CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the move was part of the TVK government’s alleged push towards privatisation of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and now consumption metering. He said the Electricity Board’s explanation of a staff shortage was unacceptable, given that 5,000 of the 6,591 sanctioned meter-reading posts were vacant. He also pointed out that no recruitment had been made to the posts in 13 years.

Shanmugam warned that inadequately trained contract workers could make errors in meter readings, resulting in overbilling and hardship for consumers. He urged the government to fill all vacancies through permanent recruitment, saying contractual appointments would undermine reservation and social justice.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said outsourcing could lead to tariff-related irregularities and should not be justified by citing a staff shortage, especially when lakhs of unemployed youth are waiting for government jobs. He demanded that meter-reader vacancies be filled through regular recruitment.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss questioned whether abolishing permanent posts and appointing contract workers could be considered an act of social justice. He urged the government to reconsider the decision and fill vacancies with permanent employees.

AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also demanded withdrawal of the proposal. Referring to the TVK’s promise to regularise contract workers with five years or more of service, he questioned whether the increased reliance on private agencies indicated a move to hand over public services to private players. He called for permanent recruitment to all vacant posts in the Electricity Board.

Speaking at a water management conference organised by the Thanjavur district administration to create awareness among farmers about El Niño, environmental activist and Delta Weatherman Hemachander said Tamil Nadu could experience the impact of the Super El Niño in November.

He said the weather phenomenon, reported to occur after about 150 years, could cause drought in 70 per cent of the world's regions and heavy rainfall in the remaining 30 per cent. Its impact had also contributed to poor rainfall during the southwest monsoon in India, while high temperatures continued in Tamil Nadu even in September, he said.

According to Hemachander, the hot weather could continue until October 15, with the State receiving below-normal rainfall and only mild showers, mainly at night. The prolonged heat could further deplete groundwater levels, he cautioned.

However, Tamil Nadu could receive heavy rainfall for two months, from October 20 to December 20, he said, advising farmers to plan their cultivation based on the weather conditions.

He urged farmers to obtain timely information from officials before taking up agricultural activities to avoid heavy losses.

In a joint statement, the parties cited a newspaper investigation and alleged that Kumar had disregarded the views and objections of the other two Election Commissioners when making key decisions.

They said Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded their opposition to the CEC’s actions in writing on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months. The two Commissioners had also raised concerns with the Cabinet Secretary over changes relating to electoral rolls, including Form 6 and the centralisation of electoral roll software, the parties claimed.

The Left parties alleged that the objections were ignored and that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls proceeded, resulting in the deletion of over 13 crore names from draft rolls in various States and Union Territories.

They also criticised the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, alleging that changes to the selection process had weakened the ECI’s independence.

Demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate removal and legal action against him, the parties said the ECI’s primary responsibility was to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens and ensure free and fair elections.

The demonstrations will be held at district headquarters across the State on October 1.

“As per the facts disclosed, the date of occurrence is November 27, 2020, as per the FIR dated December 27, 2020 and the charge sheet. This is a clear abuse of power by the police, which was endorsed by the Judicial Magistrate, as per the records,” said Justice P Murugan.

The court also directed the investigating officer M Perarasi to appear in person on September 29 and explain why the charge sheet was not filed within the prescribed time.

The court issued this direction while hearing a petition seeking to quash the false FIR filed against the petitioner in connection with a narcotic drugs case in 2020.

The learned counsel for the petitioner referred to the charge sheet and submitted that the accused has been charged under Section 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(A) of the NDPS Act, 1985. The maximum punishment prescribed in the said provision is one year. “If that is so, the case ought to have been taken on file within a year from the date of registration of the FIR, i.e., before 27.12.2021. However, as of 2024, no FIR had been received by the Magistrate Court, as recorded by this court in this present petition,” observed the HC.

Though the government advocate submitted that, as per the instructions received from the police, the FIR and the charge sheet were filed on the same date, 27.12.2020. However, as per the endorsement made by the magistrate in the copy application, no FIR had been received by the Magistrate Court, the judge observed.

“In the latter part, the police might have sent the charge sheet and the magistrate thereafter taken the case only in the year 2026, in STC no 2008 of 2026. Therefore, at all levels, there is a non-application of mind, both on the part of the magistrate and the investigating officer. The magistrate is required to apply his mind before taking any cognisance as to whether the case is within the period of limitation,” said the Court.

The court issued the above directions and stayed the further proceedings until further orders.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the Pocso Special Court, the Anti-Vice Squad said the electronic devices seized from the accused were yet to be subjected to forensic examination. The police also said the identities of the minor girls allegedly involved in the case were yet to be established.

The case came to light in October 2025 after a pen drive containing a video clip purportedly showing an elderly man sexually assaulting a minor girl was sent to the Intelligence and Technology Police Unit (ITPU), according to the police.

The police identified the man in the video as Veeramani. The Central Crime Branch's Anti-Vice Squad registered a case on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint lodged by a social activist. The case was subsequently transferred to the ITPU.

The ITPU arrested Veeramani, Mahendra Simhan and Shanthi on August 29 under the provisions of the Pocso Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act in connection with the alleged sexual assault of minor girls.

Opposing the bail pleas, the police apprehended that the release of Shanthi and Mahendra Simhan could enable them to influence witnesses or threaten the minor girls and their families. There was also a possibility of their fleeing abroad, the police said while seeking the dismissal of the bail petitions.

The bail pleas will be heard again by the Pocso Special Court on September 29.

In a statement, Anbumani said private milk companies had raised the price of 3% fat blue-pack milk from Rs 31 to Rs 32 per 500 ml, while 4.5% fat green-pack milk increased from Rs 35 to Rs 37. The price of 6% fat orange pack milk was also hiked from Rs 40 to Rs 42 per 500 ml.

