AIADMK targeted the ruling government over the two developments, with the party chief targeting CM Vijay on the meth case and the party raising questions about the TVK government's approach to political opponents.

The AIADMK condemned Karthika's arrest, alleging the TVK government used election-related cases to target political opponents. In a statement on its official social media handle, the party accused the government led by Vijay of a political vendetta and "narcissistic behaviour."

The AIADMK also questioned how the Chief Minister would respond to citizens seeking to submit petitions to him, asking whether he would stop his convoy to receive their grievances or register cases against them and order their arrest for allegedly obstructing his convoy.

Alleging high-handedness, the party urged the government to withdraw the action against Karthika and other NTK members.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami cited the seizure of 137 kg of processed methamphetamine crystals, reportedly worth around Rs 400 crore, from N Boopalan, a TVK functionary from Nagapattinam district. Referring to a Union Finance Ministry press release on the operation, he described it as one of the major narcotics seizures in Tamil Nadu's coastal region in recent years and demanded an explanation from Vijay.

Questioning the Chief Minister's silence, Palaniswami drew a parallel with DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq, who was arrested by central agencies during the previous regime in connection with an alleged drug trafficking network involving pseudoephedrine, a chemical used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

He also questioned the government's anti-drug campaign, asking why Vijay had organised an anti-drug marathon while a functionary of the ruling party was allegedly linked to a major narcotics seizure.

Palaniswami further alleged that TVK Nagapattinam town secretary Balraj had threatened media organisations reporting the case. He questioned whether the party leadership knew about the alleged activities and said such threats would not make the issue disappear.

The AIADMK leader also pointed out that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), a central agency, carried out the seizure rather than the Tamil Nadu police, accusing the State government of failing to respond adequately.

With the drug seizure drawing questions over the ruling party's accountability and the arrest of an opposition candidate triggering allegations of political vendetta, the AIADMK sought to portray the two developments as evidence of selective action under the new government.

The body of Uthra (26), a native of Poongulathupatti in Ramanathapuram district, was found in a decomposed state in a wooded area near the Vijayamangalam toll plaza on October 18. She was living with her husband, Ranjith Kumar (27), a construction worker, at Pallagoundenpalayam in Tirupur and was employed as a nurse at a private hospital.

According to the police, Ranjith Kumar usually dropped his wife at the hospital in the morning and picked her up in the evening. On October 14, he dropped her at work as usual but was later informed by hospital staff that she had already left for home. When she failed to return, he lodged a missing-person complaint with the Uthukuli police in Tirupur.

During the investigation, the police suspected Saravanan (23), a staff member at the same hospital and a native of Andipalayam in Tirupur. During questioning, he confessed to the murder. Police said Saravanan took Uthra on his two-wheeler to a secluded area near Vijayamangalam on October 14 and strangled her with her dupatta before fleeing with her three-sovereign gold chain.

The police recovered the stolen jewellery and arrested Saravanan on Tuesday. He was produced before the Bhavani Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded in judicial custody.

Observing that there was no proximate link between the actions of the accused and the employee's death, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan said continuing the criminal proceedings would amount to an abuse of the process of law.

The court was hearing a petition filed by K Swarna Latha, Senior Deputy Manager (HRD) at MTC, seeking to quash an FIR registered by the Government Railway Police (GRP), Chennai.

According to the prosecution, the petitioner and other accused had allegedly harassed a junior engineer by rejecting his leave applications, marking him absent, and initiating disciplinary proceedings against him. Unable to bear the alleged mental distress, the employee died by suicide after jumping in front of a train.

Before his death, he had sent an email to the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, naming the accused as responsible for his death.

The GRP inspector in Tambaram initially registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which was subsequently altered to Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to abetment of suicide.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate NR Elango submitted that the deceased junior engineer had a history of erratic behaviour, with multiple suspensions, loss of pay, postponed increments, fines and warnings, as well as frequent unauthorised absence from duty. He also pointed out that the employee had made a suicide threat to his higher officials on July 8, 2024.

After hearing the plea, the judge observed that the allegations did not establish a prima facie case of abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the BNS. The court subsequently quashed the FIR.

The victim, Vadivel, a resident of Melatheru in Bhavani in Erode district, was at the hospital when he encountered his son-in-law, Arokkiyam. An argument reportedly broke out between them, during which Arokkiyam allegedly took out a concealed knife and attacked Vadivel.

Victim rushed to emergency ward

Vadivel sustained multiple stab injuries and collapsed at the scene, bleeding profusely. His cries for help drew the attention of people nearby and hospital staff, who rushed to his aid. He was immediately taken to the hospital's emergency ward for treatment. Further details about his condition were not immediately available.

Police arrest accused at hospital

Police personnel stationed at the hospital intervened after the attack and apprehended Arokkiyam at the scene. He was subsequently handed over to the Erode police, who arrested him in connection with the incident.

The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the attack. The nature of the dispute between the two and the events preceding the confrontation are being examined as part of the inquiry.

The deceased was identified as V Harish, a finfluencer from Puducherry. Harish ran an Instagram channel called 'Finance with Harish' and gave investment advice. His channel had more than a million subscribers, but was taken down in September allegedly due to regulatory violations.

Finfluencers (short for financial influencers) are social media content creators who share advice, tips, and personal experiences about money management, budgeting, stock trading on social media.

Police sources said that his body was recovered from the villa and moved to Chengalpattu Government Hospital for autopsy. No suicide note was found at the spot. The Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Following his death, social media was abuzz with discussions about the influencer's death, with some of his friends alleging on their social media handles that cyberbullying led to the man taking the extreme step, while another section pointed out that Harish's decision should not be pinned on those who pointed out the genuine issues and violations.

The family of the deceased had alleged that cyberbullying could have forced Harish to take the extreme step.

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Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai questioned the arrest of NTK functionary M Karthika in connection with a protest during Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s roadshow in Dharapuram during by-polls. “Instead of police coming all the way from Dharapuram to Coimbatore to take her into custody, the police could have summoned her to the station as it is not a serious case. The timing of the arrest, after the election, had also raised several questions,” he said.

Accusing the TVK government of repeating mistakes made by the previous DMK regime, Annamalai urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to take stringent action against ruling party functionaries involved in drug trafficking cases. He also criticised the state government for not taking adequate measures ahead of the North East monsoon.

Annamalai said We The Leaders favours contesting the local body polls independently to take its ideas and plans to the people. “We would enter the electoral fray as a movement as it is not necessary to contest under a political party’s name,” he said.

