire personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire after fighting for more than an hour.

The Pattukkottai police also rushed to the spot, registered a case and are investigating. Meanwhile, the fire personnel found that a short circuit had led to the accident.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Sivakumar, the proprietor of Kalaimani Associates and a GST consultant, had approached the Commercial Taxes office to address the issues relating to his firm's GST proceedings.

The accused assistant commissioner, Jamuna of Tambaram assessment circle, with office on Greenways Road, allegedly summoned the complainant to her office and demanded Rs 2 lakh to settle the issues and avoid further action against him. Despite telling her that he was unable to arrange such a large amount, the official continued to press him for the money, he alleged.

Sivakumar tried to negotiate and repeatedly explained his financial difficulties, but the official allegedly persisted with the demand, said the FIR. During subsequent conversations and phone calls, the official allegedly continued insisting that money be paid to resolve the TNGST-related issues.

Finally, Sivakumar approached the DVAC and submitted audio recordings of the conversations. Following a discreet verification and approval from senior officials, the agency registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against assistant commissioner Jamuna on September 9 and has taken up the investigation.

The deceased, Sujitha Banu, was the daughter of Mohammed Kasim of Nadutheru in Vandiyur. She was studying in Class 11 at a school in the area.

She was reportedly spending a considerable amount of time using her mobile phone. On the day of the incident, her parents reportedly reprimanded her after seeing her using the phone at home.

Upset over this, Sujitha Banu allegedly died by suicide by hanging when no one else was at home.

Anna Nagar police are investigating the case.

CM Vijay said Pappaiah had brought the richness of Tamil and the Tamils' way of life to audiences around the world through pattimandram platforms.

He said Pappaiah’s humour and deep knowledge of Tamil had enabled him to convey social ideas to people in a simple manner and credited him with transforming pattimandrams from mere entertainment programmes into platforms that encouraged thought and discussion. “His demise is an irreparable loss to the Tamil-speaking world,” Vijay said.

Former Chief Minister MK Stalin shared profound grief over the death of the veteran Tamil scholar, describing him as a proud symbol of modern-day Madurai and a beloved figure among Tamils across the world.

Stalin said Pappaiya had won the affection of Tamils worldwide with his smiling demeanour, engaging Tamil and the distinct flavour of Madurai. He said Pappaiya was an authority on classical Tamil literature, having written a commentary on the Tirukkural, devised a new sequence for the Purananuru and studied Kamban's works.

Stalin said Pappaiya had showered affection on former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and himself, and that his affection remained unchanged irrespective of whether the DMK was in power. “Whenever we met, we shared a bond of affection, with him holding my hands with a smile and warmth,” he said.

“Mother Tamil has lost one of her finest sons,” he said, offering his deep condolences and solace to Pappaiya's family, the people of Madurai and his admirers across the world.

Governor Arlekar described Pappaiah as a renowned Tamil orator, scholar, and popular exponent of pattimandrams, saying that his eloquence, wit, and profound knowledge of the Tamil language and literature had enriched public discourse and brought the richness of Tamil closer to generations.

“His unique contribution to Tamil cultural life will always be remembered. His demise is an irreparable loss to the Tamil literary and cultural world,” Arlekar said, conveying his condolences to Pappaiah’s family, admirers and followers.

School Education Minister Rajmohan described Pappaiah’s death as a great loss to the Tamil-speaking world, recalling how he took the Tamil he taught in classrooms to people across the State and beyond through pattimandrams.

“He left his distinct mark on the literary world until his final breath,” Rajmohan said, offering condolences on behalf of the Tamil Development Department to Pappaiah’s family and Tamils worldwide.

BJP leaders recalled his distinctive contributions to the Tamil language, public discourse, and the cultural life of generations of Tamils.

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said Pappaiah had become synonymous with pattimandrams, particularly during festivals, and had earned a lasting place in the hearts of Tamils across the world through his simple Tamil, humour and thought-provoking speeches.

“His voice, views and lively delivery became an inseparable part of the festive celebrations of countless families. His death is a great loss to the Tamil world,” Nainar Nagenthran said in a statement, offering condolences to Pappaiah’s family, friends and admirers.

Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan described his death as an irreparable loss to Tamil society and recalled how people looked forward to his pattimandrams during Deepavali and Pongal.

The former governor said Pappaiah had the rare habit of preserving invitations to programmes he had attended, reflecting his respect for those who invited him. He also had a special place in taking simple, accessible Tamil into households, she said.

Tamilisai recalled her father, late Congress leader Kumari Ananthan, often mentioning that he had participated in pattimandrams with Pappaiah. She said the Padma Shri conferred on him by the Narendra Modi government was a fitting recognition of his contribution.

WTL founder K Annamalai described Solomon Pappaiah as a distinguished Tamil scholar who used pattimandrams to take socially relevant ideas to audiences worldwide.

Annamalai expressed condolences to Pappaiah’s family and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

If the Dravidian movement leaders used cinema to popularise Tamil identity, literature and culture among the subaltern masses, Pappaiah effectively used the television from the early nineties until last year to take the same message to households across Tamil Nadu.

