Earlier in the day, the Madras High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail petition of Balaji in the fresh FIR lodged by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in the TASMAC scam case.

Soon after the denial of pre-arrest bail by the high court, the top court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant was urged by senior lawyers Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi and Amit Anand Tiwari on behalf of the DMK leader that his plea be listed for urgent hearing as he faces imminent coercive action.

The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, said that it will be listed on Friday.

Balaji represents Coimbatore South in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

According to the fresh FIR, a large-scale scam took place in TASMAC in the allotment of shops and bars.

Balaji alleged that the FIR quoted verbatim the affidavit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the petition filed by the anti-money laundering probe agency before the Supreme Court.

In fact, the FIR itself at various places says that it is from the counter affidavit and petition of the ED, the plea said.

"Our contention is that the FIR is for the incident said to have been committed between 2021 and 2025. I am at no flight risk; no custodial interrogation required. I was the minister of the department and TASMAC is a corporation independent in existence and functioning," said senior advocate Tirwari.

He also said there was no direct role or connection and it was political vendetta.

"Also, it is interference with the pending proceeding before the Supreme Court inasmuch as the petition filed by TASMAC and the state of Tamil Nadu in which the ED has filed the said counter-affidavit, which is the basis of the FIR, there is a stay of investigation against TASMAC and no coercive action order. Reliance on such an affidavit of a pending matter is interference with the judicial proceeding," the senior lawyer said.

The plea said it was diametrically opposite to the earlier stand taken by the state government in the matter.

The high court, while rejecting the pre-arrest bail plea of the leader, referred to the prosecution's allegation of causing loss to the exchequer against Balaji and said that custodial questioning was necessary.

The DVAC in its FIR said that Balaji entered into a criminal conspiracy to manipulate TASMAC's functioning by rigging bar and transport tenders, favouring a few select liquor manufacturers, resulting in overpricing of liquor, and causing financial loss to the public exchequer.

The DVAC registered an FIR against seven accused.

The FIR against Balaji, former TASMAC managing director S Visakan and five others was for alleged misappropriation, manipulation of procurement and tender processes in allotting bar licences, transport tenders, and bogus and inflated transactions by certain distilleries and bottling firms.

Balaji's close associates Rathesh Raj Shanmugavel and S Karthik, also known as Mulanoor Karthik, his former personal assistant Bhaskar and former TASMAC officials R Ramadurai Murugan and R Paneerselvam were the five other accused persons.

The FIR highlighted the operation of an alleged organised syndicate known as the "Karur gang", allegedly controlled by Karthik.

Allegedly, the syndicate ran all liquor bars in Karur district and coerced officials into allotting bar licences across Tamil Nadu to their favoured candidates.

The FIR also states that the investigators uncovered extensive fraud in transport tenders awarded for 45 TASMAC depots.

In one instance, nine out of 16 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) demand drafts submitted by an applicant were illegally retained and reused by senior regional managers to improperly grant transport depot contracts to rival firms.

The FIR also detailed a systematic cash-kickback scheme involving tens of crores, where bottle supply companies generated bogus or inflated invoices for distilleries.

TASMAC retail shops systematically collected excess amounts over the maximum retail price (MRP) from consumers in an organised manner, overcharging between Rs 10 and Rs 100 for standard liquor and up to Rs 500 for foreign liquor, the FIR stated.

The case has been registered under Sections 120B, 167, 409, 109, and 420 of the IPC, corresponding provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (including Sections 61(2), 201, 316(5), 49, and 318(4)), and Sections 7(c), 12, 13(1)(a), and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).

The university, which formally entered the State in 2025, will start its MBA programme in November, while the other courses are expected to commence from March 2027. It has invested around Rs 125 crore to set up the campus at Velachery, creating more than 200 jobs.

COURSES ON OFFER

The University of Western Australia, or UWA, is ranked among the top 100 universities in the world in the QS 2027 rankings. It has planned two campuses in India, one in Chennai and another in Mumbai. UWA will offer five undergraduate programmes at its Chennai campus. These are Economics, AI, Data Science, Computer Science, Business Management. It will also offer Master of Information Technology and MBA.

In a statement issued earlier, the university said it was working closely with the University Grants Commission (UGC) to secure necessary approvals for its campuses and courses, and would start classes after obtaining the clearances from the regulatory body.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS

It offers several scholarships and bursaries, which, it claims, are designed to recognise academic achievement, support talented students, and provide financial assistance across all courses.

“Most scholarships are assessed automatically as part of [the] application to study at UWA India and do not require a separate application. For select scholarships, additional documentation or criteria may apply,” it said, adding that eligible students are automatically assessed when they submit admission applications.

For instance, separate applications are not required for Early Bird Enrolment Bursary, UWA India Fee Waiver, Tamil Nadu UWA Bursary (Chennai campus), and Maharashtra UWA Bursary (Mumbai campus).

Students must submit an admission application and then apply separately for these scholarships: Premier Academic Award (Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu), Academic Merit Award, and Vice-Chancellor High-Merit Award.

FEES, SEATS, CAMPUS IN CHENNAI

While the statement from the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday did not offer much information into the size and scope of UWA’s Chennai campus, an earlier news report said it would be spread across 50,000 sq ft at DLF Cybercity.

The report said it will start with an intake of 300 students, with annual fees expected to be around AUD 25,000 (approximately Rs 16.69 lakh. 

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "The Supreme Court after hearing a review petition filed by the state government, ruled that the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) may conduct counselling for these surrendered seats but without lowering the existing cutoff mark. However, if a decision is made by the DGHS to reduce the cutoff, those seats must be surrendered back to the Tamil Nadu state pool."

The Supreme Court's recent interim order stipulated that the DGHS should complete the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling for the surrendered seats without lowering the existing cutoff percentile.

The court stated that if, after this second round, a decision is made to reduce the cutoff percentile, then 50 per cent of the seats must be reverted to Tamil Nadu. The remaining 50 per cent would be filled through subsequent counselling by the DGHS using the new, reduced percentile.

Arunraj claimed that the former DMK government freely surrendered 119 seats in 2024 and 145 super specialty seats in 2025 to the AIQ, as it yielded state rights without protest.

"During the previous years, after we surrendered the seats, the DGHS lowered the cutoff and filled the seats using the AIQ," he claimed.

The health minister was addressing the ongoing legal and political controversy surrounding 151 vacant super specialty seats on the sidelines of a construction inspection at Dr M G R Medical University.

Arunraj said the seats remained unfilled after local candidates failed to meet the 50th percentile cutoff mark mandated by the DGHS.

"We take this as a victory for the Tamil Nadu government's sincere efforts," Arunraj said, adding that the state's ultimate aim is to ensure state-allocated seats are retained for doctors serving under the Tamil Nadu government.

In an official statement, the Lok Sabha MP expressed shock over Karnataka's continued non-compliance with the orders of the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) and warned that its stubborn refusal threatens to turn Tamil Nadu’s agricultural hub, the Delta region, into a desert.

Highlighting the gravity of the water deficit, Thirumavalavan cited data shared by CWRC Chairman Vineet Gupta, noting that against the prescribed allocation of 36.4 TMC ft (thousand million cubic feet) between June 1 and July 27 as per the 2018 Supreme Court judgment, Tamil Nadu received only about 3.6 TMC ft at Biligundlu -- a meager 10 per cent of its rightful share.