Calling for a ban on social media use by those under 18 over its adverse impact on children, Annamalai claimed that enrolment in classes 10 and 12 had fallen by 9 per cent among boys and 6 per cent among girls. “The state government should take corrective measures,” he said.

Addressing media in Valasaravakkam, he said the government had maintained rice stocks to meet public distribution system requirements and was monitoring seasonal conditions to prepare for potential shortages. "If procurement reaches eight lakh tonnes, we will be prepared even if scarcity arises," he said, adding that the State had stocked 63 lakh tonnes of rice during 2025-26 and maintained supplies sufficient to meet ration shop requirements for two months.

Responding to complaints about inadequate supplies of fine-quality rice through ration shops, the minister said districts were receiving the variety based on demand.

Clarifying allegations about the source of ration rice, he said the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation procured paddy and milled the rice distributed through fair price shops. He said rice purchased from the open market was processed at private mills and was not part of the corporation's procurement.

In response to demands from Cauvery Delta farmers to reorganise direct paddy procurement centres, Venkataramanan said they decided locations based on cultivation data and assessments by district-level committees comprising five officials and two farmers. He added that new centres would be established wherever feasible.

On complaints about onion quality, he said the previous round procured 730 tonnes, and the produce would be graded, with only suitable stock sent for sale.

Addressing concerns over food quality in eateries, the minister said district Collectors were supervising inspections, particularly to address violations in smaller establishments. The minister also said public awareness campaigns on safe food practices were underway.

In a statement, Nainar Nagenthran criticised the C Joseph Vijay-led coalition government for granting extended parole to Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Azam and Nawab Khan, who are serving life sentences in the case.

The February 14, 1998, serial blasts killed 58 people and left more than 250 others injured. The attacks, carried out ahead of a scheduled election rally by senior BJP leader LK Advani, remain among the deadliest terror attacks in Tamil Nadu.

Questioning the decision to let them out on parole, Nainar asked what justice was left for the families of the victims, who had endured the loss of their loved ones for more than 25 years.

He described the bombings as a premeditated act of terrorism targeting civilians at public places, including hospitals, bus stands and commercial establishments, and argued that the gravity of the crime should be taken into account when granting parole.

Allowing the convicts to remain outside prison for two months would threaten public safety and undermine people’s confidence in the justice system, he alleged.

The BJP leader accused the TVK government of showing undue leniency towards those convicted in the blasts case and urged it to prioritise the security of the public and the concerns of the victims’ families.

He called for the immediate revocation of the parole orders and said no concessions should be extended to the convicts.

The five prisoners were granted parole for 60 days from October 17 on personal grounds, including health-related concerns, according to media reports. They had previously been granted parole, which was revoked during the Assembly election period.

Sahana won bronze in the women’s singles Class 9 event, while Madan secured third place in the men’s singles Class 1 category at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games on Tuesday.

Congratulating Sahana, Vijay said her achievement had brought pride to Tamil Nadu and India. He announced a Rs 30 lakh incentive from the state government in recognition of her performance, adding that her success would inspire young para athletes.

Madan, a Chennai-based former racing driver who took up para table tennis after a road accident left him paralysed, also won bronze in the men’s singles Class 1 event. He lost his semi-final to South Korea’s Kim Hyeonuk in straight games.

The two podium finishes formed part of India’s strong showing in para table tennis, with Indian players winning multiple bronze medals at the continental event. Sahana’s medal was particularly significant, marking India’s first-ever medal in the standing category of para table tennis at the Asian Para Games.

Separately, Vijay congratulated Tamil Nadu speed skater Anandkumar Velkumar for winning gold in the senior men’s marathon at the World Skate Games 2026 in Asuncion, Paraguay. Velkumar successfully defended his world title in the 42-km event on October 18.

Velkumar had earlier won bronze in the 500-metre sprint and silver in the 1,000-metre event, taking his medal tally at the Games to three.

The Chief Minister also congratulated Lakshita, Pragathi and Rutva, who won bronze in the junior women’s 3,000-metre relay. Their finish marked India’s first relay medal at the World Speed Skating Championships.

Vijay said the athletes’ performances would encourage young people to take up sports and strive for excellence at international competitions.

Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the State’s sports development schemes were supporting athletes in their pursuit of international success. He noted that Velkumar was covered under the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority’s Elite scheme, while the junior relay athletes received support under its Champions Development Scheme.

How was Madan murdered?

According to media reports, Sullan Madan had gone to watch the Vadamadu Manjuvirattu program held in the neighboring village of Melamangalam yesterday (October 19). Following this, a gang of 11 people on 5 two-wheelers chased Sullan Madan and chased him to a sugarcane plantation and killed him. Then the gang fled from the spot.

Who are the arrested persons?

Police registered a murder case and arrested Pradeep (26), also known as Mana, from the Thirumangalam area of Madurai district. Balamurugan (19) of Udakulam and Babu (23) of A Vilakulam were also arrested. All three were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

What was Madan’s criminal record?

A total of 15 cases have been registered against Madan, including two murder cases, an attempt-to-murder case and 12 other cases. These included the 2024 murder of the Kalayar Kovil brothers.

Madan had been under police surveillance due to his criminal record. On September 30, 2026, the Sivaganga tahsildar granted him a one-year good conduct bond. A petition seeking cancellation of his bail in a case registered at the Sivaganga Nagar police station is also pending before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

What happened before the murder?

Madan was arrested on October 1 in connection with a case registered at the Sivaganga Nagar police station and was released on bail on October 7. Police are investigating the murder and have formed six special teams to apprehend the remaining suspects.

The arrests come amid protests by the deceased's relatives, who have demanded the immediate arrest of everyone involved in the murder.

In a statement on its official social media handle, the AIADMK alleged that the government was pursuing political vendetta by invoking election-related cases against its opponents.

The party said the arrest of a candidate who contested on behalf of a recognised state party exposed what it described as the “narcissistic behaviour” of the government led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay.

Questioning the government's approach towards citizens seeking to submit petitions to the Chief Minister, the AIADMK asked whether Vijay would stop his convoy to receive their grievances or instead file cases against them and order their arrest for allegedly obstructing his convoy.

The party said such incidents had raised concerns among the people of Tamil Nadu about how the government would respond to citizens attempting to bring their grievances to the Chief Minister's attention.

The AIADMK urged the TVK government to withdraw the action against Karthika and other NTK members, alleging that the arrests reflected the government's high-handed approach.

The Home (Courts-I) Department issued the amendment through a Government Order, following Supreme Court directions in 2024 and recommendations from the Madras High Court.