He moderated more than 12,000 Pattimandrams (Tamil debate programmes) across the globe and received several honours, including the Padma Shri in 2021 and the Tamil Nadu Government’s Kalaimamani award in 2000. Yet, he is remembered for his simplicity, humour and humility.

“He visited our college two months ago. During an interaction with students, he said ‘it was Kundrakudi Adigal (Saivite ascetic), not me, who was the first to take Tamil to the masses through Pattimandrams,’” recalls N Govindarajan, associate professor, Department of Tamil, American College.

Solomon Pappaiah never hesitated to acknowledge the crucial role played by American College in shaping his identity.

Born into a poor family in Madurai on February 22, 1936, Pappiah had eight siblings and had overcome considerable hardship in his early years. Recognising his talent, the American College gave him an opportunity to serve the institution. He went on to work in the Tamil department of the college from 1961 to 1994.

“While promoting Tamil studies at the college, Pappiah gave equal importance to taking complex Tamil literature and social ideas to the masses through his inimitable oratory in Pattimandrams,” said J Evanjelin Monoharan, a retired Tamil professor from the college, who was also Pappiah’s student both at the college and in Pattimandrams.

“Before Pappiah reached households through the television, he travelled extensively across Tamil Nadu in the seventies and eighties, conducting Pattimandrams in villages and cities, particularly during temple festivals,” the professor recalled.

What is more striking is that, following the efforts of prominent figures such as DMK leader CN Annadurai in politics and Kundrakudi Adigal in the spiritual sphere, he democratised Tamil oratory, taking it from the confines of scholarly circles to the wider public, said professor Govindarajan.

“In the Pattimandrams organised by Pappiah, one could witness people from all walks of life participating in debates on subjects ranging from ancient Tamil literature to contemporary issues relevant to the society. His humour and ability to explain complex ideas in simple words will remain in people’s memory,” he said.

While people will remember Pappiah for popularising the Tirukkural through television programmes, the scholarly world will remember him for his academic contributions, including his recent work on Sangam literature, said the professors.

Pappiah’s body has been kept at his residence in Gnanolipuram for public homage. According to his family members, his mortal remains will be cremated at the Thathaneri electric crematorium in Madurai on Saturday afternoon.

From 8,993 cusecs received by the dam on September 7, it fell sharply to 3,718 cusecs on September 9 and further to 2,250 cusecs on September 10 before dropping to 1,174 cusecs on Friday.

The steep decline comes at a time when 12,400 cusecs of water is being released from the dam for Cauvery Delta irrigation. With the outflow far exceeding the inflow, the reservoir’s water level has been falling rapidly.

The water level, which stood at 91.28 feet on September 9 against the dam’s full reservoir level of 120 feet, fell to 90.52 feet on Thursday and further to 89.67 feet on Friday.

The sharp fall in inflow has come days after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) direction to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

An official at the Mettur dam said the water discharge from Karnataka had increased again and that the fresh release was expected to reach Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

“We expect the water to arrive on Saturday. But the quantum of water released from the Karnataka reservoirs would be known only after it reaches Tamil Nadu,” the official said.

The arrival of the additional water could provide some relief, but the steep decline in inflow into the Mettur reservoir has left farmers anxious about the availability of water for the delta’s samba crop.

Farmers have expressed concern that any prolonged shortfall in inflow could jeopardise samba cultivation, which is heavily dependent on timely and adequate irrigation releases from the Cauvery system.

C Nallasamy, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Federation of Farmers Associations, said farmers in the delta were already struggling to protect their standing crops despite Karnataka having completed its first crop harvest.

“Even though Karnataka has completed its first crop harvest, farmers in the delta region are struggling without adequate water to save their drying crops,” he said. He said the water already released for 45 days was insufficient to sustain samba cultivation and warned that any further deterioration in water availability could have serious consequences for farmers.

Under the new system, these documents will be available for download on the day the driving test or vehicle registration is completed, according to a government order issued by the Home Department on Thursday.

The GO follows Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's announcement in the Assembly on September 2 Assembly.

The digital documents will carry QR codes linked to the original records in government databases through m-Parivahan and DigiLocker, allowing authorities to verify them in real time and guard against duplicate documents.

The government has said the downloadable DLs and RCs will be available free of cost for the first year from September 13 or until the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, are amended, whichever is earlier. Subsequently, the applicable fee will be governed by the rules.

The downloaded documents can be printed from the Parivahan portal. Printouts on plain paper or in laminated form will be treated as valid, provided the QR code is clear and can be scanned for verification.

For those wanting a physical copy, printing facilities will be made available at all government e-Seva centres from September 15, subject to the prescribed service charges.

The order also directs government departments, public bodies, and related entities not to insist on the physical DL or RC format issued until September 12. Digital documents or their clear printouts will have to be accepted wherever DLs and RCs are required for filing, verification, approval, authentication, payment or enforcement.

Any seizure, authentication, or recording of penalties relating to DLs and RCs after September 12 will also have to be carried out electronically on the relevant government databases.

The Transport and Road Safety Commissioner has been directed to make necessary changes to the m-Parivahan portal through the National Informatics Centre and ensure a smooth transition to digital issuance.