He said private milk prices had been increased three times since February and alleged that the repeated hikes were placing an additional burden on poor and middle-class families.

Comparing prices, Anbumani said Aavin’s 3% fat milk was sold at Rs 40 per litre, compared with Rs 64 charged by private companies.

Similarly, Aavin’s green-pack milk costs Rs 44 per litre, while private brands charge Rs 74 per litre. The orange pack variant is priced at Rs 60 with Aavin, compared to Rs 84 charged by private companies.

In a message marking the first anniversary of the September 27, 2025 tragedy, Vijay said the day remained one of the most painful in his life and in the lives of the people of Karur.

“Last year, on this very day, September 27, 2025, a painful incident occurred that remains an unhealed wound in my lifetime, in the lives of our Karur brethren and in the hearts of our Tamil Nadu family,” he said in a social media post.

Vijay said the tragedy had left him, the people of Karur and TVK members carrying an indescribable sense of grief over the loss of their loved ones.

He called for solidarity with the bereaved, saying those mourning their loved ones should support and comfort one another and remain a source of strength in their time of grief. “We will be our own source of solace, support and strength,” Vijay said.

Paying tribute to those who died, he said their memories would remain alive in the hearts of their loved ones. “My heartfelt homage to all those who live on in our memories,” he said.

The Karur crowd crush occurred during a TVK rally at Velusamypuram on September 27, 2025. The tragedy claimed 42 lives and left more than 100 people injured.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on a petition filed by Mansoor Ali Khan seeking to quash the case registered by the Vadapalani police.

The actor had made the remarks while speaking to the media outside a private hospital in Vadapalani, where actor Vivekh was undergoing treatment. He had questioned the contents of the COVID-19 vaccine, alleged that the Health Secretary was misleading the public and opposed making vaccination and wearing masks compulsory.

Based on a complaint lodged by a Chennai Corporation health officer, Vadapalani police had registered the case under Sections 153, 270 and 505(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code, besides provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act.

Mansoor Ali Khan subsequently moved the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR. The court has now allowed his plea and quashed the case.

As a tradition, the water from Singa Muga Kinaru, located on the temple premises at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, has been used for abhishekams for Bragadeeshwarar in the mornings and evenings.

The well had dried up due to drought conditions in recent days. Following this, the temple priest Thyagarajan had fetched water from the nearby water source maintained by the ASI. However, on Saturday, the priest could not fetch water from the nearby source.

Eventually, the Pournami abhishekam scheduled in the evening was delayed. While the devotees were waiting, the priest managed to fetch a limited quantity of water from the neighbourhood and performed rituals. “Usually, the Pournami abhishekam is held with 14 varieties of perfumes. Because the HR&CE department had stopped the funds, the abhishekam was performed only with water, milk and curd. We have been repeatedly requesting the department to allocate funds for the rituals, but often it goes unheard," said the Thiyarajan Gurukkal.

He also said that the department is yet to release the salary of Rs 6,000 per month for the past four months.

In its final tariff subsidy order issued on September 24, TNERC said the actual subsidy requirement for the year was Rs 16,795.81 crore, against the provisional subsidy of Rs 17,052.14 crore. The difference resulted in an excess subsidy of Rs 256.33 crore.

The domestic category accounted for the bulk of the excess, with Rs 202.99 crore paid over the actual requirement. Other major excesses included Rs 34.07 crore under LT III B industries' ToD charges, Rs 30.61 crore for agricultural consumers under the special free supply category and Rs 14.33 crore for powerloom consumers.

However, TNERC found an additional Rs 29.49 crore payable to TNPDCL for categories where actual subsidy exceeded the provisional amount. This included Rs 10.05 crore for common supply and Rs 8.85 crore for lift irrigation.

Quarter-wise, the excess subsidy stood at Rs 36.08 crore in the first quarter, Rs 3.89 crore in the second, Rs 54.63 crore in the third and Rs 161.73 crore in the fourth quarter.

The commission also identified an additional Rs 3.47 crore subsidy requirement due to wrong classification of automatic meter reading units in the first quarter. After accounting for this, the excess subsidy to be adjusted in the second quarter of 2026-27 was fixed at Rs 252.86 crore.

TNERC directed TNPDCL and the government to adjust it in the second quarter of 2026-27.

“Ayya (addressing the City Police Commissioner), if I die, Inspector Alagar and SI Balamurugam will be responsible for my death. They are subjecting me to severe harassment, which has forced me to contemplate suicide. I have been serving in the department for 25 years,” Head Constable Joel Thangaraj said in the audio message.

The audio message, in which Joel Thangaraj made serious allegations against the two police personnel and expressed suicidal thoughts, has been spreading rapidly on social media for the past two days.

The audio message was brought to the notice of the City Police Commissioner. He initiated disciplinary action against Joel Thangaraj on September 24 for posting the audio message in the police group and causing it to circulate on social media without approaching his superior officers. The Commissioner also appointed an Assistant Commissioner of Police to inquire into the allegations made by Joel against the two police personnel.

Joel, a head constable attached to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital police station, joined the police force in 2002 and has been serving for around 25 years, a police source said.

In the audio, Joel alleged that he had been facing a heavy workload for the past 35 days and that Inspector Alagar had been subjecting him to severe harassment. He said this had caused him considerable mental distress.

Joel also claimed that he had met the Commissioner and sought a transfer to the Palayamkottai police station. He made an emotional appeal to the Police Commissioner to take steps to help him continue living.

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.

Addressing reporters at Maduranthakam in Chengalpattu district, Palaniswami said the case against Veeramani was registered when the DMK was in power and claimed the TVK government had no role in his arrest.

According to Palaniswami, police had informed the Poso Special Court that they could not identify sufficient evidence in the case and sought its closure. However, the judge rejected the request and ordered further action, following which Veeramani was arrested, he said.