The order amends the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Service (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 2007. The Full Court of the Madras High Court approved the proposed amendments.

Under the revised criteria for District Judge (entry level) recruitment, PwBD candidates must secure at least 30 per cent of the marks in each paper. The minimum qualifying mark is 35 per cent for candidates belonging to the Backward Classes, Backward Class (Muslims) and Most Backward Classes/Denotified Communities, and 40 per cent for candidates in the other categories.

For direct recruitment to Civil Judge posts, PwBD candidates must secure at least 35 per cent of the marks in each paper of the main examination. The corresponding minimum is 40 per cent for candidates belonging to the specified Backward Class categories and 45 per cent for candidates in the other categories.

The revised rules lay down category-wise qualifying thresholds for the two judicial cadres. The government order states that the amendment will be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary.

In a statement, he demanded that the government disclose its capital expenditure during April-September, spending on new infrastructure projects and outstanding payments for works initiated under the previous DMK regime.

The State’s borrowings through government securities fell to Rs 40,500 crore in the first half of 2026-27 from Rs 51,300 crore in the corresponding period last year, according to the government.

Thangam Thennarasu said the previous DMK government had allocated Rs 57,231 crore for capital expenditure in its 2025-26 Budget. According to the Comptroller and Auditor General's provisional monthly accounts, Rs 13,002.22 crore was spent on capital projects, including Metro Rail, between April and September 2025.

“Can a government claim credit for financial management by delaying development works and withholding payments for completed projects? Can unpaid dues be treated as savings?” he asked.

He also questioned the government’s borrowing plans, pointing out that it proposed to raise Rs 48,000 crore during October-December, more than double the Rs 23,500 crore raised in the preceding quarter.

Alleging that revenue receipts had fallen short of budget estimates, Thangam Thennarasu claimed that the government was struggling to sustain capital expenditure. He further alleged that tenders worth thousands of crores had been cancelled, construction projects had stalled, road conditions had deteriorated and thousands of people had lost their jobs.

He urged the government to publish a detailed account of capital spending and outstanding payments rather than project lower borrowings as an achievement.

A government order (GO) issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department grants administrative and financial sanction for the extension, fulfilling a commitment announced in the State Budget for 2026-27. The additional employment will be provided on a priority basis to women-headed households, single women, households with differently abled persons, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and beneficiaries covered under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, subject to the completion of 125 days of work.

The extension will take eligible households' annual employment to 150 days under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), which came into effect on July 1, 2026, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had directed officials at a review meeting on July 3 to provide the additional 25 days to eligible households completing the 125-day limit. The department subsequently sought approval to fund the extension from the State exchequer. The Rs 100-crore allocation has been made from the revised Budget estimate for 2026-27. The GO formalises the State-funded extension, but the additional 25 days are not a universal entitlement for all rural households covered by the employment scheme.

Demanding the unconditional release of Karthika and other NTK functionaries, Stalin alleged that the government was using arrests to intimidate political opponents and deflect attention from its administrative failures.

“Women from oppressed communities who enter public life must be welcomed and encouraged, irrespective of ideological differences. What does this government hope to achieve by arresting and intimidating them?” he asked in a statement.

Stalin said the DMK had responded politically and ideologically when Karthika criticised the party and its ideological leaders in the past, rather than seeking to silence her through arrests.

Accusing the C Joseph Vijay-led coalition government of misusing official machinery during the bypoll, he said the arrest of NTK functionaries for questioning alleged electoral malpractice reflected intolerance and vindictiveness.

He cautioned police officers against becoming instruments of political vendetta, warning that arrests in cases ordinarily warranting bail could invite judicial censure.

Stalin further alleged that the arrests were intended to divert public attention from a major drug-trafficking case involving a TVK functionary and his associates, as well as the government’s administrative shortcomings. He also accused the ruling party of shielding individuals allegedly involved in threatening journalists and a gang rape case.

Drawing a parallel with the BJP-led government at the Centre, Stalin said the competition to protect accused persons and arrest protesters was now between the BJP in Delhi and the TVK in Tamil Nadu.

According to Thanthi TV, the victim, Kalaiselvi, was living at Papanasam Uthani Main Road near Valangaiman.

Her husband had died two years ago, and her two daughters were married and living with their respective families.

The accused, identified as Arivumani, allegedly pretended to help the police search for the culprit even as investigators were probing the case.

Elderly woman found murdered at home

The incident came to light after Kalaiselvi’s daughters were unable to reach her over the phone. The daughters contacted Karthi, a relative, after being unable to contact their mother since the night of October 17. On October 18, Karthi found Kalaiselvi lying dead in a pool of blood and alerted the Valangaiman police

Kalaiselvi was reportedly sleeping at home on Saturday night when an unidentified person attacked her on the head and killed her. The assailant then took her gold jewellery, including a chain weighing three sovereigns, earrings, a maatal (ear ornament), bangles and a ring.

The stolen jewellery weighed seven sovereigns in total and was valued at approximately Rs 7 lakh. The Valangaiman police reached the scene, recovered the body and sent it to the Tiruvarur Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

CCTV footage helps police identify suspect

During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage and used the assistance of fingerprint experts to gather evidence. Investigators reportedly grew suspicious of Arivumani, a local resident who worked as a temporary employee at the Thanjavur Collector's office, reportedly joined the police team and pretended to help them identify the culprit.

However, his behaviour and contradictory statements raised suspicion among investigators. Police subsequently questioned him separately, during which he allegedly confessed to the murder. He was arrested following the inquiry.

Police said Arivumani had developed a habit of playing online rummy and lost lakhs of rupees, leaving him burdened with substantial debts.

Further questioning revealed that he was acquainted with the victim and had allegedly been keeping an eye on her jewellery for some time. Arivumani, 40, is the son of Govindaraj and hails from Papanasam. He works as a temporary employee at the Thanjavur District Collector’s office.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in several districts, including Chennai, and a yellow alert for heavy rain in other parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday (October 20).

An upper-air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Thailand and Myanmar is likely to move into the north Andaman Sea by Wednesday morning (October 21), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. It is expected to move west-northwestwards, with a low-pressure area likely to form over the southeast and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal around October 23. The system is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify further.

Separately, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal off the North Tamil Nadu coast now lies over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast, the RMC said. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region within the next 24 hours.

The RMC also said a trough extends from the circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu coast to north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Yellow alert for heavy rain

Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Kallakurichi, Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts.

Northeast monsoon brings widespread rain

The northeast monsoon has gained momentum across Tamil Nadu, bringing widespread rainfall, particularly to coastal districts, the delta region and areas along the Western Ghats. Chennai witnessed continuous rainfall on Saturday (October 17) night.