In a statement issued by the party on Friday, it said that district secretaries Tha Mo Anbarasan and K Sundar would oversee the campaign work for the Madurantakam constituency.

Former minister and deputy general secretary MP Saminathan and Tirupur district secretary Ila Padmanabhan have been appointed as in-charges for the Dharapuram constituency.

The party has appealed to district secretaries who are in proximity to coordinate with the in-charges and work hard for the candidates' victory.

Meanwhile, the party's IT wing has also intensified its campaign for the party's candidates. In a statement, the IT wing secretary, TRB Rajaa, said that consultative meetings for an intensive campaign in Dharapuram and Madurantakam would be held on Saturday and Sunday in the respective constituencies. He appealed to functionaries belonging to the constituencies to participate in the meetings without fail.

Following the Indhiya Kudiyarasu Katchi, another Dalit outfit, the Aadhi Thamizhar Party has extended its support to the DMK in the by-polls. During a meeting with DMK president MK Stalin at Anna Arivalayam on Friday, the leaders of the outfit extended their support to the 75-year-old party.

In a post on its official X handle, the AIADMK said the alleged misinformation campaign began immediately after the party announced Banumathi as its candidate for the Dharapuram Assembly bypoll.

"Immediately after announcing our candidate, fear has gripped the TVK," the party said, alleging that the ruling party's "fake news warriors" were spreading completely false information that Banumathi had joined the TVK.

The AIADMK alleged that the TVK was unable to face its political opponents directly and instead resorted to poaching legislators from other parties before fielding them as its own candidates.

Claiming that the TVK had realised the AIADMK candidate would win the bypoll, the party said it had turned to spreading false information. It also accused the ruling party of being "born in lies and grown on lies."

The AIADMK said it would initiate strict legal action against those responsible for spreading false information about its candidate.

The party added that voters in Maduranthakam and Dharapuram would respond appropriately to those who allegedly sought to distort the people's mandate.

Officials said the complainant, Kannan (53) of Chromepet, had previously worked as a general manager at a private company in Valasaravakkam and was currently looking for a job. He became acquainted with the woman, identified as Kanchan Latha Singh, through an online app. On her invitation, the two checked into a lodge in the St Thomas Mount area on August 26.

Later that night, Kannan allegedly realised that his gold chain weighing around 2.5 sovereigns and Rs 4,000 in cash were missing and that the woman had left the lodge.

Based on his complaint, the St Thomas Mount police registered a case and launched an investigation. A police team examined CCTV footage and tracked the suspect using her mobile phone number, eventually locating her in Bengaluru.

A police team from here went to Bengaluru and arrested Kanchan Latha Singh from a lodge on September 9. Investigators recovered Rs 1.5 lakh, said to be the remaining proceeds after she allegedly sold the stolen gold chain, while the remaining money was already spent. The officials also seized two mobile phones and five SIM cards from her.

The woman was produced before a court in Devanahalli and subsequently brought to Chennai. After further investigation, she was produced before the Alandur court on September 10 and remanded in judicial custody.

In a statement, Anbumani questioned the government's decision to drop the Parandur airport project, citing concerns over agricultural land, while proceeding with land acquisition for an industrial park in the same region.
He said 410.80 acres of dry agricultural land and 11.55 acres of poramboke land, totalling 423.35 acres, had been notified for acquisition for a new SIPCOT complex in Maduramangalam.

He alleged that officials were now intensifying the land acquisition process and asking landowners to accept compensation fixed by the previous government.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had announced in the Assembly on August 31 that a semiconductor and electronics manufacturing park would be established in Maduramangalam at a cost of Rs 175 crore, with investments of around Rs 2,000 crore expected. About 35.20 acres had reportedly been earmarked for the park.

Anbumani said the proposed acquisition would affect hundreds of farmers whose livelihoods depend on the dry agricultural lands, where mango, coconut and teak trees are grown.

Agricultural labourers working on these lands would also lose their livelihoods, he said.

Pointing out that Maduramangalam is located close to the proposed Parandur airport site, Anbumani questioned why the government could not relocate the semiconductor park and the larger 423.35-acre SIPCOT project to government-owned or already acquired land.

He urged the government to drop the acquisition of agricultural land and establish the projects on government-owned or already acquired land instead.

An official from the Land Acquisition wing said the government has not yet made any decision on repurposing the land. He said the decision on the future use of the land was a policy matter that had to be taken at the Chief Ministerial level. He also confirmed that no decision has been made or communicated to the department so far. However, sources in the Industries Department have said the land could be utilised for industrial purposes, especially for non-polluting industries. 

The proposed second airport for Chennai was planned on 5,746 acres of land at Parandur, about 70 km from Chennai. Of the total land required, around 2,500 acres comprised private land, while the remaining belonged to the government.

Ever since Parandur was announced as the site, the project had drawn protests from the residents of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages, over concerns about displacement and the loss of agricultural land. Supporting the protests during the DMK-led regime, TVK leader C Joseph Vijay had promised that if his party came to power, the airport project would be scrapped.

And earlier last week, he announced the project scrapped.
State ministers have refuted the DMK’s claim that around 90% of the land required for the project had been acquired, putting it at 48%.