"The cumulative shortfall in water receipt since June 1 stands at nearly 33 TMC ft. Overall water released by Karnataka has barely touched 1 TMC ft cumulatively at key intervals," Thirumavalavan pointed out, emphasising the crippling effect of this deficit on local agriculture.

He noted that while the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has currently directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily for the next 15 days, farmer groups in the neighbouring state are opposing even this minimal release.

Outlining the impact on local farmers, the VCK founder said the 'Kuruvai' (short-term) crop season has already been lost due to the lack of water, while the prospect of undertaking 'Samba' (long-term) cultivation now faces severe uncertainty across the Delta districts.

Asserting that Tamil Nadu can no longer expect fairness from the Karnataka government, Thirumavalavan stressed the need for a united state-wide response.

"Under these circumstances, we must raise our legitimate voice loudly and collectively. We urge the Tamil Nadu government to immediately convene an all-party meeting to decide the next course of action," he said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's state and district office-bearers chaired by BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran at the party headquarters, Kamalalayam, in T Nagar here. Briefing reporters after the meeting, former union minister Pon Radhakrishnan said the party had adopted three major resolutions.

Claiming that Tamil Nadu was yet to receive its due share of Cauvery water, Pon Radhakrishnan alleged that Karnataka was pursuing the Mekedatu project to further curtail downstream flows. "This is not an issue concerning a single political party or an individual. It concerns the rights of all eight crore people of Tamil Nadu," he said.

He urged the Chief Minister to consult leaders of all recognised political parties represented in the Assembly and jointly engage Karnataka on the issue. Radhakrishnan also alleged that the 1924 Cauvery agreement was not renewed in 1974 under the then DMK-Congress government and claimed the previous DMK regime had withdrawn legal proceedings related to the agreement. He further alleged that Karnataka had already constructed four dams in the Cauvery basin despite provisions of the pact.

The BJP also demanded a White Paper on properties belonging to temples administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, sought the retrieval of temple lands from private encroachers, and called for action against officials responsible for irregularities. Radhakrishnan said the party had formed a committee to examine alleged violations involving temple properties.

The party further condemned alleged crimes against women and rising custodial deaths, accused the State government of failing to fulfil its electoral promises, and reiterated that Karnataka should not proceed with the Mekedatu project without considering the views of lower riparian states.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the incident occurred following a prolonged family dispute over his suspicions about his wife's behaviour and arguments over the money he had sent home while working in Dubai.

The accused, Chellamuthu, later surrendered before police with the weapon.

What were the disputes while Chellamuthu was working abroad?

The accused, Chellamuthu of Ramanathapuram, had been working in Dubai for the past few years after deciding to seek employment abroad due to insufficient income.

He used to return to his hometown once a year for a two-month vacation.

His wife, Sharmila (42), lived in Ramanathapuram with their two daughters, studying in Classes 7 and 4. Sharmila's mother, Padmavathi, who worked as a teacher in a government school in Dubai, had returned to Ramanathapuram in January and remained there due to health issues and treatment.

Chellamuthu frequently argued with his wife over the phone, suspecting her behaviour. He had also sought an account of the money he had sent from Dubai.

Unable to continue living with what she described as a suspicious husband, Sharmila separated from him and moved into a rented house in Vaigai Nagar with her mother and children despite relatives urging the couple to reconcile for the children's welfare.

Argument between husband-wife turns fatal

Police said Chellamuthu went to his wife's house at around 8 am while the children were getting ready for school and again argued with her. Padmavathi also objected to the confrontation.

As the argument intensified, Chellamuthu allegedly attacked Sharmila with a sword he had concealed on his person. When Padmavathi attempted to intervene, she was also attacked.

Both women died on the spot.

He said Karnataka would decide its next course of action at an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on August 2.

Speaking to PTI, Reddy said the CM has called the all-party meeting to deliberate on the issue and decide the state's response to the CWMA's decision.

The minister said, "CWMA has upheld CWRC's order."

Asked about the next step, Reddy said, "The Chief Minister has called an all-party meeting on August 2. We will take a decision there on what needs to be done."

Karnataka is agitated following the order as the state is reeling under acute drought.

The MDMK leader also asserted that the TVK will never compromise its secular credentials or lean towards the BJP.

"I told TVK founder C Joseph Vijay not to worry about anything. I assured him that whichever alliance I was in, I have served as one of the key commanders who secured victory for that front. Today, I stand with you. If anyone attempts to pose a threat to your governance, MDMK will act as a shield and a battle sword to thwart those attempts," Vaiko said at an event here on Wednesday.

He further said, "I have absolute confidence that Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, will never lean towards the BJP under any circumstances."

"To safeguard secularism and social justice, the members of TVK will stand like frontline soldiers on the battlefield," he added.

Stating that he had traversed through all stages of political life, and there was nothing left for him to suffer, Vaiko said, "The comrades standing with me today expect nothing for themselves and MDMK will serve as the sappers and miners for Vijay's government."

Referring to reports that the opposition parties attempted to topple the TVK government, the MDMK leader said, "Do not indulge in daydreams. No matter what efforts you make, if such a political situation arises, the TVK-led alliance will win no less than 180 seats (Of 234 Assembly seats). You will suffer a crushing defeat, lose your identity, and be reduced to zero."

The searches were carried out by the ED's Chennai Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on multiple FIRs registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the suicide bomb explosion near the Sangameshwarar Temple in Coimbatore in October 2022.

According to the ED, the attack was carried out by suicide bomber Jamesha Mubeen and others as an ISIS-inspired terrorist act using a modified Maruti car loaded with explosive substances.

The agency alleged that the accused raised funds for their activities through two major channels. One involved operating a fake COVID-19 vaccination certificate racket during the pandemic, generating money from people seeking vaccination certificates without receiving the vaccine.

The second involved collecting donations and fraudulent investments through Kovai Arabic College, which investigators alleged was used to radicalise youths.

The ED said its investigation revealed that 12 accused in the Coimbatore bomb blast case, including Jamesha Mubeen, had attended online or offline sessions conducted by Kovai Arabic College. The agency alleged that they were mentored by Jameel Basha, identified as the promoter of the institution, following which they were indoctrinated into Salafi-Jihadi ideology and conspired to carry out the terror attack in support of the banned terrorist organisation ISIS.

The searches are aimed at tracing the alleged proceeds of crime and uncovering the financial network linked to the terror funding investigation.

The university also announced the top five rank holders in the B.V.Sc. & A.H. programme. All five students secured a perfect score of 200 out of 200 and hail from northern districts of Tamil Nadu.

The top five rank holders are R Shalini (Viluppuram), V Yashica (Cuddalore), M Merlin (Cuddalore), K Janagan (Ariyalur) and T Dhivya Varshini (Cuddalore).

Candidates with grievances or discrepancies in the provisional rank list can submit their objections between July 31 and August 2, the university said.

TANUVAS added that the schedule for online counselling for the 2026–27 admissions will be announced later. All counselling-related updates will be published on the university's official website.