Responding to reports that the state’s borrowing through government bonds fell by 21 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period last year, he questioned the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government’s silence on underlying economic realities.

"The TVK government is trying to present lower borrowing as a massive achievement," Thennarasu stated.

"But shouldn't they disclose how this debt requirement decreased? They must release full details of the capital expenditure and developmental works undertaken in this first half," Thennarasu said on 'X'.

Drawing a direct contrast with the previous DMK regime's performance, he highlighted allocation figures from the 2025–26 budget. "Under the DMK governance, Rs 57,231 crore was allocated for capital expenditures. According to provisional monthly accounts of the CAG, Rs 13,002.22 crore was spent effectively between April and September 2025 on key infrastructure projects, including the Metro Rail," he asserted.

Posing a series of questions to the current administration, the DMK leader demanded to know what the exact capital expenditure incurred by the TVK government was from April to September. Out of its total budgetary allocation, how much has actually been spent on new infrastructure initiatives, and what is the total outstanding amount that the TVK government has failed to disburse for ongoing projects initiated during the DMK regime.

"Can a government claim financial management accolades by delaying development works, withholding payments for completed projects, and artificially inflating cash reserves to borrow less," Thennarasu asked, adding, "Keeping pending dues unpaid cannot be classified as savings."

Also, he pointed out a massive contradiction in the government's fiscal roadmap, revealing that while the TVK administration boasts of reduced borrowing in the first half, it has planned a massive borrowing spree of Rs 48,000 crore for the October–December quarter alone. This figure is more than double the Rs 23,500 crore raised in the preceding quarter.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Dharapuram police arrested Karthika and her husband at their residence in Coimbatore and took them to the Dharapuram police station for questioning. Karthika is also the state coordinator of the NTK women's wing.

NTK candidate Karthika booked over protest during CM Vijay's roadshow

During the Dharapuram bypoll campaign, NTK members attempted to campaign near the Veerachimangalam junction. However, police denied permission, citing Chief Minister Vijay's scheduled roadshow along the same route.

Opposing the restriction, Karthika and other NTK members argued with police, accusing them of acting in favour of the ruling party and deliberately preventing their campaign.

The party members then staged a road blockade in protest.

Police subsequently registered a case against Karthika under three sections for allegedly blocking the road designated for the Chief Minister's convoy and surrounding the police station.

Seeman, MK Stalin condemn arrest of NTK candidate Karthika

NTK chief coordinator Seeman condemned the arrest of Karthika and Dharapuram constituency party functionary Sanjay Gandhi.

DMK president MK Stalin also criticised the arrests in a post on X, accusing the TVK government of acting against opposition voices.

Stalin said women from marginalised communities entering public life should be encouraged, regardless of political differences.

He questioned what the government hoped to achieve by arresting and intimidating such women.

Referring to Karthika's earlier criticism of the DMK and its ideological leaders, Stalin said his party had responded through political arguments rather than attempting to silence women leaders through arrests.

He accused the TVK government of lacking tolerance and democratic values and described its actions as authoritarian.

Stalin further alleged that the ruling party had misused its power during the by-election and that the arrest of NTK functionaries for questioning such actions demonstrated political intolerance.

The accused, Sarath Subramanian, who had lived in the United States for several years, has 36 cases registered against him in Thiruvananthapuram alone. He has confessed to 34 of these crimes, according to the Cyber Cell of the Thiruvananthapuram City Police.

He is suspected to be behind a series of bomb threat emails sent to government institutions a few months ago, including the Secretariat, Lok Bhavan, court complexes and Cliff House, triggering security checks and causing concern among the authorities.

Police said the emails were sent through the dark web, making it difficult to trace their source.

During questioning, he told investigators that he sent the threatening emails out of revenge, claiming he was upset with a Tamil Nadu-based political party for "protecting upper castes" in the state, a police officer told PTI.

He had worked in the United States for 16 years, but not in the engineering profession, he said.

The threats had raised concerns about the possible involvement of extremist groups, but investigators had also suspected a Tamil Nadu connection.

He is suspected to have initially targeted government offices in Tamil Nadu before turning his attention to Keralam.

Further investigation is under way to establish the full extent of his activities and identify the motive behind the threats, police said.

In a statement, Palaniswami cited the seizure of 137 kg of processed methamphetamine crystals, reportedly worth around Rs 400 crore, from Boobalan, a TVK functionary from Nagapattinam district. He described it as one of the major narcotics seizures in Tamil Nadu’s coastal region in recent years and referred to a Union Finance Ministry press release on the operation.

Palaniswami questioned why Vijay had not responded to the allegations involving a member of his party. He drew a parallel with DMK functionary Jaffer Sadiq, who was arrested by central agencies during the previous regime in connection with an alleged drug trafficking network involving pseudoephedrine, a chemical used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Raising concerns over the seizure of processed methamphetamine, Palaniswami also questioned the state government’s anti-drug awareness campaign. He asked why Vijay had organised an anti-drug marathon while a functionary of the ruling party was allegedly linked to a major drug seizure.

He further alleged that TVK Nagapattinam town secretary Balraj had threatened media organisations reporting the case. Questioning whether the party leadership was aware of the alleged activities, Palaniswami said such threats would not make the issue disappear.

The AIADMK leader pointed out that the seizure had been carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, a central agency, rather than the Tamil Nadu police. He accused the state government of failing to respond adequately and demanded an explanation from Vijay.

Palaniswami said TVK had come to power promising political change but was now facing questions over allegations involving one of its functionaries in a major narcotics seizure.

Responding to media reports about shifting the project from Pattinapakkam, he noted that the Pallavan Illam site spans only 13.22 acres, which is significantly smaller than the previously considered 26.26-acre plot in Pattinapakkam and the 39.54-acre space at the Omandurar government estate.

Furthermore, constructing a massive 20 lakh-square-feet Secretariat along the banks of the Cooum River poses severe environmental risks and flood hazards. The site is tightly bound by major roads, a river, and religious structures. Future expansions would be entirely impossible, he claimed in a statement.

While supporting a new Secretariat for long-term administrative needs, the former union minister urged the state to adopt a visionary approach by establishing an integrated administrative city spanning 500 to 1,000 acres on the outskirts of Chennai, ensuring sustainable growth for the next century.

According to a Thanthi TV report, based on a complaint filed by TVK functionary Udhayakumar, police registered a case on Monday (October 19) against the councillor and the event organiser under three sections. The councillor has been asked to appear for questioning.