"The arrest was based on the court's order and not because of any action taken by the TVK government," Palaniswami said, alleging that the government was attempting to project the arrest as its own achievement.

Criticising Vijay's campaign speech, Palaniswami said, "During his election campaign speech, Vijay gave misinformation about the GEM Veeramani case for political gain. Once he acted in cinema; now he has started acting in real life too."

Palaniswami also alleged that 250 murder cases and 300 sexual harassment cases had been registered since the TVK government assumed office. He questioned what the Chief Minister would tell victims, including minor girls who had faced sexual abuse.

Palaniswami also played a video clip of Vijay's campaign in which he announced the TVK candidate for the Edappadi constituency. He said the video contradicted Minister Aadhav Arjuna's allegation that Palaniswami had attempted to buy the TVK candidate, and described the allegation as false.

He also displayed a photograph of Veeramani sharing the stage with TVK Minister Logesh Tamilselvan and Venkatramanan at a private event. Palaniswami said Tamilselvan had described Veeramani as a family friend and questioned whether that relationship had delayed the case for more than three months.

Palaniswami reiterated that Veeramani's arrest followed a court order and was not the result of action by the TVK government.

The post said the event was powered by three generators and mid-way, the generator supplying the light and sound systems developed a technical problem, and the supply automatically switched to a standby generator, it said. The interruption, which occurred when a Madras High Court judge was addressing the graduation ceremony at Government Law College, caused a brief commotion.

The deleted post had attributed the outage to a jumper cut in the 110 KV Alagarkoil-Pasumalai feeder at the Ottakadai substation and had assured repair was under way. The revised statement, however, made no reference to the feeder fault.

The clarification came amid another report of power interruption at an event attended by ministers in Tiruppur on Saturday. At a meeting with farmers on the Uppar dam at Periyakomarapalayam in Dharapuram, power reportedly went off when TVK deputy general secretary Udumalai Radhakrishnan was speaking, after ministers Arunraj and Sengottaiyan and former minister Vijayabaskar had addressed the gathering.

The TNPDCL later said a power interruption had occurred around 2.23 pm on the Periyakomarapalayam 22 KV Manurpallayam feeder fed by the Poolavadi substation under Udumalpet EDC.

After a review meeting, the School Education department instructed Chief Educational Officers and other department officials to ensure that school heads and teachers take immediate action on safety concerns and continuously monitor school premises.

The department has also ordered regular inspections of compound walls, classrooms, toilets, roofs, overhead tanks and other structures. It also instructed schools to cordon off damaged buildings and unsafe areas, and report structures requiring demolition to the district administration.

The department has urged all schools to seal open wells and septic tanks in and around school premises. Also, necessary renovation of roofs must be taken along with monitoring the electrical connection in the school, the department directed.

Schools have been directed to strictly prohibit corporal punishment, bullying, ragging and all forms of physical or mental harassment. The department insisted on identification of vulnerable students and providing them appropriate support.

Officials have also been asked to create awareness among students about the School Education helpline 14417, Child Helpline 1098 and Tele-MANAS mental health helpline 14416. These numbers must be prominently displayed on school notice boards, at entrances and other accessible locations.

Fire extinguishers, emergency exits and evacuation routes must be regularly inspected, and periodic emergency drills must be conducted. School buses and vans must meet safety requirements, while playgrounds, sports equipment and laboratories should undergo regular inspections.

The guidelines also stressed hygienic food preparation, safe food storage, and proper inspection of kitchen facilities, LPG and electrical connections.

Poor rainfall and Karnataka's failure to release water for Delta irrigation affected paddy cultivation in the region. The neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, also saw a decline in cultivation, leading to reduced arrivals and a sharp rise in rice prices.

Ponni rice, a popular fine variety in Tamil Nadu, is now priced at Rs 78 per kg, up from Rs 65 a month ago. The local Mannachanallur Ponni variety is being sold at Rs 68 per kg, against Rs 60 previously. A premium variety of Ponni has risen to Rs 82 from Rs 65, while IR-20 is being sold at Rs 60 per kg, compared with Rs 50 last month.

Traders said prices had been revised three times in the past 50 days.

“For the first time, rice prices have risen so sharply, and we fear they may increase further. Raw rice, which was sold at Rs 45 per kg, is now priced at Rs 68 due to the decline in arrivals from neighbouring States,” said V Narayanan, proprietor of Sri Abhirami Traders in Tiruchy.

Narayanan said losses in the kuruvai crop could push prices higher, as neighbouring States were facing a similar situation.

However, M Sivanandan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners Association, said the situation could stabilise as paddy arrivals were expected to improve in the coming months.

“Due to the poor harvest in April, paddy arrivals from neighbouring states declined. We procured paddy at Rs 44 per kg from other states, compared with Rs 32 per kg during the previous season. Fine variety Ponni is currently being sold at around Rs 75 per kg in the wholesale market. Prices have stabilised and may not rise further if paddy arrivals improve,” Sivanandan said.

He said fine variety Ponni was widely preferred by consumers in Tamil Nadu, while its cultivation was limited in the State, making the market dependent on supplies from neighbouring States.

He urged the State government to encourage farmers to cultivate fine paddy varieties suited to local consumption, which, he said, could help stabilise rice prices.

“Whenever the Intelligence wing got information about any incident in the State, no matter how minor, they definitely brought that to the knowledge of then chief minister MK Stalin, who also held the Home portfolio,” the minister said, questioning how then could the DMK leader remain silent despite knowing about this incident.

“As the DMK is overreacting to the case, something must be wrong. We need to examine why they are overreacting,” he said, adding that several criminal cases reported during the previous DMK regime had been suppressed.