The university said the general counselling process for all courses will be conducted online, similar to the counselling process followed for engineering admissions in the State.

In the technology sector, Chubb, one of the world's largest property and casualty insurers, will establish a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Tamil Nadu. The centre, the company's first in the State, is expected to employ around 220 people.

German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex will set up a research and development centre, creating about 1,000 jobs. The government said the investment would strengthen Chennai's position as a hub for engineering and technology operations serving global markets.

In manufacturing, South Korean automotive components maker MotiveLink will invest Rs 300 crore to establish a production facility at the SIPCOT industrial park in Pillai Pakkam, Kancheepuram district. The project is expected to create around 1,500 jobs.

The University of Western Australia’s Chennai campus, which will be the State’s first international university campus, and is expected to inaugurate its campus soon. The University which formally entered the State in 2025 will be commencing its most of the programmes from March 2027. The MBA programme will start in November 2026. It has invested around Rs 125 crore to set up the campus at Velachery, creating more than 200 jobs.

The agreements were signed at Guidance Tamil Nadu in the presence of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Addressing the event, the Chief Minister said the investments reflected the State's focus on attracting high-value projects in technology, research, manufacturing and higher education, adding that the government would continue to facilitate their implementation.

Seven of the injured are currently undergoing treatment in the ICU at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, they said.

The incident occurred around 2 am at the thatched residence of Murugayan, a local farmer from the Lakshmipuram area.

According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out in the thatched structure at Chinna Ammankudi near Thiruvonam while the family was asleep. Neighbours noticed the flames, alerted the family to evacuate, and rushed to douse the blaze using water.

While several local men gathered around the structure to control the flames, an LPG cooking cylinder kept inside the thatched kitchen area unexpectedly exploded.

The impact of the blast injured Murugayan, his daughter Abhinaya, and several neighbours who were assisting in the firefighting efforts. They were identified as Kasinathan, Rajasekhar, Palanivel, Vembaiyan, Kalaiyarasi, Bhuvaneshwaran, Selvaraj and Kaliammal.

Recounting the incident, Durgadevi, a local resident, told PTI Videos that neighbours woke them up after seeing the thatched house on fire.

"We rushed our children outside to safety while the men brought water to put out the fire. No one knew a cylinder was inside, and it suddenly exploded," she said, adding that some of the injured suffered over 80 per cent burn injuries.

Firefighters from Karambakudi arrived at the scene and rescued the victims. Three of the injured were admitted to the Pattukottai Government Hospital, while seven critically injured individuals were transferred via 108 ambulances to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, where they remain in intensive care.

The Thiruvonam police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the accident.

Police personnel have been deployed to maintain security at the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital emergency department as large crowds of relatives gathered following the incident.

Friendship blossoms into love

According to a Thanthi TV bulletin, Kayalvizhi, a transgender actor from Tiruchengode in Namakkal district, met Praveen Raj, an IT professional from Morai village in Avadi taluk of Tiruvallur district, on Instagram around seven years ago. What began as a friendship blossomed into love after the two remained friends for the first two years.

Despite strong opposition from Praveen's family, he stood by Kayalvizhi and refused to give up on their relationship.

Kayalvizhi has appeared in Tamil films, including Thotram, Raavana Raman and Kandhan Malai, and is currently acting in the web series Toxic and Party.

Couple faced stiff opposition

The couple said they faced considerable opposition and harassment from family members, relatives and friends. They also said that several attempts were made to separate them, leading to frequent problems and arguments within their families. After being together for several years, the couple decided that they should not delay their marriage any further.

Couple's dream to adopt children

On July 28, 2026, the couple solemnised a self-respect marriage with thte help of Manitham Law Foundation in Gobichettipalayam, Erode district. The couple said their biggest dream is to adopt orphaned children, provide them with a good education and help them secure good jobs in the future.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan dismissed Senthilbalaji’s anticipatory bail plea, holding that his custodial interrogation was necessary.

The Justice observed that A1 (Senthilbalaji) and his close associates had allegedly abused their official positions, entered into a criminal conspiracy, obtained undue advantage through manipulation, and caused huge loss to the public exchequer.

On July 28, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) registered an FIR against seven accused, namely Senthilbalaji, his close associate Rathesh Raj Shanmugavel, his former personal assistant Bhaskar, former TASMAC Managing Director and IAS officer S Visakan, former TASMAC officials R Rama Durai Murugan and R Paneer Selvam, and S Karthik. The FIR alleges large-scale irregularities in the functioning of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) between 2021 and 2025, when Balaji was serving as the Minister for Electricity and Prohibition & Excise.

The FIR was registered under Sections 120-B, 167, 409, 109 and 420 of the IPC, Sections 61(2), 201 and 316(5) of the BNS, and Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) and 7(c) read with 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Apprehending arrest in the case, Balaji approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

Senior Advocate NR Elango, appearing for Balaji, argued that there was no specific material implicating him in the case. He submitted that the ED’s search of the TASMAC office was already under challenge and that the Supreme Court had granted an interim stay.

Elango further contended that TASMAC is an independent body and that the Minister has no role in its tenders or functioning. He argued that the allegations concern bottle companies conspiring among themselves to collect money and, therefore, the very registration of the FIR against Balaji was not proper.

State Public Prosecutor John Sathyan argued that the Supreme Court’s interim stay was confined to TASMAC and did not bar the investigation against Balaji and the other accused.

He submitted that the alleged loss of Rs 17 crore was only the “tip of the iceberg” and that the total loss to the State exchequer could potentially exceed Rs 100 crore. Citing ample material on record, he contended that detailed custodial interrogation was necessary.

According to a Government Order issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on July 28, the committee has been constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to advise the Tamil Nadu Disaster Risk Reduction Agency (TNDRRA) on scientific and precautionary measures.

The move follows a proposal from the Commissioner of Revenue Administration and State Relief Commissioner, who warned of a high probability of a severe El Nino event developing in 2026. The government noted that the phenomenon could lead to below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall, reduced inflows into the Cauvery and other irrigation systems, and an increased likelihood of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding during the northeast monsoon.

The committee will be chaired by the Additional Commissioner of Revenue Administration and State Relief Commissioner and comprises seven experts from institutions, including Anna University, IIT Madras, WRI India, the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, the Tamil Nadu Marine Research Foundation, the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, and Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL).

The panel has been tasked with monitoring rainfall patterns and drought conditions, identifying vulnerable areas, strengthening early warning systems, and recommending measures to mitigate the impact of droughts and floods. It will also suggest strategies to enhance the State's disaster preparedness and resilience.

The committee will function during 2026-27 and 2027-28. Members will not be paid sitting fees or travel allowances, though the government has stated that such payments may be considered in future based on a proposal from the Revenue Administration Department.

The vacancies in Southern Railway span key operational categories, including Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs), technicians, junior engineers, track maintainers, pointsmen, ticketing and commercial staff, Railway Protection Force personnel, paramedical staff and ministerial posts.

According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's written reply in the Lok Sabha, 6,927 posts were notified for Southern Railway in 2024, followed by 3,412 in 2025 and 1,048 this year, taking the total number of vacancies under recruitment to 11,387.