DMK councillor's remarks against CM Vijay draw Kanimozhi's criticism

The incident took place during the DMK's Mupperum Vizha held at Raja Annamalai Mandram in Chennai on Sunday (October 18). Chennai Mayor Priya and DMK MP Kanimozhi were among those who attended the event.

During her speech, Sudha Deenadayalan, a DMK women's wing functionary, made derogatory remarks about Chief Minister Vijay.

Kanimozhi, who was present at the event, objected to the remarks and criticised the DMK functionary on the same stage.

TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna criticises DMK for personal attacks

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister and TVK functionary Aadhav Arjuna criticised the DMK in a post on X, accusing the party of turning political platforms into spaces for personal attacks.

He said political platforms during Periyar's time served as places to teach rational thinking, while under CN Annadurai, they helped people develop political awareness.

However, he alleged that after Annadurai, DMK platforms had become places for personal attacks.

He further claimed that under MK Stalin's leadership, the party's political meetings had increasingly become platforms for offensive language, personal criticism and defamatory remarks.

Earlier, a special team of the Sriperumbudur police had conducted an intensive search involving drone cameras and a sniffer dog. She was being brought to the Sriperumbudur police station for further inquiry, said officials.

The girl had been living with her grandparents and relatives in Karumangazhani while her mother, Kalpana, had travelled to their native state of Jharkhand. She reportedly left home on Friday evening and was seen walking near the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway. When she did not return, her grandparents and relatives searched for her before lodging a complaint with the Sriperumbudur police.

The police registered a case and formed a special team to trace her. They circulated notices bearing the girl’s photograph, made announcements through loudspeakers, and used drones to search the village and surrounding areas. A police sniffer dog named Tiger was also deployed. The dog reportedly circled a relative’s house twice, prompting further searches in the area, but no conclusive leads emerged initially.

The investigation gained momentum on Tuesday after the police received information that the girl had reached MGR Chennai Central railway station.
The team examined CCTV footage and questioned members of the public, eventually tracing her to a children’s home in Kellys.

Meanwhile, reports suggested that the girl wanted to attend school but feared being sent to work as a domestic help after her mother returned from Jharkhand. The police are investigating whether this was the reason she left home.

According to the weather department, heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal.

Heavy rain alert for Chennai and 15 Tamil Nadu districts

Heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds of 40 to 50 kmph is also likely in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruchy, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Ranipet, Vellore, Tirupattur, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts.

Other parts of Tamil Nadu may receive moderate rain at a few places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds.

Meanwhile, the weather department said an upper-air cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above sea level over the southwest Bay of Bengal, off the north Tamil Nadu coast.

A trough also extends from the cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal to the northwest Bay of Bengal at an altitude of 1.5 km to 3.1 km.

Tamil Nadu rain forecast for October 21

On Wednesday (October 21), heavy to very heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Theni, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph.

Heavy rain is also expected at isolated places in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Madurai, Dindigul, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram districts, along with Karaikal.

Other parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may receive moderate rain at a few places, with thunderstorms and strong winds.

Chennai weather forecast: Heavy rain likely in parts of city

Chennai and its suburbs are expected to experience partly cloudy skies on Tuesday. Moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely in some parts of the city.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 32-33 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may range between 25-26 degrees Celsius, the weather department said.

In a post on X, the CM extended his heartfelt congratulations to Anandkumar, who won gold in the senior men's marathon, and to Lakshita, Pragathi and Rutva, who won bronze in the junior women's 3,000 m relay race.

He said their achievements would provide encouragement and inspiration to the younger generation aspiring to excel in sports.

Anandkumar has won a bronze medal in the 500 m category and a silver medal in the 1,000 m category at the Games before clinching gold in the senior men's 42 km marathon on October 18.

"I wish skater Anandkumar, and athletes Lakshita, Pragathi and Rutva, who have made Tamil Nadu and India proud by winning medals, many more heights to scale," Vijay said.

Anandkumar Velkumar, who hails from Chennai, successfully defended his world title in the senior men's 42 km marathon at the World Skate Games 2026 in Asuncion on October 18.

In the junior women's category, Lakshita, Pragathi and Rutva won bronze in the 3,000 m relay race, marking India's first-ever relay medal at the World Speed Skating Championships.

Granting extended parole to men who helped plant bombs that tore apart families is an insult to the dead and a betrayal of the living, Tamil Nadu BJP's chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said.

The government's move conveyed to the people of Tamil Nadu that those who waged a war on society can still expect leniency.

"Personal grounds cannot override the gravity of a terror attack that remains one of the darkest chapters in the state’s history. The Tamil Nadu BJP condemns in the strongest terms the TVK government’s decision to grant 60 days’ parole to five life convicts of the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts," he said on X.

Mohammed Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Monappa alias Mohammed Hassan, Mohammed Ajam and Nawab Khan were convicted for their role in the coordinated explosions that killed 58 people and maimed over 250 others on 14 February 1998. The blasts, executed by the banned Al-Umma terrorist organisation ahead of an election rally, were a deliberate act of mass murder against civilians. The Supreme Court itself has described this crime as "atrocious" and refused to grant bail to the convicts, he said.

"This decision reeks of selective softness towards convicted terrorists. The memory of the 58 victims and the security of the public demand that this parole be revoked immediately. BJP demands the immediate cancellation of the 60-day parole orders and insists that no further concessions should be extended to Al-Umma convicts in this case," Thirupathy said, citing media reports.

He further said that justice for the victims of Coimbatore cannot be traded for political calculations. "The terrorists must serve their full sentences," Thirupathy stressed.

The five individuals from the Coimbatore Central Prison were granted 60-day parole based on a petition citing personal reasons and their health conditions, as they have already served over 25 to 30 years in prison. An official noted that they had been granted parole earlier, but it was briefly revoked during the Assembly elections.

The decision has sparked political debate, with a TVK legislator, V M S Mustafa, thanking Chief Minister Vijay for ordering the parole.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Paranthamen said the state government and police had not issued a statement on the drug seizure case, questioning their response to the matter. “The Tamil Nadu government, the Chief Minister and the police department have not issued any statement.

The DMK has questioned whether the Tamil Nadu government is functioning and whether the police are in sleep mode or action mode,” he said.

Calling for transparency in the state's anti-drug efforts, Paranthamen sought details of the functioning and expenditure of the Anti-Drug Task Force, which he said was formed after the present government assumed office. “More than 64 teams were appointed, and Rs 264 crore was allocated.