Former Law minister Raghupathi had also dismissed the matter, stating that the video in question was not clear, Nirmal Kumar said.

In a crime of such serious nature, involving the allegations of sexual exploitation of children, the police would normally have formed a special team to investigate it. However, in this case, the police filed a closure report in 2024, citing insufficient evidence, and they reopened the case later, claiming they had received an anonymous complaint and registered an FIR in 2025.

However, this was done only to facilitate negotiations and extort crores of rupees from the accused through extrajudicial settlements, Nirmal Kumar alleged.

“It is impossible that such massive extortion attempts and extra-judicial settlements took place without the knowledge of Intelligence officers,” the minister claimed.

He alleged that attempts had been made to protect Veeramani and that several persons threatened and extorted money from him, he said.

Nirmal Kumar further said that a transparent probe would be conducted under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

“The investigation will be absolutely impartial. Every individual involved, from those who attempted to shield the accused, profited from extortion and to those who suppressed evidence, will face strict legal action,” he added.

Awareness programmes are being intensified through community drives, house-to-house inspections, and health camps across the State. As part of a dengue awareness event in Tiruchy, Aneesh Sekhar visited a few wards in the city accompanied by the Commissioner N Ponmani.

The Director inspected the households in Wards 52 and 65 and monitored the process of elimination of mosquito breeding sources and fogging activities. During the inspection, he appealed to the residents not to store water in the open, and to remove the empty pots and discarded tyres which facilitate breeding of mosquitoes.

Aneesh further urged the residents to take part in the dengue prevention activities initiated by the civic administrations and undertake treatment if they have any symptoms of fever. Advising the residents to stay away from self-medication, he stressed timely treatment from the Urban Primary Health Centres and government hospitals to prevent the disease in the early stage.

District Health Officer Dr Manivannan and City Health Officer Dr Karthikeyan and others accompanied Aneesh Sekhar during the inspection.

The workers, employed across 383 operational Amma Canteens, are planning to submit a charter of demands to District Collector S Malathi Helen next week. Chennai Pothu Thozhilalar Sangam (CPTS), affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), is spearheading the demand.

A cook at an Amma Canteen in Kodambakkam zone, who has been working there since 2013, said the daily wage of Rs 325 had become inadequate amid rising prices. "I get Rs 9,000 in hand every month. The growing inflation and rise in grocery prices have forced me to take up part-time work to make ends meet," she said.

She also pointed to the shortage of supervisory staff. "There is no supervisor to coordinate and oversee the work. I know billing, but I do not know how to write and manage it with the skills I have," she said.

Another worker at the Amma Canteen on Jenis Road in Kodambakkam zone said several basic facilities required attention, including replacement of the grinder and stove, installation of an RO plant and repair of two existing fans besides providing two additional fans.

A regular customer, A Raja, said there were complaints about inadequate ventilation and food availability. "Chapatis are sold out by 6.30 pm. If we come after 7 pm, food is not available. I have written in the complaint book seeking an increase in the number of chapatis prepared," he said.

CPTS general secretary R Loganathan said the union submitted a representation to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner in July seeking wage revision based on the Minimum Wages Act and court judgments

"Of the 407 Amma Canteens in the city, 383 are currently functioning. More than 2,000 women workers have been performing cooking duties for the past 13 years. While the corporation is focusing on renovating the canteens, there has been no corresponding effort to increase the wages of the workers," he said.

The union has sought implementation of the District Collector's 2026 minimum daily wage of Rs 844 for cooking staff. It has also argued that failure to revise wages for 13 years is contrary to Section 3(1)(b) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, which provides for periodic revision of minimum wages.

As part of the protest, workers at Amma Canteens across Chennai wore black attire to work on Friday.

A Health Department official said the corporation had received the workers' charter of demands and was examining it. "The GCC will take steps to implement it," the official said.

Welcoming the expansion of the breakfast programme to Classes 6 to 8, benefiting an additional 15.30 lakh students in government and government-aided schools, the TNCRW said security arrangements during VIP visits should not compromise children’s dignity and rights.

The organisation said schools should remain safe and respectful spaces for children and argued that security measures for visits by constitutional and public office-holders must be proportionate, age-sensitive and non-intimidating while respecting children's privacy.

TNCRW urged the TVK government and the departments concerned to identify who authorised and directed the frisking and checking of school bags and clarify whether the measures formed part of an approved security protocol for the CM’s visit.

As an alternative, it suggested declaring a "No-Bag Day" in advance if school bags were considered a security concern, with parents and students informed beforehand.

The organisation also called for a review of security procedures for VIP visits to schools and child-friendly guidelines for the police, School Education Department, Social Welfare Department, district administrations and schools.

TNCRW said responsibility for VIP security should remain with security and law-enforcement agencies rather than being imposed through intrusive measures on children. It sought corrective action if the children’s rights or dignity had been violated and urged the government to institutionalise child-rights and safeguarding protocols for official events held in schools.

The proposal has been submitted to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) as part of the six-monthly exercise to determine the additional surcharge payable by consumers who source power through open access.

TNPDCL said that its existing power purchase agreements left it with fixed financial commitments even when some consumers bought electricity from sources other than the distribution utility. It has sought to recover the resulting stranded costs through the proposed surcharge.

According to the latest petition, TNPDCL has calculated Rs 180.91 crore as the net stranded charges recoverable from open access consumers. The calculation is based on data for the said period. The utility has estimated an adjusted open access quantum of 2,891.13 MU and arrived at the surcharge of Rs 0.63/unit.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of TNPDCL seeking no additional surcharge for the preceding six-month period, from April 1 to September 30, 2026. In that petition, based on data from April to September 2025, TNPDCL calculated the net stranded charge as zero after adjusting the demand charges recovered from open access consumers and asked TNERC to determine the surcharge as nil.