Ever since Parandur was announced as the site, the project had drawn protests from the residents of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages, over concerns about displacement and the loss of agricultural land. Supporting the protests during the DMK-led regime, TVK leader C Joseph Vijay had promised that if his party came to power, the airport project would be scrapped.

And earlier last week, he announced the project scrapped.

State ministers have refuted the DMK’s claim that around 90% of the land required for the project had been acquired, putting it at 48%.

He pointed out that the Union government's Directorate General of Health Services has not reduced the qualifying percentile, adding that Tamil Nadu has 40 super-speciality seats exclusively meant for in-service doctors.

Citing the Supreme Court's direction pronounced on Thursday in the Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association case, stating that the qualifying percentile for super-speciality seats should be reduced, Stalin appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene immediately and reduce it to zero percentile, as had been done in earlier years.

"The Union government must also allow states to independently reduce the percentile for their in-service quota when seats remain vacant," Stalin said.

Terming public health a constitutional responsibility of the states, he said not a single medical seat, which is a precious national resource, should be allowed to go to waste when people need more specialist doctors.

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to reconsider its decision not to lower the minimum qualifying percentile for admission to super-speciality medical courses. The court noted the large number of vacant seats and directed the Centre to revisit its stance. The matter will be heard next on September 17, 2026.

A Bench comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe observed that the Centre's decision may need to be reconsidered in view of the seats that have remained vacant.

“Either Mayor R Ranganayaki or Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja should have been invited to Chennai to hand over the award on behalf of the corporation. A resolution should be passed condemning the Chief Minister for ignoring the elected representatives and officials of the civic body,” the DMK councillors demanded.

However, Congress councillor Alagu Jeyabalan opposed the demand resulting in heated exchanges. Their protest led to a brief commotion in the council hall. Despite these disruptions, as many as 128 resolutions were passed unanimously in the meeting.

In a rare show of unity, the DMK and AIADMK councillors came together to protest various proposals, including the proposed Rs 450 crore waste-to-energy project at Vellalore dump yard and over high charges for water by the Suez, which manages water supply in Coimbatore.

In another development, the portraits of former Chief Minister’s O Panneerselvam and Janaki were also put up in the council hall after some councillors insisted on their display.

Poovulagin Nanbargal alleged that the decision was taken without adequately assessing its social and environmental impacts. It said fishing communities between Marina Beach, the Lighthouse and Srinivasapuram had already lost access to portions of their traditional spaces due to various development projects.

The organisation claimed the proposed complex could directly affect 12 fishing hamlets, including Mullikuppam, Mullimanagar, Pattinapakkam, Srinivasapuram, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Bhavani Kuppam, Irudhayapuram, Selvarajapuram, Dooming Kuppam and Nochikuppam. It said the livelihoods of more than 1,500 fishing families in Mullikuppam and surrounding areas could be affected, particularly spaces used for parking boats and drying and repairing fishing nets.

It also noted that the selected 25.55-acre site falls under the CRZ-II category of the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

Citing climate projections, the organisation said sea level rise and coastal inundation could pose serious risks to the proposed complex in the coming decades.

Poovulagin Nanbargal urged the government to relocate the project and use the selected site to provide long-term housing for affected fishing communities.

The officials and employees of from UFBU comprised of seven unions called on a protest demanding to implement the bilateral agreement signed in 2024 agreeing to declare holiday for all Saturdays, old pension scheme, the government to bear the expenses of medical insurance of retired bank employees, appoint adequate number of clerical and sub ordinate staff and increase gratuity amount.

As per the announcement, the members of UFBU assembled in front of the Regional Office of SBI in Tiruchy, headed by the Coordinators K Gurunathan and G Ramaraju and staged a protest.

The members also raised slogans in support of their demands. Since the one-day token strike, around 300 branches of various PSU banks have closed, and business worth Rs 100 crore was affected on a single day.

The development comes at a time when seats at government medical colleges and government quota seats in private medical colleges in the State have already been filled in the first round of MBBS and BDS counselling.

During the second round of counselling, only a limited number of seats, mainly under the management and NRI quotas, are available.

In this backdrop, the medical education regulator has granted permission to start a new private medical college in Kancheepuram district with 150 MBBS seats. In addition, 50 seats each have been sanctioned in two existing private medical colleges in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts.

Importantly, all 250 newly sanctioned seats have been permitted to be filled under the State quota. The students who will be participating in the second round of medical counselling will be allowed to take the seats.

Students who will attend the second round of medical counselling can apply for the seat, said the Medical Education Admission Committee, adding that students who have already secured seats can also apply for re-allotment against the newly available seats

In its notification, the Medical Education Admission Committee said students who have already secured seats after participating in the second round of counselling can also apply for re-allotment against the newly available seats.

The addition of the 250 seats is expected to provide another opportunity for eligible NEET UG candidates who are seeking MBBS seats under the State quota.

With the seats becoming available at this stage of the counselling process, 250 more students will now have an opportunity to secure admission to the MBBS course in the State.

Karnataka has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Cauvery Water Management Authority's direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu.