The government should make public the expenditure incurred and the performance of these teams,” he said, urging the state government to issue a clear statement on the task force's work. Earlier, DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday took a swipe at CM Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, calling it a "Breaking Bad party" after one of the party's functionaries was arrested in a methamphetamine seizure case.

"It appears that while the Chief Minister has been lecturing from every stage about the 'eradication' (ozhippu) of drugs, this individual misunderstood the term as 'concealment' (olippu)—leading him to hide 135 kilograms of the narcotic substance methamphetamine. He was caught red-handed while at the peak of his operations as a carrier," Stalin wrote.

The remarks come after a party functionary was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with a methamphetamine seizure in Nagapattinam on Friday. The DRI's Tiruchy zone arrested two persons, including N Boopalan (42), an advocate and TVK Nagapattinam district executive committee member, and seized over 100 kg of methamphetamine in Nagapattinam.

The contraband was allegedly intended to be smuggled to Sri Lanka and distributed through a network of associates. Meanwhile, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko on Monday criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged deletions from electoral rolls. Vaiko backed protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and students against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that a large number of voters had been removed from electoral rolls.

“India is witnessing a revolution, a democratic struggle by the CJP and students. They are protesting against the regressive attitude of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who is responsible for the deletion of over 13 crore voters from the electoral rolls,” Vaiko said, criticising what he described as the “regressive attitude” of the Chief Election Commissioner. “He is the root cause of the murder of democracy,” Vaiko added.

The MDMK leader further claimed that the other two Election Commissioners had raised objections to the CEC's decisions on 14 occasions, but that their concerns had been ignored. “The other two Election Commissioners raised objections to the CEC's decisions 14 times, but he did not care about those objections. He is behaving like an agent of the present government,” Vaiko alleged.

The minister also said the tendering process for smart meters is likely to be deferred by two months to incorporate crucial revisions.

Tamil Nadu power infrastructure overhaul ahead of monsoon

Addressing a press conference following inspection reviews across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts, the minister outlined key steps underway to overhaul distribution networks and streamline field workforce management.

"Around 15,000 pillar boxes have been identified for raising to prevent water ingress during rains. Out of these, nearly 1,000 locations flagged by the city corporation have already been completed, while work on the rest is progressing under a structured plan," he added

In addition to 600 transformers identified earlier, he said another 1,000 units aged between 20 and 25 years will be replaced phase-wise across the metropolis. Night patrolling and breakdown attendance have also been bolstered with 55 new vehicles rolling out this week to replace defunct fleets, complementing the existing 97 vehicles to handle emergency fuse-off calls.

To address acute manpower shortages in field operations across Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram, approval was granted to induct 5,000 personnel.

"Nearly 2,600 contractual staff have already been onboarded, trained, and deployed for overnight breakdown response, while another 2,400 contract workers are scheduled to join within a week," Kumar added.

To prevent past irregularities in contract hiring, Kumar asserted that circle-wise open tenders have been mandated, replacing undocumented ad-hoc recruitments. Permanent recruitment drives are also being pursued through formal service commission routes. Nearly 1,800 candidates are awaiting physical tests, and financial clearance is awaited to requisition another 5,000 field assistant posts via the TNPSC framework.

Guindy 400 kV sub-station work fast-tracked; 97 sub-station tenders floated

On infrastructure upgrades, the minister said work on the long-pending 400 kV sub-station at Guindy -- initiated in 2017 -- is being fast-tracked on a war footing for completion shortly, which will relieve load constraints in the surrounding belt.

Tenders have also been floated for 97 sub-stations out of an estimated requirement of 600 units statewide.

Smart meter tenders deferred over consumer data security

Responding to queries on the rollout of smart meters, the minister said Tamil Nadu has sought modifications from the Union government to ensure consumer data remains strictly hosted on electricity board servers rather than private cloud infrastructure, alongside mandating eSIM technology.

Kumar dismissed claims by former Assembly Speaker M Appavu regarding solar park permissions as "baseless".

"Approvals for 4,000 to 6,000 MW were obtained by violating several rules. They do not have any land at all; not even a single cent of land. Yet, they have obtained 100 MW and 200 MW. Besides that, there is a company that is not even a letterpad company; it has not even been registered. All these were given speedy approvals till last March without having the required investment or land," Kumar alleged.

Approvals for fresh projects have been placed in abeyance pending the formal launch of the state's comprehensive battery storage policy, he explained further.

Refuting reports that approval had been granted to private developer Baashyaam for projects in Nungambakkam, in violation of building regulations, Kumar clarified that the department had verified the matter and no such sanction had been accorded.

He also added that over 45 tenders with suspected violations across departments are facing formal inquiry and FIRs.

"Full-fledged investigations are underway. Wherever evidence is found, investigations are being conducted in all of them. If there is evidence, cases are filed immediately without any hesitation... If a mistake has occurred, a case will definitely be registered," he added.

The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has initiated the tender process as part of efforts to expand mechanised sewer-cleaning operations across the city.

CMWSSB to procure three types of sewer-cleaning machines

The proposed purchase includes three-wheeled and four-wheeled desilting machines, jet-rodding machines and super sucker machines.

Desilting equipment is used to remove accumulated sludge from sewer lines, while jet-rodding machines use high-pressure water jets to clear blockages. Super sucker machines use vacuum technology to remove sewage, sludge and other waste.

The equipment is expected to strengthen sewer maintenance operations and help the civic utility handle blockages and accumulated waste more efficiently.

Tender process follows national competitive bidding

The procurement is being carried out through the National Competitive Bidding system using a two-cover procedure. Under this method, technical and financial bids are submitted separately for evaluation.

The purchase is aimed at reducing the need for sanitation workers to enter underground sewer systems for cleaning. Such work can expose workers to toxic gases, hazardous substances and life-threatening conditions.

Expanding the use of specialised machinery can help limit these risks while improving the safety and efficiency of sewer maintenance. The machines will support the CMWSSB's efforts to maintain Chennai's underground sewage network and reduce reliance on hazardous manual cleaning methods.

A bench of Justices SVN Bhatti and NV Anjaria, in its judgment delivered on October 16, however, took note of the flat owners and directed the state government to allot a suitable alternative site to the owners of 20 flats before demolishing their apartments.

A ‘ryotwari patta’ is an official revenue document and land record issued to an individual cultivator (ryot), certifying their right to occupy and cultivate a specific piece of land while paying land tax directly to the government.

Justice Bhatti, writing the judgment for the bench, said that because of the orders and revenue records, the flat owners were made to believe that the state government has no interest in the subject land.