At the same time, TNPDCL told the regulator that Rs 282.64 crore in net stranded charges for the October 2025-March 2026 period remained unrecovered, as the corresponding petition was yet to be decided. It sought an early order on that petition.

The latest petition shows that open access consumers had an average allowed capacity of 712.25 MW during the assessment period, while the capacity stranded due to open access was estimated at 486.76 MW. TNPDCL has put its total fixed cost at Rs 8,795.15 crore and the fixed cost attributable to stranded capacity at Rs 384.18 crore.

After accounting for transmission and distribution charges recovered from open access consumers, the utility arrived at the net stranded cost of Rs 180.91 crore. TNPDCL has now invited suggestions and comments from stakeholders on the petition filed before TNERC.

According to police, Vinothkumar, an exporter residing at VIP Garden near Anantha Nadar Kudiyiruppu, and his wife Madhumitha (29), a YouTuber, had gone to Tirunelveli on Thursday to purchase clothes for their two-year-old child's upcoming birthday.

Upon returning late at night, they found the rear door of the house had been broken open. On checking the first-floor bedroom, they found the bureau damaged and 220 sovereigns of gold jewellery stolen.

Based on a complaint, police launched an investigation and discovered that the intruders had cut through the rear door frame using a gas cutter to gain entry. The police are currently scanning CCTV footage to track down the suspects.

Investigators suspect that her frequent social media posts and reels showcasing her extensive gold jewellery collection -- where she routinely boasted about buying gold every month -- may have alerted the burglars to the stash. A special team has been formed to apprehend the culprits involved.

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said employees had been seeking a five-day workweek for several years. A joint memorandum submitted by bank management and the employees' federation to the Centre in March 2025 was yet to yield a decision, he said.

The other demands include filling vacancies, regularising temporary staff, ending outsourcing, providing defined pension benefits and ending discrimination in the name of performance-linked incentives.

Referring to the one-day strike on September 11, Shanmugam said neither the government nor bank management had initiated talks. An indefinite strike has also been announced from October 26, he said.

Alleging that the government was threatening employees and officers to deter them from joining the strike, Shanmugam urged the Centre to hold talks and reach a settlement.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian also urged the Centre to drop its "threatening approach" and negotiate with the federation. He said the three-day strike had been called by the All India Bank Employees and Officers Federation over the employees' long-pending demands.

The interruption occurred while a Madras High Court judge was addressing the gathering at the graduation ceremony, causing a brief commotion at the venue.

Nirmalkumar said the venue was being powered by generators and that the power supply was interrupted for about five seconds while switching from one generator to another.

However, TNPDCL, in a post on X, said the 110 KV Alagarkoil-Pasumalai feeder at the Ottakadai substation had developed a fault around 11.22am following a jumper cut.

Repair work was under way and supply would be restored in about two hours, it said.

The incident comes amid reports of power interruptions at events attended by ministers at different locations in the state over the past two weeks.

The Lottery Department of the Keralam government has scheduled the draw at 1.30 pm on Saturday, and results will be announced at 2 pm.

The frenzy over the result was such that the government website where the result is uploaded crashed. Now, a ‘502 bad gateway’ alert is displayed there.

Prizes galore, but what would the winners get?

The first prize is Rs 30 crore. But that is not all. There are 20 second prizes, each Rs 1 crore; Rs 25 lakh for 20 people as the third prize; Rs 5 lakh for 10 people as the fourth prize; and Rs 2 lakh for 10 people as the fifth prize. There are also smaller prizes of Rs 5,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 1,000, and Rs 500.

To be clear, the bumper prize winner won’t receive the full amount. Around 12% will go as agent commission (Rs 3.6 crore), and the remaining amount will attract a tax of Rs 30%. Also, the individual’s personal Income Tax slab will also apply. However, even after the deductions, the winner stands to get more than Rs 18 crore (excluding personal IT).

Onam bumper lottery records brisk business

The sale has been a roaring success, with 89.85 lakh of the 90 lotteries printed being sold. Each ticket costs Rs 500, fetching the government around Rs 450 crore in revenue.

Such is the interest for the prize money that many from Tamil Nadu often head to Keralam to purchase tickets to try their luck. R Vivek, a middle-aged man from Chennai, said he bought five tickets when he went to visit Guruvayoor temple last month.

Despite the police being aware of the case, no effective legal action was taken amid alleged attempts to "settle" the matter involving large sums of money, he said.

The opposition DMK has already said it had no links with Veeramani, 84, in connection with the case.

Speaking to reporters here, Nirmal Kumar reiterated that the DMK was "overreacting" to the action against Veeramani and alleged that the party was deliberately shielding the granite baron in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences case.

He claimed that an initial complaint against the industrialist in 2024 was systematically suppressed by the previous administration and that a closure report was filed citing "insufficient evidence".

He questioned how alleged attempts to settle the case involving large sums of money and allegations of sexual abuse of a minor could have taken place in the capital without the knowledge of the state intelligence machinery.

"It is impossible for such massive extortion attempts and extra-judicial settlements to occur without the knowledge of the Home department and intelligence officers," Nirmal Kumar said, asserting that the case was prematurely closed to protect the accused after alleged monetary deals were concluded.

The minister assured that a transparent probe would be conducted under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and said law enforcement would not spare anyone found to have participated in attempts to cover up the case, extortion or destruction of evidence.

"There will be absolute impartiality in this investigation. Every individual involved, whether in attempting to shield the accused, profiting from extortion or suppressing evidence, will face strict legal action under the law," Nirmal Kumar said.

The state government has constituted a four-member all-women Special Investigation Team to probe the POCSO case against Veeramani and related matters. The team comprises senior women police officers and will function under the supervision of the Chennai Police Commissioner.