The CWMA on Tuesday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

"The petition will come up for hearing (on Monday). The state government was compelled to continue releasing water to Tamil Nadu until that day based on the advice of legal experts, as directly approaching the court in violation of the CWRC order could have jeopardised the petition," the state's Water Resources minister said.

Despite the acute water shortage in the state, the government was in a difficult position as it had to comply with court orders within the framework of the federal system, he said.

"Over the last 20 years, this is the year when the least amount of water has been released to Tamil Nadu. Even during similarly difficult situations in the past, there have been instances where 35 TMC of water was released," the minister was quoted as saying by his office in a release.

Chaluvarayaswamy said the government had always been committed to protecting farmers' interests, adding that the state's officials and legal team were presenting strong arguments before the court.

Currently, water is being supplied to farmers for their crops on a rotational basis, while efforts are also being made to fill lakes and tanks, he said.

The minister further said sufficient water would be reserved in the four major reservoirs in the Cauvery basin to ensure there was no shortage of drinking water between December and June.

The government did not want to engage in political mudslinging with the Opposition over the Cauvery issue, he said.

"If BJP MPs from Karnataka and union ministers take steps to secure the Centre's approval for the Mahadayi and Mekedatu projects, it would provide a permanent solution to the state's water-related concerns," he said.

The minister said discussions had already been held with the Union Jal Shakti Minister (CR Patil) regarding the Mekedatu project and expressed confidence that approval would be secured soon.

Regarding cloud seeding undertaken in the state, Chaluvarayaswamy said the exercise had not produced the expected results during its initial phase. However, he expressed hope that favourable weather conditions after the Gauri-Ganesha festival would lead to better results.

According to the farmers, the water released from the Amaravathi dam located at Udumalaipettai in Tirupur district is the main source of water for drinking and irrigation in districts like Tirupur and Karur.

Since there was no adequate water released from the dam, it failed to reach Karur and its tail-end parts for the past several months, and so the Amaravathi Ayacutdars could not concentrate on cultivation of crops. There is an acute water shortage even for drinking purposes for the people and the cattle.

Against such a backdrop, the farmers from Karur appealed to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to release adequate water from the Amaravathi dam to Karur, and so the court directed the Water Resources Department to release 1,000 cusecs of water to Karur.

Subsequently, the state government directed the officials to release 1,000 cusecs of water from August 31 to September 7. Since the riverbed was parched due to scarcity of water, the release of 1,000 cusecs would fail to reach the tail-end part of the district, and so the farmers from the district demanded the release of between 2,000 and 3,000 cusecs.

They also staged a protest at Chinna Dharapuram along the Karur and Tirupur border, and the officials who held talks assured to increase the quantum of water, but it was not practised.

Meanwhile, the water released from Amaravathi reached Andankovil check dam on September 7, but it failed to reach the tail-end parts like Koyampalli, Tirumanilaiyur and Tirumukkoodalur till Thursday.

Subsequently, the irate farmers who benefited from Amaravathi irrigation, belonging to Sanapiratti, S Vellalapatti, Melapalayam, Kunnanur, Emur Puthur and Puliyur converged in front of the Karur Collectorate on Friday and attempted to besiege the office.

On receiving information, Collector C Muthukumaran held talks with the farmers. The Collector told the farmers that he had requested the Tirupur Collector to step up the release of water for the benefit of Karur farmers based on the water availability. The Collector also assured them of getting water at the earliest.

However, the farmers who temporarily withdrew the protest decided to intensify it if Amaravati water failed to reach the tail-end parts within a week.

Earlier on September 2, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced the introduction of a facility to digitally download driving licences and RCs on the day of completion of the driving test and vehicle registration, respectively.

Following the announcement, the Transport Commissioner issued a communication proposing to discontinue the existing manual mode of issuance and dispatch of driving licences and RCs, and implement an exclusive, digital-only mode from September 12.

Challenging the proposed system, Force Identification Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based ID card printing company, filed a petition before the High Court.

In its plea, the company contended that the decision to discontinue the manual issuance and dispatch of driving licences and RCs and introduce the digital-only mode was contrary to the laws of the central government, and sought a stay on the implementation of the Tamil Nadu government's decision to digitise the issuance of the documents.

When the case came up hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, the petitioner's counsel argued that people without mobile phones or smartphones would be unable to access their documents under an entirely digital system, and sought continuation of the existing practice of providing printed copies.

Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that from September 12, people could download the documents through e-Seva centres and obtain printed copies. He said the system would be implemented through the central government's Parivahan website.

After hearing both sides, the bench directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its response within two weeks and adjourned the hearing.

The Left party demanded that the project be scrapped at the present site and an alternative location identified. The protest will be led by CPI south Chennai district secretary SK Siva at 11 am near the Loop Road junction bus terminus at Pattinapakkam. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian will address the protest.

The party has said the proposed project would affect the residential areas and livelihood of fishing communities in the locality. It has demanded that all work related to the project be stopped immediately and a suitable alternative site be selected.

Meanwhile, CPM sought an all-party meeting over the issue. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the government should not rush into a decision on a project intended to serve as a long-term administrative complex. He said fishing villages surrounding the proposed site had already expressed strong opposition.