The minister said Indian Railways has recruited 5.56 lakh employees since 2014 up to June 30, 2026, compared with 4.11 lakh recruitments during the preceding decade. Of these, 50,485 appointments were made in Southern Railway.

He said recruitment is a continuous exercise as vacancies arise due to retirements, expansion of the railway network, technological changes and operational requirements. The ministry also pointed to the introduction of an annual recruitment calendar from 2024 to provide predictable recruitment cycles and faster appointments.

The reply further noted that nearly 4.5 crore candidates appeared for computer-based examinations conducted during the 2024 and 2025 recruitment cycles. The panels for more than 3,300 candidates have already been finalized during 2026, most of them in safety-related categories.

Speaking on the Mekedatu dam issue after reports indicated that Karnataka's detailed project report was returned for failing to conform with the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal Award and Supreme Court judgments, Elangovan emphasised that "nobody else can intervene once a tribunal is appointed."

Reacting to a proposed meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his Karnataka counterpart D K Shivakumar over the dispute, the DMK spokesperson dismissed the effort as a "show off".

"What is the use of talking to the Karnataka Chief Minister? He is firm that he is going to build a dam across Mekedatu," Elangovan told PTI Videos, adding that appeals should instead be directed to the tribunal to halt construction rather than holding talks.

Two weekly express trains cancelled

The Yesvantpur–Mangaluru Central Weekly Express (Train No. 16565) scheduled to operate on August 2 and the Mangaluru Central–Yesvantpur Weekly Express (Train No. 16566) scheduled for August 3 have been cancelled.

Changes to Vande Bharat services

The KSR Bengaluru–Ernakulam Junction Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26651), which is scheduled to depart KSR Bengaluru at 5.10 am, will instead originate from Bengaluru Cantonment station on Saturday and on August 2, 3 and 4.

The Kanniyakumari–KSR Bengaluru Express (Train No. 16525), scheduled to depart from Kanniyakumari on Friday and August 2, will be diverted and operated between Byappanahalli and SMVT Bengaluru. As a result, the train will not halt at Bengaluru East, Bengaluru Cantonment and KSR Bengaluru railway stations.

The KSR Bengaluru–Kanniyakumari Express (Train No. 16526), scheduled to depart KSR Bengaluru at 8.10 pm, will instead originate from SMVT Bengaluru at 8.10 pm on Saturday and August 2 and 3.

The Ernakulam Junction–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 26652), scheduled to operate on August 3, will terminate at Krishnarajapuram and will not operate between Krishnarajapuram and KSR Bengaluru.

Uday express trains rerouted

The Coimbatore–KSR Bengaluru Uday Express (Train No. 22666), scheduled to depart Coimbatore Junction at 5.45 am on Saturday and August 2 and 3, will be partially cancelled between Krishnarajapuram and KSR Bengaluru and diverted towards SMVT Bengaluru.

The KSR Bengaluru–Coimbatore Uday Express (Train No. 22665), scheduled to depart KSR Bengaluru at 2.15 pm, will instead originate from SMVT Bengaluru at 2.15 pm on Saturday and August 2 and 3.

Salem–Yesvantpur services modified

The Yesvantpur–Salem train (Train No. 16211), scheduled to depart Yesvantpur at 3.55 pm, will instead originate from Banaswadi at 4.22 pm and operate up to Salem Junction on Saturday and August 2 and 3.

The Salem–Yesvantpur train (Train No. 16212), scheduled to depart Salem Junction at 5.20 pm, will terminate at Banaswadi on Saturday and August 2 and 3. It will not operate between Banaswadi and Yesvantpur.

Mumbai–Coimbatore expresses to run on diversion

The Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Coimbatore Express (Train No. 11013) will be diverted between Yelahanka and Hosur today (Thursday), Friday, and August 1 and 2. Consequently, the train will not halt at Bengaluru East, Bengaluru Cantonment and KSR Bengaluru railway stations.

Similarly, the Coimbatore–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express (Train No. 11014) will be diverted between Hosur and Yelahanka on Saturday, August 2 and 3. The train will not halt at Bengaluru Cantonment and KSR Bengaluru railway stations.

Calling Nallakannu a symbol of simplicity and struggle, Udhayanidhi said inaugurating his statue was a lifetime honour. Releasing writer Bagu's book Ammatchi Karpanaiyin Mudhal Aasiriyar at the event here, he said the Dravidian and Communist movements had always stood together whenever the rights of Tamil and Tamil Nadu came under threat. He also recalled former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's admiration for Communist leaders and said former Chief Minister MK Stalin had continued that legacy by honouring Nallakannu with the Thagaisal Tamizhar Award and full State honours after his death.

Udhayanidhi said, "Today, society admires those who make reels, but it does not recognise those who genuinely work for the people."

He also reiterated the DMK's opposition to NEET, saying the party had opposed the medical entrance examination since its introduction.

Addressing the gathering, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the party was ready to work with all democratic forces, including the DMK, to defeat the BJP and RSS, which he described as the CPI's only political adversaries.

Later, speaking to reporters, Veerapandian reiterated that the CPI would continue its outside support to the ruling TVK government to protect democracy, while making it clear that the party was not part of any alliance and would oppose the government whenever it strayed from pro-people policies.

Rejecting speculation that the CPI was moving closer to the DMK, he said the party viewed the DMK, AIADMK and TVK as democratic political forces, but stressed that its ideological battle remained against the RSS and BJP. He also dismissed allegations that the TVK government was indirectly helping the BJP, saying the CPI had reached no such conclusion.

On future electoral alliances, Veerapandian said the party would decide only after elections were announced. For now, he said, the newly formed Left Coordination Committee would focus on people's issues, with its first meeting scheduled at the CPM headquarters on August 4, followed by a joint rally of Communist parties.

According to the police, 200 cases under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act were registered between July 20 and July 25. The police units seized 517 kgs of ganja, 15 kgs of ganja chocolate, 69 grams of MDMA, 146 grams of methamphetamine, 7552 tablets, among others. In addition, 486 cases relating to banned oral tobacco products were registered, and 5,237 kg of gutkha were seized.

In order to assess the prevalence of drugs, the officers of the Enforcement Bureau CID (EB-CID) visited vulnerable areas in Chennai city and its suburbs. Senior officers visited Kamalapuram, Vyasarpadi, Kannagi Nagar, Oorur Kuppam in Besant Nagar and TP Chatram Housing Board, enquired about the availability of drugs in those areas and listened to the grievances of the public.

Meanwhile, two Nigerian nationals arrested in a 2019 case registered by the Kanchipuram Narcotics Intelligence Bureau and who had completed their sentences, were repatriated to their home country after completing all legal formalities, an official release said.

In a written reply to a question by Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, is the primary legislation for ensuring the safety, security, dignity and well-being of Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP) and Children in Conflict with Law (CCL).

She said the Act covers orphans, abandoned and surrendered children, as well as those produced before Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and placed in Child Care Institutions.

According to data shared by the minister, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of children residing in CCIs during 2025-26 at 11,217. The state had reported 13,877 children in 2021-22; 7,785 in 2022-23; 10,118 in 2023-24, and 12,438 in 2024-25. It was followed by West Bengal (7,725), Odisha (7,311), Uttar Pradesh (5,125), Rajasthan (4,629) and Maharashtra (4,185).