The Chennai POCSO Special Court extended the judicial custody of Veeramani, who was arrested on August 29, till October 9. His earlier remand period ended on Friday.

"Heartfelt congratulations to Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar, who have brought pride to India and Tamil Nadu by winning the bronze medal in the squash mixed doubles event at the Asian Games," Vijay said in a social media post.

He said the duo's achievement would inspire the younger generation of sportspersons in Tamil Nadu and reiterated the State government's commitment to supporting talented athletes.

"Their victory will provide fresh inspiration and confidence to the young sportspersons of Tamil Nadu," he said.

Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna also congratulated the duo, pointing out that both athletes had trained under the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority's Elite Scheme.

"Both have brought recognition to India and pride to Tamil Nadu," Aadhav said, adding that the two would receive the Rs 30 lakh cash incentive offered by the State to Asian Games bronze medallists.

He said the achievements of Tamil Nadu's athletes were giving fresh impetus to youngsters pursuing sport and assured that the State government would stand by those determined to excel.

The bronze medal adds to Joshna's distinguished Asian Games record and marks another notable achievement for Velavan, as the Tamil Nadu-trained duo brought India a podium finish in squash.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the State-run corporation is also gathering intel on people with vested interests, who may scuttle the tender process.

Tasmac currently operates 4,048 retail liquor shops across Tamil Nadu. Private operators are permitted to run bars in spaces adjacent to these outlets, where they can sell snacks, soft drinks and other permitted items.

The existing bar contracts were originally awarded for two years in January 2022 and expired in January 2024. However, the contracts were subsequently extended on two occasions first up to June 30 and later up to October 31 in view of the Assembly elections.

With the extended contracts nearing expiry, Tasmac has decided to issue fresh tenders next month.

NOC rule relaxed to break cartels, encourage newcomers

According to a Tasmac official, the tender conditions have been modified to provide opportunities for new operators.

Previously, applicants were required to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the owner of the building where the bar was proposed to be operated. The official said this condition had created difficulties for new applicants, as building owners themselves were operating bars at several locations.

As a result, the same group of operators had reportedly continued to run bars at many locations for nearly two decades.

To address the issue, the government relaxed the tender conditions through a Government Order issued in July.

Distance norm eased

Under the revised rules, a bar need not necessarily be located in the premises immediately adjacent to a Tasmac outlet. It can now be established within a 100-metre radius of the liquor shop, subject to the applicable conditions.

The official said the change is expected to allow more applicants to participate in the tender process and provide newcomers an opportunity to secure bar contracts.

Tasmac ‘spies’ on dissenters

Meanwhile, Tasmac has received information that certain sections opposed to the revised rules may attempt to create hurdles in the tender process. Officials are discreetly gathering details regarding those involved.

The official said Tasmac is prepared to deal with any legal challenges that may arise after the tender notification is issued and take necessary steps to ensure the contracts are awarded without delay.

Camp from 9 am to 5 pm

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the special camp will be conducted from 9 am to 5 pm. Ration card holders who have not yet completed fingerprint verification have been urged to use the opportunity and complete the process.

Verification under NFSA

The exercise is being carried out under the National Food Security Act, 2013, to verify Aadhaar details of beneficiaries covered under Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards.

All beneficiaries whose names are linked to electronic family cards have been advised to complete the Aadhaar-based biometric verification.

96.21% verification completed

Fingerprint verification has been under way since October 2023, with arrangements made to ensure that family members can complete the process without inconvenience.

So far, 96.21 per cent of priority ration card beneficiaries have completed fingerprint verification.

Aim to achieve 100% coverage

The special camp has been organised with the objective of completing the fingerprint verification process for all eligible beneficiaries.

Those who have not yet registered their fingerprints at ration shops have been requested to visit their respective fair price shops today and complete the verification.

Vijay is scheduled to be in Madurai on September 28 to launch the State government’s one-gram gold ring scheme for newborns at a government hospital. The launch venue has been shifted from Usilampatti Government Hospital to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.

After the scheme launch, Vijay is expected to proceed to the Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundaraswarar Temple to offer prayers, according to sources. His proposed visit comes days after the temple’s maha kumbabhishekam, held on September 17 following a gap of 17 years.

The proposed temple visit has also prompted the police to review security arrangements along the likely routes and around the temple premises. Officials are examining traffic and crowd-control measures in view of the Chief Minister’s visit.

The ‘Thai Maman Thanga Mothiram’ scheme will provide one-gram gold rings to eligible children born in government hospitals. The government has procured 1.28 lakh rings for the first phase, with the scheme covering eligible children born from June 22, 2026.

The September 28 programme will be Joseph Vijay’s first reported official engagement in Madurai as Chief Minister. While preparations are under way for the proposed temple visit, the final itinerary is yet to be formally confirmed by the authorities.

Justice V Lakshminarayanan orally urged media outlets to exercise sensitivity when reporting on the Pocso case, observing that the premature publication of videos and details of the investigation could have a “chilling effect” on other victims and discourage them from coming forward.

The court made the observations as Tulir Charitable Trust, represented by Managing Trustee Vidya Reddy, approached the Madras High Court seeking directions to the Commissioner of Police to prevent the further circulation of a video allegedly containing Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) and protect the identity and privacy of the victims.

The NGO said the circulation of the material outside the investigation process raised concerns over the custody and confidentiality of sensitive evidence and posed a continuing threat to the victims’ privacy, dignity and safety.

The court also said the issue could be debated, but asked whether it could be done without circulating the videos, noting that “there is something more important in life than TRP ratings.” It observed that while the media had a fundamental right to report the incident, it did not have the right to conduct a “media trial.”

Whether the accused was guilty or not had to be decided by the court and not by the media, the court said, stressing the need to keep the children safe. The court noted that the investigation was at a crucial stage and police were examining whether there were more victims.