“Therefore, directing the demolition of flats without examining the hardship of the flat owners and the independent remedies available to them in law against the owner of the land and the developer of the apartments would cause irreparable financial injury and throw the families on the streets.

“In the circumstances of the case, to ameliorate the possible hardship and, without committing a breach of Section 14-A of the Tamil Nadu Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948, we direct the Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, and the District Collector, Tiruvallur, to allot a vacant, commensurate site to the owners of the flats represented by the Society, preferably within 6 months from today, and thereafter to undertake the demolition of the constructed area to an extent of 0.22 acres,” the bench said.

The verdict dismissed three civil appeals filed by a flat owner and Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank Ltd, challenging the cancellation of the 'patta' and subsequent directions for restoring the land as a water body.

The case concerned a particular survey number at Thirumullaivoyal village, originally recorded in the 1911 resettlement register as “Government Poramboke – Kanakkan Kuttai”.

The disputed land formed part of a larger extent of 1.68 acres. The controversy arose after the district revenue officer, Tiruvallur, granted a 'ryotwari patta' for 0.72 acres to P Ramadoss in January 2011.

The land was subsequently used for property transactions and development, including the construction of 20 residential flats.

Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank also extended credit facilities of Rs 3.40 crore against a mortgage created over the land.

In December 2019, the commissioner of land administration set aside the patta, holding that it had been granted in violation of the applicable legal provisions.

The Madras High Court subsequently upheld the cancellation and directed the removal of unauthorised structures and restoration of the water body.

Rejecting the appellants’ challenge, the top court observed that the earliest revenue records classified the land as a tank and government ‘poramboke’, rather than ‘ryoti’ land eligible for a patta.

The court said the appellants had not established that the land qualified for such a grant under the 1948 Act.

In a major push toward rural and urban transformation, the initiative spans multiple sectors, ranging from a new government college to massive cold storage facilities for farmers, with directives issued to state departments for immediate implementation in the Madurantakam Assembly constituency in Chengalpattu district and a mega Cauvery drinking water project for Dharapuram constituency in Tiruppur district.

Both the seats reserved for SC were won by the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in the by-elections.

The party candidate Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) won by securing 74,048 votes, defeating DMK's I Paranthamen and AIADMK's S Kanitha Sampath. In Dharapuram, TVK nominee P Sathyabama polled 66,841 votes, trouncing the DMK (S Suganya) and AIADMK (K Banumathi).

Rs 1,439-crore drinking water project for Dharapuram

The highlight of the announcement for Dharapuram is a mega Rs 1,439-crore Cauvery combined water supply scheme aimed at resolving the drinking water needs of over 1,200 rural settlements, alongside land patta (title deed) distributions and major canal rejuvenation works in Dharapuram.

In a statement here, the Chief Minister rolled out a massive developmental blueprint for Dharapuram Assembly constituency, highlighting the Cauvery combined water supply scheme to ensure clean drinking water reaches every corner of Tiruppur district.

Out of the 2,455 rural settlements in the district, 1,223 are currently covered under existing schemes.

The new Rs 1,439-crore project will provide drinking water infrastructure to the remaining 1,232 rural habitations spanning Dharapuram, Kangeyam, Kundadam, Pongalur, and Vellakoil panchayat unions, seven village panchayats in Mulanur, and 17 village panchayats in Palladam.

Additionally, new overhead water tanks will be constructed across the Dharapuram, Mulanur, and Kundadam blocks to provide 13,000 new household drinking water connections.

He said the government will distribute 2,700 free house site pattas to homeless individuals within the Dharapuram constituency and directed the officials to take immediate action to issue land pattas to 87 families in Kuruvappa Nayakkan Palayam, who have been living in self-built homes for over 20 years without legal titles.

Irrigation works to support farmers

To support the regional farming economy, a comprehensive Rs 10-crore desilting work covering 159 individual irrigation works has been sanctioned for Tiruppur district to remove sandbanks and blockages from irrigation canals.

This massive clean-up drive will be launched in the Dharapuram constituency to clear silt, wild bushes, and thorny shrubs across an extensive network of 271 kilometres of canals and channels, restoring optimal water flow to agricultural fields.

The Dharapuram Municipality will receive a civic upgrade to enhance urban living standards, and this includes an allocation of Rs 6 crore for constructing a new urban overhead water tank and water supply system improvements, while another Rs 6 crore is sanctioned for solid waste management and stormwater drain upgrades. In addition, street lighting across the municipality will be modernised at an outlay of Rs 40 lakh. A Fire and Rescue Services Station will be established in Mulanur.

Check dams, lake restoration in Madurantakam

For Madurantakam, Vijay announced a check dam across Pukkathurai riverbed in Atthimanam village at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore, lake sluices restoration in Sempoondi panchayat for Rs 4.50 crore, desilting and bund-strengthening of the Nelvai panchayat riverbed for Rs 1.30 crore, preparation of a feasibility study and Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a high-level check dam across the Palar River between Padalam and Udhayambakkam.

Additionally, the 30-km-long Madurantakam high-level canal, built in 1984, will be desilted in phases to feed 30 local lakes. A new community hall will be built in Thinnalur panchayat at a cost of Rs 70 lakh, while a new Rs 3 crore 25-MVA transformer will be installed at the Madurantakam substation to boost power supply, the release said.

The government will set up a state-of-the-art State Seed Farm spanning 25 acres at an outlay of Rs 10 crore, construct a massive 20,000 metric tonne capacity semi-covered warehouse at Athur for Rs 20 crore to store procured paddy, and establish six new direct paddy procurement centres across the constituency at a total cost of Rs 1.80 crore.

Among the numerous announcements are sanctioning of a new Government Arts and Science College for Women at Acharapakkam, providing a new Trauma and Emergency Care Unit at the Madurantakam Government Hospital, upgrading Pukkathurai Government High School to a Higher Secondary School and set up a mini-sports stadium in Karunguzhi at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.

A working women's hostel, intellectual learning centre for educated youth, a weekly public market, new stormwater drains, tourist amenities at Madurantakam lake, besides the operation of additional government buses connecting all villages in the Chengalpattu district to help farmers and students commute easily also figure in the slew of announcements.

The new initiative is announced as the Pattu Saree scheme. The programme will be launched on October 29, his birthday, in Royapuram, where he grew up.

In a video posted on X, Lawrence said the initiative was inspired by a woman who approached him during his service activities and handed him a letter requesting a silk saree.

After reading the letter, he said he began thinking about women in rural areas who might never have had the opportunity to see or wear a silk saree.

What is the initiative about?