Regarding vacancies in child protection institutions, Thakur stated that the Juvenile Justice Act mandates the establishment of Child Welfare Committees in every district, Juvenile Justice Boards for children in conflict with the law, and District Child Protection Units.

She said details of sanctioned, filled and vacant posts of CWCs, JJBs and child protection personnel are maintained by the states and Union Territories. However, the ministry has issued various guidelines and advisories from time to time for strengthening the implementation of the JJ Act, including filling vacancies in statutory structures.

Replying to a query on missing children reported and traced during the five years, the minister said the National Crime Records Bureau compiles and publishes data on missing and recovered children in its Crime in India report, which is available up to 2024.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed an integrated unified Mission Vatsalya Portal in consultation and coordination with States and UTs, she said.

Thakur said the TrackChild portal and Khoya-Paya application have been integrated into the unified Mission Vatsalya portal to help trace missing/found children. The portal is also integrated with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), enabling police to match FIRs of missing children with the database.

The minister added that the Mission Vatsalya Scheme also provides for emergency outreach services (24x7x365) for children in difficult circumstances through the Child Helpline (1098), which is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System-112 (ERSS-112) Helpline of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a reshuffle of district revenue officers (DROs) across the State, K Ramamoorthy, Special District Revenue Officer (Land Acquisition), New Greenfield Airport (Zone I), has been transferred to the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, Chennai. The transfer orders were issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar on Wednesday.

Senior officials in the Kancheepuram district administration said they were not authorised to comment on the Parandur airport project. They, however, stated that three special DROs had been appointed for land acquisition for the Parandur project and that one of them has now been transferred.

Interestingly, the government appears to be focusing more on the Coimbatore airport expansion project. In the transfer order, the government has appointed a special district revenue officer (land acquisition) for the acquisition of land required for the extension of the runway at Coimbatore Airport.

In its election manifesto, the TVK had promised to drop the proposed Parandur airport project. However, after assuming office, the government has not made any official announcement on the future of the project.

The Parandur airport project, proposed as Chennai's second airport, requires the acquisition of over 5,700 acres of land across 13 villages in Kancheepuram district.

The project has witnessed sustained protests from local residents and farmers opposing land acquisition, despite the State government announcing compensation and rehabilitation measures.

According to the agency, the list of accused includes Senthilbalaji; former managing director of Tasmac, S Visakan, who was shunted out to Science City as its vice-chairman after the TVK-led government came to power; a serving IPS officer’s brother Rathesh Raj, who was very influential when the DMK was ruling the State; two former senior regional managers; Senthilbalaji’s former personal assistant; and others.

They all entered into a criminal conspiracy, abused their official positions, and caused substantial loss to the government exchequer by manipulating Tasmac's procurement and licensing processes, the DVAC alleged.

'Closed' bars functioned without renewing licences

According to the FIR, revenue to the government from sales through Tasmac retail shops increased significantly year after year. However, in contrast, revenue from bars attached to the shops declined sharply.

In Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal, and Karur districts, 284 of the 857 Tasmac bars were officially shown as closed. However, these bars continued to operate on the ground without renewal of their licences, it alleged.

As per government instructions, any bar that fail to submit the monthly demand draft should have been closed and a fresh tender should be floated. However, the FIR alleges that district managers and other Tasmac officials colluded with bar owners and failed to follow the prescribed procedures, resulting in a revenue loss of Rs 17.27 crore in Coimbatore North, Rs 13.58 crore in Coimbatore South, and Rs 1.95 crore in Nilgiris during 2022-23.

The Karur gang

According to the FIR, all the bars in Karur district were allegedly run by Mulanoor Karthik and his associates, who allegedly formed an organised crime syndicate. It further alleges that politically connected persons in Coimbatore, Karur, and other districts collected party funds from bar owners, and that the syndicate came to be known as the "Karur Gang".

What is Rathesh Raj's role?

The FIR describes Rathesh Raj as a central figure, who allegedly operated as a power broker in Tamil Nadu's liquor administration ecosystem. It alleges that S Visakan, the then managing director of Tasmac, acted on Rathesh Raj's directions, allegedly based on instructions from the then minister Senthilbalaji.

According to the FIR, Rathesh Raj exercised direct and undue influence over official decision-making in Tasmac. It alleges that he issued informal but authoritative directions relating to the approval of liquor brands, manipulation of bar licence tenders, and administrative transfers, including those involving DRO-level officers.

The FIR further alleges that senior Tasmac officials, including Visakan, favoured a few distillery companies by supplying liquor from these selected manufacturers even when retailers had not placed any demand for those brands, indicating favouritism and corrupt practices.

It also alleges that Tasmac outlets collected amounts in excess of the MRP, charging up to Rs 500 extra for foreign liquor and between Rs 10 and Rs 100 above the MRP for other liquor brands between 2021 and 2025 in an organised manner.

All of them are accused of colluding to orchestrate a multi-crore scam in issuing Tasmac bar licences, transport tenders, procurement, and bottling operations between 2021 and 2025 when the DMK was in power.

While granting approval to register the case, the Home, Prohibition and Excise Department handed over two petitions and a copy of the counter affidavit submitted by the Enforcement Directorate, which contains a dossier of evidence on the alleged malpractices in Tasmac.

The case was booked on Tuesday, and not wasting time, the DVAC conducted searches on Wednesday morning at 45 locations across Tamil Nadu, including 14 in Chennai, and in Senthilbalaji’s hometown Karur, Coimbatore, Namakkal, Tirupur, Nilgiris, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur.

The FIR registered by the DVAC details the alleged misdeeds at almost all spheres of Tasmac’s operations, including manipulation in awarding Tasmac bar licences and transport contracts, cartelisation in tender processes, misuse of earnest money deposits, and bogus or inflated transactions involving distilleries, transport firms, and bottling companies. It also alleged that some of the Tasmac officials colluded with private individuals.

It claimed that the transport tenders for Tasmac depots were manipulated through the misuse of demand drafts, while bar licences were allegedly controlled by organised syndicates instead of the successful bidders. Even old bottle suppliers generated cash through inflated invoices, which was used to pay kickbacks for securing supply orders, it alleged.

Among the key figures named in the FIR is Rathesh Raj, brother of a serving IPS officer, who allegedly enjoyed substantial influence in Tasmac functioning, including approving liquor brands, bar licence tenders, and even transfers of officials. It also alleged that selected distillery companies received preferential treatment in supply and that excess amounts were collected from customers over and above the maximum retail price (MRP) for certain liquor brands between 2021 and 2025.

The FIR alleges that the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy, abused their official positions, and caused substantial loss to the government exchequer by manipulating Tasmac's procurement and licensing processes.

P Muruganandam had been staging an indefinite fast at his residence, demanding action against stone quarries in his neighbourhood that he claimed were operating in violation of government norms. Following his protest, officials from the Department of Geology and Mining inspected six stone quarries in the area and submitted a report to the district administration. Based on the findings of the inspection, the District Collector ordered the temporary suspension of operations at all six quarries, citing violations.