"Since all major government offices are currently within Chennai, shifting the Secretariat and Assembly outside the city is also not appropriate. The government should convene an all-party meeting and identify a location acceptable to all. Until then, no work should begin at the site currently selected," he said.

Thirumavalavan said Vijay had initially proposed naming the alliance the "Social Justice Victory Alliance" and sought the constituents' support for the name. He said he immediately suggested including the word "secular".

"You can give the alliance any name, but the word secular should be present somewhere in it. Vijay immediately agreed and said there was nothing wrong with using the term," he said.

Thirumavalavan said the inclusion of the word was necessary to avoid any ambiguity over the alliance's political position.

"If you don't use the word secular, there will be criticism that there is some wavering in your anti-BJP position or that you are hesitant to oppose the BJP. If you use the word secular, it clearly means opposition to the BJP and the RSS," he said.

He said "social justice" alone could not define the alliance's ideological position, as the BJP, caste-based groups and Left parties were also speaking about it.

"We never expected Vijay to come towards us. When he showed closeness to Congress, I was shocked. The BJP will target and exert pressure on any party that maintains close ties with Congress. But Vijay had the courage to accept Congress's support," he said.

Thirumavalavan also urged VCK cadres not to respond to criticism on social media. "Whatever anyone says on social media, do not pay attention to it or react to it. From now on, Tamil Nadu politics will increasingly be alliance politics in which VCK has a place," he said.

Speaking at a party functionary’s marriage in Dharmapuri, Thirumavalavan said his delayed arrival at the venue led to a massive crowd build-up that eventually resulted in the stampede and deaths. “All those responsible for the tragedy should have been named in the case, and I alleged that the DMK had underestimated the TVK at the time. I said a case should be filed against Vijay in the Karur incident. Why did the DMK hesitate and act liberally? All those who were responsible for the tragedy should have been included in the case. Shouldn’t you have then exposed the politics of Vijay?” he asked.

Thirumavalavan said the DMK should have responded when Vijay began targeting the party. “When Vijay targeted the DMK, it should have reacted. But I spoke against Vijay, criticising him for having RSS affiliations, and I did not have confidence in him,” he said.

However, he said his assessment of Vijay had changed after observing the latter’s political approach. “Today, I have gained confidence in the style of his politics. He has not sought support from the DMK, BJP or PMK, while reaching out to the VCK, Left parties and the Congress after elections. He decided to align with the Congress even after knowing that the BJP may cause disturbances,” he said.

Turning his criticism towards the DMK, the VCK leader blamed the party for failing to maintain cordial relations with its allies, which, he said, eventually forced the VCK and other parties to leave the alliance.

“The DMK-Congress relationship got strained during seat allocation before the polls. The MDMK was forced to contest on the DMK’s symbol, while MNM leader Kamal Haasan was not allotted seats. Suddenly, the DMDK was brought into the alliance and allocated a large number of seats. This did not go down well with the other alliance parties that had been with the DMK for a long time. The DMK is 100 per cent responsible for forcing its allies to leave the alliance,” he said.

Thirumavalavan also recalled that Adhav Arjuna, when he was with the VCK, had proposed an action plan to project him as the next Chief Minister and had urged him to leave the DMK-led alliance.

“However, I refused, as breaking the alliance would have paved the way for the BJP-AIADMK alliance to become stronger in Tamil Nadu. If I had changed my stance then, the history of Tamil Nadu politics would have undergone a change,” he said.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the incident came to light at Othakkal Mandapam near Chettipalayam, where an unused plot under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department is located. Residents noticed a human hand sticking out of the soil and alerted the Chettipalayam police.

Police and forensic experts rushed to the spot and excavated the area, recovering the body of a man believed to be around 25 years old. The body was sent to a government hospital for postmortem.

Police probe

A preliminary investigation revealed that the man had allegedly been beaten to death and buried at the deserted site in an attempt to conceal his identity. A case was registered and a detailed probe was launched.

Based on suspicion, police arrested six persons from Tripura — Duythe Ryang (22), Sunil Rai Ryang (24), Kothoram Ryang (30), Sumit Kumar (20), Sramit Tarang (35) and Santosh Kumar (20).

During interrogation, police identified the deceased as Badal Shit (24), a native of West Bengal. The arrested persons allegedly confessed to assaulting and killing him. Police are continuing their investigation to ascertain the motive behind the murder.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the proposed location, along Santhome Road adjoining the Pattinapakkam beach, was already heavily congested. The area has fishermen’s settlements, residential neighbourhoods, schools and significant vehicular movement, and the construction of a major administrative complex could further worsen traffic congestion and inconvenience residents, he said.

He recalled that during the AIADMK governments led by former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, efforts had been made to identify a suitable location for a new Secretariat without space constraints or traffic-related problems.

Palaniswami said that farmers’ issues and several social welfare concerns remained unresolved, while the State was facing a severe financial crisis. In such circumstances, borrowing Rs 1,200 crore for the construction of a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam was unnecessary, he argued.