It said that conducting debates with investigation details and circulating photographs could discourage victims from giving statements.

The court said the media’s right to report carried a corresponding duty towards both the victim children and the accused. Though the peti- tioner sought a John Doe order barring such violations, the court declined to grant it to balance the media’s rights.

However, it restrained media outlets from publishing the videos.

More than 20 DVAC personnel from Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts conducted searches following allegations of illegal sand excavation to hold a DMK conference.

The search was reportedly based on a complaint filed by Arappor Iyakkam with the DVAC alleging that soil worth more than Rs 8 crore had been illegally excavated from the Malappambadi lake in Tiruvannamalai and used to level land for a recent DMK conference held in the district.

The organisation had alleged violations by Annadurai.

He was addressing a campaign here for the October 6 bypoll, necessitated by the resignation of AIADMK’s K Maragatham Kumaravel, who later joined Vijay’s TVK and has now been re-nominated. At the campaign meeting, Vijay went all guns blazing, dubbing the MK Stalin-led party as an “evil force.”

Harping on the TVK’s “clean governance and pure force,” plank, Vijay accused the DMK of corruption and charged it with colluding with the AIADMK even in the case of child sex abuse by Veeramani.

Without directly mentioning the POCSO case against Veeramani, Vijay alleged that the industrialist was abusing children for so many years. And though a complaint was lodged during the previous DMK regime, the entire crime and its history was buried.

The Central Crime Branch's Anti-Vice Squad registered a case on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint by a social activist.

However, action was delayed for several months.

The case was later transferred to the ITPU, which arrested R Veeramani, Mahendra Simhan and Shanthi on August 29 in connection with the alleged sexual assault of minor girls.

They were booked under Sections 7, 8, 15 (1) and 21 (1) of the POCSO Act; Sections 354 (A), 354 (C), 201 and 120 (B) of the IPC; and Sections 66 (E) and 67 (B) of the Information Technology Act.

Veeramani, who was remanded in judicial custody on August 29, was due to complete his remand period on Friday (September 26).

Considering security concerns, he was produced before S Padma, Judge of the Special Court for Pocso Act cases, through video conference.

After hearing the matter, the judge extended his judicial custody till October 9.

Standing Committee Chairman for Education D Viswanathan questioned the decision to route the salaries of 180 data entry operators through an external agency.

The operators work across 417 GCC-run schools, including 206 primary, 130 middle, 46 high and 35 higher secondary schools, assisting headmasters with student data, welfare assistance details and administrative reports. They were engaged through Overseas Manpower Corporation Ltd (OMCL) for the 2026-27 academic year (July 2026 to June 2027).

“Workers whose monthly salary was fixed at Rs 26,765 or Rs 26,755 were receiving only Rs 20,768 after deductions,” Viswanathan said. “In addition to deductions like PF and ESI, Rs 1,896 is being deducted as service and GST charges. Instead of paying through contractors, the GCC should directly credit salaries as was done earlier.”

Perungudi zone chairman SV Ravichandran said that the number of data entry operators in Zone 12 had been reduced from 20 to 12. “Contractors quoting 35% lower rates in tenders have reduced workers’ salaries from Rs 18,000 to Rs 15,000, affecting their livelihoods,” he alleged.

Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar asked the GCC Commissioner Sameeran to enforce a strict minimum wage to prevent sudden reductions in the pay of temporary staff.

Responding to concerns, Sameeran clarified, “OMCL is a State-owned public sector organisation and not a private agency. The minimum wage of Rs 868/day was fixed as per the Labour Department’s minimum wage order, and will be ensured.”

On staff rationalisation, he stated that the GCC would assess the actual requirement in each zone and retain staff wherever necessary while streamlining excess positions.

Kanniyakumari MLA N Thalavai Sundaram and Thiruvananthapuram Deputy Mayor Asha Nath were among those who attended the programme organised by the Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja Jayanti Celebration Committee.

Asha Nath led a floral tribute to Sree Moolam Thirunal's portrait near the dam, following which an aarti was performed. A seminar and cow puja were also held as part of the programme.

The Pechiparai dam was constructed between 1897 and 1906 during Sree Moolam Thirunal's reign. He ruled the erstwhile Travancore State from 1885 to 1924. His birth anniversary has been observed at the dam for several years.

At the seminar, former Rubber Board vice-chairman Anil Kumar spoke about the ruler's contribution, while BJP Kisan Morcha district vice-president Jayakumar, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh state vice-president Parthasarathy and Poovendha Pandian of the Environmental Protection Movement also addressed the gathering.

Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Rajesh delivered the special address. A book on Sree Moolam Thirunal was released, and a tree-planting programme was held.

Former MLA MR Gandhi, BJP district president Gopakumar, AIADMK west district secretary Jaya Sudharsan and several farmers, BJP and AIADMK functionaries and members of Hindu organisations attended the programme.

He welcomed the Pocso court's decision on June 19, 2026, to order a reinvestigation after refusing to accept the closure of the case on the ground that the identities of those involved could not be established from video evidence. Had the court not intervened, those allegedly responsible for the "heinous" crime could have escaped, he said.

Shanmugam said the TVK government had subsequently arrested Veeramani and others allegedly involved in the crime and was taking further action. The CPM demanded that all those involved in the case, those who aided the alleged offences and those who attempted to suppress them be brought before the law and given stringent punishment.

Shanmugam also criticised former ruling party DMK and its president MK Stalin over his recent statement that the party had neither intervened to protect anyone nor issued instructions in connection with the case.

The state government has constituted an SIT under the supervision of the police commissioner. However, Shanmugam said such an arrangement was not appropriate in a case involving influential people, particularly given past instances in which ways had allegedly been created for them to escape legal action.