The closure orders were subsequently served on the quarry operators through revenue department officials. On Wednesday night, officials visited Muruganandam’s residence and handed over a copy of the Collector’s order. After receiving the official communication, Muruganandam called off his nine-day hunger strike, expressing satisfaction over the action taken by the district administration. The district administration is expected to take further action based on the inspection findings.

The exchange between volunteers from Apna Farz Seva Society and the man took place on July 16, 2022, in Jasraur village in Punjab’s Amritsar, located 10 kms from India-Pakistan border. The man had just been rescued from a 15-year bonded labour captivity at a buffalo farm.

Standing before them was a frail man in worn clothes, with dirt looking like it caked onto his body. Nearby stood an iron cot with a damp blanket, where, according to the team, he had been sleeping alongside the cattle for years. An iron chain was used to restrain him at night. “For the first six months, he talked very little,” recalled Satpal Singh, Chief Sevadar of Apna Farz Seva Society. “We got him treated at the Government Medical College in Patiala for over six months. After that, his mind gradually cleared, and then he started talking.”

Over the next four years, those fragments slowly turned into names, memories and places, drawing a retired Haryana Assembly Secretary, a journalist, district officials & volunteers across two States and, ultimately, a mother from Coimbatore who had spent more than two decades searching for the son she lost in 2003. It all started near Saibaba Colony in Coimbatore, when Prakasam, the 16-year-old boy, left home after a quarrel with his younger brother. He never knew how costly that mistake was. Despite counselling and three years of care by the NGO, Prakasam was still not able to communicate. Even today, he cannot explain how he travelled over 2,500 km from Tamil Nadu to a village barely 10 km from the India-Pakistan border.

For nearly 15 years, the buffalo farm in Jasraur village was the only world Prakasam knew. His captivity was largely reconstructed through the rescuers’ accounts and a video in which he demonstrated the routine that almost broke him.

From the time he woke until nightfall, he cleaned cattle sheds, collected dung and attended to nearly two dozen cattle amid heaps of dung. Another worker on the farm received wages; Prakasam did not. When daylight faded, farm owner Sukhdev Singh chained him to an iron cot where he slept regardless of weather, his blanket soaked from rain and dirt, with neither proper bathing nor food. “The buffaloes appeared cleaner than the man who cared for them,” the rescuer said.

For years, Prakasam remained invisible in Jasraur, until a short video of a frail man being tied circulated locally in 2022, leading the Apna Farz Seva Society to him.

After the rescue, the organisation housed Prakasam while trying to establish his identity, an effort that stretched over nearly three years. “We tried various means to get in touch with his family. But he was mentally broken. He came here as a teenager. Imagine being chained for 15 years with no one to talk to,” a volunteer described. It was only after months of treatment, it said, that his memory gradually improved.

Subhash Sharma, a retired Haryana Assembly Secretary who volunteers to reunite destitute persons with their families, visits the Apna Farz Seva Society’s shelter in Patiala. He first met Prakasam in early 2023. “He had only four words with him. Tamil Nadu, Bombay & Alagamar & Suganti, whom he identified as his father and sister,” Subhash recalled, adding that even the names were inconsistent. He met Prakasam frequently. During one such visit in 2024, Sharma heard two new clues -- “Coimbatore”, “door number 25.”

Drawing on contacts he had built during his years in the Assembly, he reached out to Balakrishna, an acquaintance in the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, who, in turn, introduced him to his brother, journalist Muthaiah. Whenever Sharma visited the shelter, Muthaiah would join over an audio call and speak to Prakasam in Tamil. The hope was that he might respond more naturally in his mother tongue. The breakthrough finally came in May 2026. This time, Prakasam uttered “Aruppukottai.”

As Prakasam’s memories slowly became clearer, the names changed too. The father, once remembered only as “Alagmar”, became Ramamoorthy. His mother’s name emerged as Sundari. He also began recalling his brother’s name, Prabhu. Using the details, Muthaiah travelled to the locality, met one of his cousins and learnt the family was no longer living in their native village, but had shifted to Coimbatore. The trail, which had stretched across two States for nearly three years, had finally led to Neelambur in Coimbatore, where Sundari, along with Prabhu, were gazing at the cattle.

When Muthaiah reached the house and asked Sundari if she had once lost a son named Prakasam, “Yes,” she replied. “I searched for him everywhere,” Sundari recalled. “He once tried to communicate with us from Chennai and never called back again. I lost hope,” she added.

After 20 years, mother and son saw each other for the first time through a video call. Sundari recognised him instantly. So did Prakasam. “I couldn’t describe that moment,” Sundari said. “I told him, ‘I will come, Prakasa’.”

Before Prakasam could leave shelter, officials had to conclusively establish that he was Sundari’s son. After the Coimbatore district administration verified his identity, Collector Pavankumar G wrote to the Patiala Deputy Commissioner, requesting the district administration, police and social welfare authorities to facilitate his safe handover from the custody of Apna Farz Seva Society to his biological family.

The Collector also sought initiation of proceedings under the Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Scheme and requested that Prakasam be extended rehabilitation benefits, including a release certificate, rehabilitation assistance and social security support. A three-member team comprising Sundari, Muthaiah and neighbour-cum-translator Sundaralingam then travelled to Patiala. Sundari and Prakasam are returning to Tamil Nadu on Thursday, bringing a closure to a journey that began with a teen leaving home over two decades ago.

The years in captivity have left deep scars. Asked if he believed his mother would ever find him, Prakasam replied, “I believed she would come to call me.” Sundari is still trying to understand what her son had gone through. “He now tells me, ‘I will never leave home without telling you, Amma’,” Sundari said.

Though AIADMK announced that the meetings were aimed at reviewing the reasons for the electoral setback, party sources claimed the discussions largely revolved around identifying supporters and detractors within the organisation rather than analysing the defeat.

According to party sources, several functionaries cited the lack of unity within the AIADMK and the failure to bring back leaders who had left the party as key reasons for the defeat. However, they claimed Palaniswami did not permit an in-depth discussion on these issues.

Instead, the meetings focused largely on preparations for the upcoming local body elections and Assembly bypolls. Palaniswami urged office-bearers to work together to ensure the party performs strongly in the forthcoming elections, the sources said.

The sources added that when some functionaries complained that certain AIADMK leaders had not worked effectively during the Assembly polls, Palaniswami dismissed those allegations.

Party insiders further claimed that the meetings were primarily intended to gauge who remained loyal to Palaniswami and who did not. Based on the feedback, he is expected to reshuffle the organisational structure by removing those perceived to be opposed to him and appointing loyalists to key posts before convening the party's executive committee meeting in August, the sources said.

Among those who attended the meetings were MLAs who had publicly differed with Palaniswami after the elections, including Ko Hari (Tiruttani), K Mohan (Panruti) and Maragatham Vetrivel (Pappireddipatti). However, senior leaders SP Velumani, CVe Shanmugam and KP Anbalagan did not attend the meetings.

Sources told DT Next that the government would announce this reform in the forthcoming Assembly session.

The proposed reform will cover the issuance of key revenue certificates, including community, income, nativity, widow, legal heir, residence, deserted woman, and unmarried certificates, all of which are processes where there are constant complaints of inordinate delays the Kafkaesque lower-level bureaucracy and rampant corruption.