He urged the government to drop the proposal and consider constructing a new Secretariat only after the State’s financial position improved. Any future site, he said, should be selected carefully to ensure that it does not create traffic problems or cause hardship to residents.

Palaniswami also urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to reconsider the proposal and abandon the plan to construct the new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam.

Pappaiah made significant contributions to Tamil language and literature, having moderated more than 12,000 debates during his illustrious career.

He also authored commentaries on several ancient Tamil literary works, including the Thirukkural.

In recognition of his contribution to Tamil, he was honoured with the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani award in 2000.

He also acted in several films, including Rajinikanth-starrer Sivaji.

Solomon Pappaiah's funeral arrangements

According to a media reports, the mortal remains of veteran Tamil scholar and pattimandram speaker Solomon Pappaiah have been kept at his residence in Gnanolipuram near Arappalayam in Madurai for the public and leaders to pay their last respects. His final rites are scheduled to be held at the Thathaneri electric crematorium in Madurai tomorrow afternoon, according to his family.

Solomon Pappaiah's career and awards

Solomon Pappaiah was born in 1936 at Sathankudi near Tirumangalam in Madurai district. He served as a professor in the Tamil department at Madurai American College and became widely known for his humorous and engaging speeches at pattimandrams and public events.

His popularity took him to several countries, including the US, Australia and Singapore, where he participated in pattimandram programmes. He was honoured with the Kalaimamani award (2000) by the Tamil Nadu government and the Padma Shri (2021) by the Central government.

Pappaiah had participated and spoken at a pattimandram organised by a private television channel in Sivakasi on September 5.

Leaders condole Solomon Pappaiah's death

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the death of Solomon Pappaiah, saying his demise was a great loss to the Tamil-speaking world. In a post on X, Vijay said Pappaiah had used his humour and deep knowledge of Tamil to take social ideas to people in a simple manner and had transformed pattimandrams from mere entertainment programmes into platforms that encouraged thought.

DMK president MK Stalin also expressed shock and grief over Pappaiah's death. He recalled that festivals such as Pongal and New Year had become closely associated with Pappaiah's pattimandram programmes among Tamil people.

Stalin also recalled meeting Pappaiah when he visited Madurai last May for a public interaction, saying Pappaiah had come to his doorstep to welcome him.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed shock and grief over the veteran speaker's death. He said Pappaiah had entertained people through his humorous speeches while taking the richness of the Tamil language and Tamil culture to the younger generation.

Palaniswami said Pappaiah's death was an irreparable loss to the Tamil literary world and the pattimandram field.

Since Vijay has joined hands with the very parties he once dismissed as "and others," he has become one among the "and others."

DMK's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli', referring to the ruling party-led combine being named as the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, said: "look at their faces." Apparently, it was referring to the alliance leaders of the ruling party.

It said Vijay has now brought together all the very parties he labelled as "cash-box alliance parties" before the Assembly polls. "Going by Vijay's own words, should not they now be called the cash box alliance parties."

Vijay was the very person who thought these parties were not even worthy of being named. He dismissed them simply as "and others." Now, he is showing a "thumbs up" sign after bringing together these very "and others."

The DMK newspaper in its editorial on September 11, 2026 said the CM has now become one of the "and others" as has joined forces with the rest of the "and others."

Vijay once said, "If you just walk past the gates of Arivalayam, they will call those parties inside and hand them seats."

Today, Vijay sits on the chief minister's chair supported by the very parties that earned their right to enter the legislative assembly by walking through those gates. He has conducted a photo shoot with same parties outside the gate of the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur, it claimed.

The CM also had ranted that the "Congress party has been sold out to the DMK."

Now, what did Vijay give in exchange to "buy" the Congress party, it asked.

During the run-up to the polls, the TVK chief mocked at the DMK-led alliance saying it was like a broken glass glued back together, a torn piece of cloth that has been mended, and also had asked if that alliance was aimed at people's welfare.

"Look at the alliance he has formed today, it looks just like a stitched up piece of torn cloth. The faces of the five people looks just like a broken glass," the write-up said.

The Murasoli's reference here is apparently to TVK chief Vijay, TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, and IUML and MDMK top leaders, KM Khader Mohideen and Vaiko respectively.

Further, the DMK newspaper said that Vijay did not secure the majority required to form a government.

The people of Tamil Nadu did not give his party 118 seats. Vijay had to resort to seeking "the mercy" of the DMK-led alliance parties he had once degraded.

Five nominees of the Congress party, two from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and two belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League won by contesting in the DMK alliance.

Also, two candidates of the MDMK won (in DMK symbol Rising Sun).

"By casting his net wide, offering two minister posts to the Congress party, one minister post to VCK and one to the IUML, Vijay managed to hold on to his chair."

Murasoli alleged that Vijay is an "opportunist" who secured the votes of 25 AIADMK MLAs --in the confidence vote in Assembly-- by dangling tempting promises of ministerial posts and board positions.

Once he proved his majority, he declared that they would not get any ministerial posts. He orchestrated a scheme to make AIADMK MLAs resign, induct them into his party, and face by-elections, it claimed.