The CPM therefore demanded that the SIT be constituted under the supervision of a High Court judge and conduct the investigation. He made the demand after leading a protest seeking stringent action in the sexual abuse cases. Shanmugam said reports that Veeramani had allegedly sexually abused more than 100 girls from poor and vulnerable families were shocking and described the allegations as an example of the serious crimes allegedly committed by wealthy and influential people.

An order issued by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, dated September 24, stated that an SIT has been formed "to effectively investigate the case and related matters" involving the Gem Granites founder.

The SIT is headed by PC Thenmozhi, Additional Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Branch, Greater Chennai Police. The other members are Disha Mittal, Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, West, Greater Chennai Police; J Mutharasi, Superintendent of Police/Media Relations Officer in the DGP's office; and VV Geethanjali, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime against Women and Children, Greater Chennai Police.

The SIT will function under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police A Amalraj. The commissioner has been directed to provide the required manpower and logistical support to the team.

Meanwhile the investigators had summoned assistant commissioner, MA Yasmin, now placed on vacancy reserve, former anti-vice squad inspector Mahesh Kumar and inspector Rajalakshmi for interrogation.

On Friday, the Chennai POCSO Special Court extended the judicial custody of Veeramani till October 9. He has been in judicial custody since August 29 and his existing remand period was due to end on Friday.

In view of security concerns, Veeramani was produced before Special Judge S Padma through video conference.

Veeramani has been accused of sexually abusing minor girls. Three of his associates have also been arrested in the case, which has sent shockwaves across the State, with all political parties and the civil society demanding stringent punishment to the perpetrators.

Following allegations of police inaction despite a complaint made in November 2024, by Ranjan Kumar, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee's Scheduled Caste Department, seeking police action against the industrialist, the government on Thursday eased two top IPS officers, A Arun and N Kannan, who served as then Commissioner and Additional Commissioner, respectively, out of their posts and placed them on "compulsory wait."

Cases booked for sharing minor’s clips

The Cyber Crime Cell of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) has registered a case against media handles for publishing and circulating the photographs and video clips of a minor girl in connection with the Veeramani case. The case was registered on Friday under Section 23(4) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 67-B of the Information Technology Act. The police have appealed to the public not to circulate the minor’s photographs or video clips.

In a statement issued by Anbumani said that stormwater drain works taken up across Chennai based on the recommendations of the Thirupugazh Committee had not been fully completed even four years after they began in 2022. Of the proposed 1,093 km network, works had been completed for 1,045 km, leaving around 48 km pending, he said.

He pointed out that several stretches, including Anna Nagar Second Avenue, Arcot Road, Ashok Nagar, KK Nagar, Alandur, Perungudi, Sholinganallur, Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and ThiruViKa Nagar, still had incomplete works and open trenches posing risks to motorists and residents.

Anbumani also claimed that interconnection work between drains was pending at 68 of the 105 identified locations. Further, desilting had not been completed in 41 per cent of the inlet structures along the 1,682 km stormwater drain network, potentially obstructing rainwater flow into the drains.

Citing the State government's committee on the impact of the Super El Niño system, he said Tamil Nadu could witness excess rainfall and flooding this year. He recalled that Chennai had experienced severe flooding in previous high-rainfall years, including 2015 and 2023.

Anbumani urged the government to complete all pending works on a war footing and immediately close and restore road trenches to prevent flooding and accidents.

The ICCC, which went live in December 2020 under the Smart Cities Mission, brings together data from various civic services and field equipment for monitoring and response.

ICCC 2.0 involves additional infrastructure, applications and data integration being developed around the existing system. The latest decision is to have one System Integrator handle the existing ICCC as well as the identified 2.0 components for five years.

The move comes as the ICCC’s original operational and maintenance arrangement ended in November 2025 and was subsequently extended. The current extension runs until November 30. The Corporation said that the five-year arrangement was chosen to ensure continuity and improve lifecycle value and commercial competitiveness.

The arrangement will also cover software and data integration, the Early Warning System, cloud and internet connectivity, cybersecurity, maintenance and selective replacement or upgrading of equipment. The integration will cover/ maintain 1,256 cameras: 668 already part of the ICCC and 588 additional cameras identified under ICCC 2.0.

It will also cover 65 rain gauges, 46 flood sensors, 36 environmental sensors, 101 Variable Message Displays (VMDs), 40 floodometers, 159 pump-monitoring units, 57 vehicle GPS units, 17 automated boom barriers and 50 smart poles. Three Regional ICCCs are also included. Separately, 75 environmental sensors and 225 cameras for hi-tech labs are being implemented and can subsequently be integrated with the ICCC where applicable.

The Corporation has reduced the proposed operational manpower from 55 to 44, including four personnel for each of the 3 Regional ICCCs. For cloud storage, the Corporation has adopted 7-day retention of camera footage to video feeds. Application databases, system logs, backups and cybersecurity data will have separate storage and recovery requirements.

The appointments give senior AIADMK turncoats a prominent place in the TVK's organisational structure, months after a series of high-profile defections. The move is also significant amid continuing speculation over further political migration from the AIADMK to the ruling party.

The 11 former ministers appointed as deputy general secretaries are MSM Anandan, MC Sampath, K Radhakrishnan, KV Ramalingam, M Anandan, Kadambur Raju, KT Pachaimal, Vellamandi N Natarajan, NR Sivapathi, S Vaigaichelvan and S Valarmathi.

J Sundeep Anand, son of DMK leader S Jagathrakshakan, along with KG Muthu Venkateswaran, Thollamur Kannan and VCR Kumaran, has also been appointed deputy general secretary.

Former MLA C Mahendran has been appointed secretary of the Tirupur Rural South district.

Welcoming the new office-bearers, Vijay urged them to work in coordination with party functionaries and under the guidance of general secretary N Anand. He also appealed to cadres to extend their full cooperation to the new appointees.