According to government officials, the move is aimed at streamlining the existing process and cutting down the time taken to issue certificates.

At present, applications submitted through e-Seva Centres are forwarded to the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) for field verification, followed by the first-level scrutiny by the revenue inspector and then the headquarters deputy tahsildar/deputy tahsildar, before it finally reaches the tahsildar, who is the signing authority.

Under the proposed system, the deputy tahsildar stage will be dispensed with. Applications will be verified by the VAO and revenue inspector before being sent directly to the tahsildar for approval.

Officials said the simplified procedure is expected to reduce delays, improve administrative efficiency, and enable citizens to obtain certificates within a shorter time.

Even as it welcomed the proposal, the Tamil Nadu Village Administrative Officers' Association has sought further simplification.

Association State president R Arulraj said the government could even consider a two-step process, where applications are verified either by the VAO or the revenue inspector and approved directly by the tahsildar, eliminating one more intermediate stage.

The government is expected to formally announce the revised procedure during the upcoming Assembly session as part of its efforts to strengthen citizen-centric governance and improve the delivery of revenue services.

REVENUE CERTIFICATES COVERED

• Community Certificate

• Income Certificate

• Nativity Certificate

• Residence Certificate

• Legal Heir Certificate

• Widow Certificate

• Deserted Woman Certificate

• Unmarried Certificate

Present procedure

VAO -> revenue inspector -> headquarters deputy tahsildar/deputy tahsildar -> tahsildar (final authority)

Proposed procedure

VAO -> revenue inspector -> tahsildar

The State Transport Corporations operate about 21,515 buses through 26 regions and 317 depots, meeting the daily travel needs of around 2.02 crore passengers.

Following the directions of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the government has proposed to allow cargo transportation in buses operated by the seven State transport corporations, excluding the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). The initiative aims to provide traders and the public with an additional option for sending parcels while creating a new source of non-fare revenue for the transport corporations.

During his visit to the Central Electric Bus Depot-1 in Chennai, the minister inspected the cargo compartment developed inside the buses and directed officials to make certain design modifications to improve its utility.

He also reviewed the functioning of the depot and inspected the construction of the new Central Electric Bus Depot-2, which is being built to support the induction of 750 new electric buses planned under the second phase of MTC's fleet expansion.

Transport Secretary L Nirmal Raj, MTC Managing Director T Mohan and other senior officials accompanied the minister during the inspection.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the dry field due to unavailability of water at Azhiyur in Nagapattinam, the farmer leader Pandian said, kuruvai was cultivated in an area of 6.31 lakh acres across the Delta last year, and it had shrunken to just 2 acres during the current year due to paucity of water. 

“The failure of water release from Mettur had not only parched 12 lakh acres of land across Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai but also resulted in acute drinking water shortage in more than 1000 villages across the region. And the government should sort out the issue on a war footing,” Pandian appealed.

He appealed to the State government to insist that the Centre adhere to the order of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee that recommended Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days. "This would solve the demand for water to some extent," he said.

Meanwhile, Pandian pointed out that the delay in the movement of procured kuruvai paddy for hulling had further damaged it, and so he appealed to the State government not to use the kuruvai paddy for public distribution, as the quality of rice would be below the average, he cautioned. 

He also appealed to the government not to force the rice mills to hull the procured kuruvai paddy along with the samba and kar (practised in districts like Tirunelveli, Salem, Coimbatore and Erode), he said.

Pandian said that despite the Congress and the BJP opposing each other in Karnataka, both parties stand united in the Mekedatu dam construction issue. 

Responding to Anbumani's remarks, Manickam Tagore released a reply video and questioned whether the PMK would withdraw its support for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha after the Union government's statement on the Mekedatu project, in a tit-for-tat for daring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to talk about Mekedatu during his upcoming Tamil Nadu visit. Tagore also asked why Anbumani appeared nervous, asking whether "he was facing a CBI case and that Anbumani believed the people of Tamil Nadu were unaware of it ?"

Tagore further said that the Congress is in power in several states and is the principal Opposition party in Parliament. He also criticised the PMK, saying it had won only four Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu with all the support of the AIADMK and the BJP.'

He also announced that the PMK would soon expand to Andhra Pradesh, stating that office bearers from all districts of the neighbouring state would participate in a consultation meeting this Saturday as part of preparations to launch the party there.

The PMK general council unanimously re-elected Anbumani Ramadoss as party president, Vadivel Ravanan as general secretary, and Thilagabama as treasurer, following the end of the internal conflict between Ramadoss and Anbumani.

Meanwhile, Anbumani accused both the Congress and the BJP of putting Karnataka's electoral interests ahead of Tamil Nadu's rights in the Mekedatu issue. Referring to Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary's recent reply in Parliament, he termed the Centre's stand a "betrayal" of Tamil Nadu.

Without naming TNCC president Manickam Tagore directly, Anbumani mocked his reaction to the PMK's criticism, saying the Congress leader had "rolled up his sleeves" in anger. "We have faced police firing, lathi charges and imprisonment. You may not even have been born then. We are carrying out constructive politics," he said, warning that the PMK would not be intimidated.

He further claimed that the PMK had won several Assembly seats by contesting independently, while alleging that the Congress could not even win a councillor's post on its own. He also said he would closely watch whether Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu on August 1, would speak in support of Tamil Nadu's stance on the Mekedatu project.

Calling for political unity on the Cauvery issue, Anbumani urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to convene an all-party meeting and lead a delegation of political leaders and MPs to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He alleged that while political parties in Karnataka remained united on water issues, Tamil Nadu's leaders were divided by "ego".

The PMK chief also urged the State government to waive all cooperative bank loans taken by farmers, estimating that Rs 15,000 crore would be sufficient. Warning of severe drought conditions due to the expected impact of a "Super El Niño", he appealed to the government to prioritise farmers in the upcoming State Budget.

Announcing the party's future programmes, he said PMK would launch a two-year statewide prohibition awareness movement on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, under the leadership of MLA Sowmiya Anbumani.

The members of these associations discussed and presented long-pending and new demands to the government. Some of the demands include: introducing computer science from classes 1 to 12, regularisation for teachers employed under the Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme, extension of noon meal till class 12, exempting exam fees, including supplementary fees for students of state-run schools, and providing transportation facilities for all students. Several members of the TN library association requested an increase in the salaries of staff and librarians.

"Most of the long-pending demands have been placed to both the DMK and AIADMK parties while in power so far. Hence, with the TVK party forming the government, we hope it fulfils the promises made during the election campaign and in its manifesto," said a member of the TN government teachers' association.

Additionally, another member of the TN secondary grade teachers' association said that new demands have also been placed for the welfare of teachers, students and non-teaching staff. "We hope the demands are actually addressed instead of giving false promises," said the member.

He said the State could have filled the seats by holding another round of counselling with relaxed eligibility criteria for in-service government doctors. Of the 214 seats reserved for government doctors out of 430, only 63 were filled, leaving 151 vacant. Calling the order a blow to Tamil Nadu's rights and medical education system, Shanmugam urged the government to engage senior lawyers, pass an Assembly resolution opposing the transfer of State quota super-speciality seats to the All India Quota, and continue its demand to move education back to the State List. He also sought better career prospects for super-speciality graduates and a reduction in the Rs 40 lakh bond amount for private doctors.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, TNPDCL Chairman and Managing Director V Arun Roy directed senior officials across all distribution regions to physically verify domestic service connections that showed significant variation in power consumption compared with the previous billing cycle in May.