Announcing the project as the Lawrence Foundation completes 20 years of service, Lawrence said, "This initiative comes from a simple thoughts to bring joy to their faces and receive the blessings of all the mothers."

"The foundation has undertaken several charitable activities over the past two decades, including supporting children's education, funding heart surgeries, assisting persons with disabilities and distributing food," he added.

However, the government is yet to announce the application process, with detailed guidelines expected to be released soon.

The government issued an order for the scheme on October 5, fulfilling a promise made in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's election manifesto to provide the benefits to brides under the Annan Seer initiative.

Who is eligible for the Annan Seer scheme?

The scheme will apply to weddings taking place on or after October 5. The bride's family must have an annual income of not more than Rs 2.5 lakh to qualify.

The income limit is lower than the Rs 5 lakh limit announced in the party's election promise.

When can brides apply for the Annan Seer scheme?

Applications will be accepted online only, and a dedicated website is expected to be launched for the purpose. The Department of Social Welfare is to publish detailed guidelines separately.

Despite the allocation of funds and the issuance of the government order, the application process has not yet been announced, leaving eligible brides unable to submit their applications.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, the former Chief Minister blamed the state government for "absolute negligence", saying the state is fast becoming a manufacturing hub for synthetic drugs, while the police department remained completely paralysed.

Highlighting the recent wave of violent crimes, Stalin pointed out that days after a man was brutally murdered in front of his wife in Dindigul district right after signing his bail registry, a similar incident shocked Sivaganga. A history-sheeter named Madan, who was out on bail in a murder case, was chased and hacked to death in broad daylight.

"I had previously questioned whether criminals out on bail are being monitored at all. The Sivaganga murder proves that the police are doing absolutely nothing constructive. This is a murder caused entirely by police apathy," Stalin said in a statement.

Also, he highlighted the horrific case near Perundurai, where a nurse was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered, with her body being recovered only five days later.

The DMK leader launched a direct attack on the ruling party, alleging that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionaries were operating drug trafficking networks under the assumption that they enjoyed political immunity.

Following the recent arrest of a TVK Union Secretary in Vedaranyam for smuggling ganja, another prominent TVK functionary, 'Meth' Boopalan, was arrested in the same district for trying to turn Tamil Nadu into a global manufacturing hub for methamphetamine, he alleged.

"Are party cadres learning this by watching the Chief Minister's movies? Is the state police incapable of nabbing them, or did they deliberately turn a blind eye for so long because the accused belonged to the ruling party?" Stalin questioned, demanding accountability.

The opposition leader stressed that to achieve effective drug control, Vijay must first control his own party members, which requires a functional police force.

He accused the Chief Minister of holding the Home portfolio only in name. "Has the Chief Minister outsourced the police department just like he distributed his other portfolios to fellow ministers?" he asked.

Concluding his statement with a direct swipe at Chief Minister Vijay, who had recently launched an anti-drug campaign, Stalin said, "CM sir, your negligence is costing lives. You told the youth to 'Quit Drugs, Choose Sports.' Now, it is time for you to leave your rest, take control of your department, and act."

During the event, the CM wrote the official awareness slogan "Sports-ah Edu, Drugs-ah Vidu" (Take up sports, quit drugs) on a campaign board.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday during his tour in Tenkasi, the IUML Secretary said the party's state general council reaffirmed its continuation in the TVK-led alliance.

"A very clear resolution has been passed at the Indian Union Muslim League's state general council. We have resolved that the IUML will continue in the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJVA) in the upcoming local body elections, the 2029 parliamentary elections, and the upcoming by-elections. That will continue in the local body elections as well," said the minister.

Addressing political developments in the state, the minister claimed that several members of the legislative assembly are preparing to join the TVK.

Claiming that party workers have lost faith in the AIADMK leadership following major setbacks in former bastions like Dharapuram and Madurantakam, he said the respective legislators will decide on their positions and resignations in accordance with democratic and constitutional norms.

Responding to a query regarding the release of long-term Muslim prisoners, the minister stated that IUML president Prof K M Khader Mohideen had submitted a 12-point charter of demands, including permanent release or interim furlough.

He pointed out that following these representations, long-term prisoners have begun receiving releases, with six prisoners already released on furlough and more expected sequentially.

On the issue of the 3.5 per cent reservation for BC Muslims, particularly concerning converts to Islam, Shahjahan said following recent court observations, the law minister and constitutional experts are actively consulting to file a review petition or bring a legislative amendment within a couple of weeks to protect their interests.

Addressing queries about rising commodity prices, the minister attributed inflationary pressures partly to global climate disruptions like the super El Nino phenomenon, which affected monsoon patterns and caused widespread agrarian distress globally.

He assured that the five-month-old government is actively monitoring prices and taking concrete measures to alleviate public hardships.

Anbumani returned home on Monday (October 19) after completing the treatment and is recovering well, the PMK statement said.

The Apollo Hospital administration said in a statement that Anbumani Ramadoss had undergone successful knee surgery and was recovering well.

The leader had been experiencing persistent knee pain after actively participating in public meetings and party activities over the past few months. He was subsequently admitted to Apollo Hospital, where he underwent the procedure.

Doctors have recommended physiotherapy and a two-week period of rest to help with his recovery.

The accident occurred near V Salai on the Villupuram-Chennai National Highway late Saturday. The six-member family, from Moulivakkam in Chennai, was returning home from Thoothukudi when their car crashed into the rear of the truck.

The driver of the mini-truck, which was transporting fish from Tiruchendur to Chennai, had parked the vehicle on the roadside to have tea.

The deceased were identified as John Britto (37), his mother Thangabai (65), and a child, Yuvana Angelin. All three died on the spot.

The injured, identified as Anto Rajkumar, Natta Trishti, and Jessy Yuvana, were rescued by the Vikravandi police and admitted to the intensive care unit at the Mundiyampakkam Government Medical College Hospital.

Police personnel recovered the bodies and sent them to the Mundiyampakkam government hospital for post-mortem examinations.

The incident occurred during a consultative meeting to discuss the reorganisation of the DMK’s Manamadurai Assembly constituency in Sivaganga district. State youth wing deputy secretary Ilaiyaraja attended as an observer.

The meeting covered the reorganisation of the Manamadurai, Tiruppuvanam and Ilayangudi union units. While discussions on the first two units were completed in the morning, tensions erupted during the afternoon session on Ilayangudi.

During the discussion, Periyakaruppan referred to Tamilarsi in informal terms and, pointing to the faction of former MLA Mathiyarasan, asked whether its members were acting on her instructions.

The remarks drew an immediate objection from Tamilarsi, who confronted him.