The DMK mouthpiece claimed that Vaiko had admitted that Vijay engaged in "horse-trading." Vaiko stated before the media personnel, "Chief Minister Vijay asked me to make two MDMK MLAs resign. I conveyed this to both of them, and neither of them agreed."

He repeated this at his party's general council meeting as well. Both of these speeches exist as video footage, the DMK daily claimed.

Vaiko also gave a "confession statement." He had told his party MLAs (legally DMK legislators since elected on Rising Sun symbol) that "when chief minister Vijay himself has promised to make you win, why don't you just resign."

The DMK daily cited VCK chief Thirumavalavan's comments and quoted him as saying: "Why doesn't Vijay talk about the BJP? They are desperate to split us from the DMK alliance...Vijay wants to break our alliance...Vijay hasn't spoken about any welfare schemes for the people."

The same Thirumavalavan today stands with Vijay, the DMK daily apparently rued.

"Opportunism is visible on every single face and all of them together have participated in the photo shoot."

The DMK daily was referring to the christening of the TVK led bloc as Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance days ago and a picture released by the ruling party that showed the five leaders together displaying the thumbs up sign.

Hence, it is only fitting to call the alliance Vijay has formed now as one that lacks a conscience, an "Opportunistic Cash-box Alliance," it said.

Further, the DMK daily said it was borrowing Vijay's own words and hence, "Let there be no anger."

According to the police, Aakash (23) from Alangulam in Tenkasi district, who sustained grievous injuries to his head and legs, was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. His wife, Sushmitha (21) from Melariyanayagipuram village, who sustained a cut injury to her hand, was also undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Though the couple belong to different communities, both are from the Backward Classes. Murugan, Sushmitha’s father, had strongly opposed their marriage, said the police.

Aakash and Sushmitha had studied at the same college and had been in love since their college days. After completing college, the duo got married three months ago despite strong opposition from Murugan, said the police.

Murugan’s daughter married outside the community against his wish; he later pretended to have accepted their decision to gain their trust and entry to their home

After their marriage, the couple rented a house at Sivakamipuram near Pavoorchatram and had been living there. Aakash was working as a daily-wage labourer in gooseberry farms in the village.

Meanwhile, Sushmitha’s father, Murugan, pretended to have accepted their marriage and started frequently visiting their house. During his visits, he used to buy groceries for his daughter, said the police.

On Thursday night at around 9.15 pm, when Aakash and his wife were at home, Murugan arrived on a motorcycle and parked it near their house, said the police.

He entered the house after allegedly concealing a sickle that he had brought with him. Before the couple could realise his motive, he allegedly attacked Aakash repeatedly with the sickle, causing injuries to his head and legs. He also allegedly attacked his daughter, causing a cut injury to her hand.

When the couple cried out in pain, neighbours rushed to the house. Murugan, however, allegedly escaped from the spot on his motorcycle.

After being informed, the Pavoorchatram police rushed to the spot and took the injured couple in a 108 ambulance to the Tenkasi Government Hospital for treatment. Aakash was later shifted to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment, while Sushmitha continued to receive treatment.

The police later arrested Murugan in the Veeravanallur area on Friday morning and brought him to the Pavoorchatram police station for questioning.

With Vinayagar Chaturthi falling on Monday (September 14), the three-day holiday weekend has triggered a rush among Chennai residents heading to their hometowns.

As train tickets are usually sold out within minutes during festive periods, many passengers are turning to private omni buses.

Taking advantage of the increased demand, operators have raised fares significantly for services departing Chennai on Friday (September 11).

Fourfold price hike

The maximum fare from Chennai to Madurai has been fixed at Rs 4,013, while tickets to Coimbatore cost up to Rs 3,239.

The fare to Tirunelveli has risen to Rs 3,499, while passengers travelling to Kanniyakumari and Nagercoil have to shell out up to Rs 3,882 and Rs 3,699, respectively.

The maximum fare for buses to Erode has been fixed at Rs 2,580.

Fare details for September 14

Meanwhile, fares for the return journey to Chennai on Monday are also high. A ticket from Madurai to Chennai costs up to Rs 2,650, while the maximum fare from Coimbatore is Rs 2,999.

The fare from Tirunelveli to Chennai has touched Rs 3,999, while passengers travelling from Kanyakumari and Nagercoil have to pay up to Rs 3,831 and Rs 3,599, respectively. The maximum fare from Erode to Chennai stands at Rs 2,040.

With passenger demand expected to remain high on Sunday and Monday, fares could rise further, according to passengers and transport sources.

The statutory inspection of the newly electrified section was completed by Southern Railway Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Ganesh on September 9.

With this, the trains operating across Southern Railway's broad-gauge network will no longer require a change of traction between electrified and non-electrified stretches. This is expected to give the zone greater flexibility in deploying locomotives and improve their utilisation.

The completion of electrification is also expected to reduce dependence on diesel traction and improve energy efficiency. Southern Railway said it would facilitate faster train movement and contribute to more reliable services.

Southern Railway's electrification programme dates back several decades. Electric traction was first introduced in Madras on May 11, 1931, making it the second metropolitan city in India after Bombay to have electric traction. The 25 kV AC system was subsequently commissioned between Madras Beach and Tambaram in 1968.