The re-inspection will be carried out by officials ranging from Chief Engineers to Assistant Engineers. Each category of officer has been assigned a fixed number of service connections for verification, with Assistant Executive Engineers and Accounts Officers in the Revenue Intelligence Squad inspecting up to 150 services each.

The utility has set August 7 as the deadline for completing the inspections and has instructed officials to rectify any billing or assessment errors on the spot, if detected.

TNPDCL sources said the exercise was intended to allay consumer apprehensions over higher electricity bills rather than to launch an enforcement drive.

"We analysed domestic electricity bills for the May and July billing cycles and identified around 3.7 lakh consumers whose power consumption had increased sharply," a senior TNPDCL official said.

According to the official, nearly 15,000 consumers recorded consumption of more than 1,000 units during the latest billing cycle, while around one lakh consumers consumed between 500 and 1,000 units. The remaining consumers fell in the 101-500 units consumption slab.

Officials said the increase in consumption coincided with a prolonged spell of El Niño-induced hot and humid weather across the State. "The prolonged heat has resulted in households using air-conditioners, air coolers and other cooling appliances for longer durations than usual. Naturally, electricity consumption has gone up, leading to higher bills for many consumers," the official said.

In a statement, Stalin alleged that the government failed to effectively defend Tamil Nadu's case before the Supreme Court, resulting in the transfer of the seats to the national pool. He questioned why the State delayed appointing senior legal counsel to argue its case and claimed that the government's legal defence was weak during the crucial initial stages of the proceedings.

He also raised concerns over the counselling process, asking whether the government had prematurely declared 151 super-speciality seats as vacant even before the commencement of the second round of All India counselling. According to him, this decision enabled the seats to be shifted to the All India Quota.

The former Chief Minister further criticised the government for not passing a resolution in the State Assembly opposing the transfer of the seats, despite repeated demands from political parties and the medical fraternity to safeguard Tamil Nadu's allocation.

Stalin said the loss of the seats would have serious long-term implications for the State's public healthcare system, as super-speciality medical seats are essential for producing specialist doctors who serve in government hospitals. A reduction in the State quota, he warned, could affect the availability of specialists in the coming years.

Demanding an explanation from the government, Stalin urged it to disclose the circumstances that led to the loss of the 151 seats and take immediate legal and administrative steps to restore Tamil Nadu's entitlement. He said the government must exhaust all available legal remedies to reclaim the seats and protect the interests of aspiring doctors and the State's healthcare infrastructure.

At a function held at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister presented appointment orders to 28 Deputy Collectors, seven Deputy Superintendents of Police, 19 Assistant Commissioners (Commercial Taxes), 15 Assistant Directors of Rural Development, three District Employment Officers, and six Assistant Commissioners of Labour.

In addition, 48 candidates selected through the TNPSC's Combined Technical Services Examination also received their appointment orders from the Chief Minister.

Minister for Human Resources Management D Sarathkumar and Minister for Environment and Forests VK Rajeev participated in the event.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, Vasan said the statement, made by the minister in the Rajya Sabha, had shocked farmers in Tamil Nadu. He claimed that the State government, political parties and the public were united in opposing Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu project.

"It is inappropriate for a Union minister to take a biased stance and attempt to create tension between two states," he said.

Pointing out that the Supreme Court, the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee had upheld Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water and directed Karnataka to release its due share, Vasan said the minister's remarks ran contrary to the recommendations of the water management authorities.

Appealing to the Union government and the authorities to safeguard Tamil Nadu's rights, Vasan urged them not to take any decision on the Mekedatu dam project that would affect the State's interests.

On the political front, Vasan said the TMC was strengthening its organisational base in preparation for the local body elections. Reiterating the party's recent break with the BJP-led NDA, he asserted that the TMC would not enter into an alliance with the NDA.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the directions while disposing of a PIL filed by a young woman who was allegedly raped by two police constables in Tiruvannamalai district, seeking a speedy trial.

The Bench directed the Fast Track Mahila Court, Tiruvannamalai, to continue the trial on a day-to-day basis, without unnecessary adjournments, and make every effort to conclude the trial as expeditiously as possible.

The Court directed all Principal District and Sessions Courts, Additional Sessions Courts, Mahila Courts, and other Special Courts in Tamil Nadu trying rape and sexual offence cases to comply with the mandatory two-month timeline under Section 346(1) of the BNSS and grant adjournments only for truly exceptional reasons recorded in writing, in accordance with Section 346(2) of the BNSS.

The Bench further directed the Director General of Police to annually review the adequacy of the existing supervisory mechanisms for night patrol duties and strengthen them wherever gaps are found, particularly in remote and poorly lit highway stretches. It also observed that the authorities must ensure that incidents where the protectors turn predators never recur.

It further directed all Pocso Special Courts to comply with Section 35 of the Act by recording the evidence of child survivors within 30 days of taking cognisance and, as far as possible, completing trials within one year.

It also directed the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy to periodically train Presiding Officers on these requirements, the prompt cognisance of electronically filed charge sheets, and compliance with the mandate under Section 35(2) of the Pocso Act.

The Court also directed that the four presently vacant Pocso Courts at Cuddalore, Dindigul, Madurai, and Thoothukudi be filled at the earliest and that the Government take an early decision on constituting the six Special Courts already sanctioned but not yet established, and report the progress made to the Court through the Registrar General within two months.

Justice B Pugalendhi made the observations while closing two criminal appeals arising out of the rejection of two bail petitions in a case relating to the alleged assault on a Scheduled Caste activist over his efforts to retrieve Panchami land, following an order passed by the High Court on December 12, 2025, in respect of Keeranur village in Madurai district.

Within a week of the High Court's order on the activist's plea to restore Panchami land, the appellants, along with a few others, allegedly brutally attacked the activist and caused him grievous injuries on December 18, 2025. Having regard to the gravity of the allegations, the High Court, at that stage, did not consider it appropriate to decide the question of bail, and the matter was kept pending for consideration.

The subsequent bail applications were filed before the Sessions Court when the criminal appeals challenging the earlier rejection of bail were already pending before the High Court. However, neither the counsel for the accused nor the Public Prosecutor brought the pendency of the appeals to the notice of the Sessions Court. Consequently, the Sessions Court granted bail to the accused.

"The present case highlights the importance of ensuring that the State is effectively represented by competent prosecuting officers," the Court said.

Referring to the appointment of Public Prosecutors in district courts, the judge noted that the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) prescribes only a minimum of seven years' practice for Public Prosecutors and ten years' practice for Special Public Prosecutors, but does not lay down objective criteria such as legal acumen, drafting skills, integrity, behaviour and professional reputation.

The Court described Public Prosecutors as the "gatekeepers of the criminal justice system" and said they play a crucial role in protecting the rights of victims.

Justice Pugalendhi also referred to the First Bench decision in V Vasanthakumar vs State of Tamil Nadu, which had directed the State to evolve objective criteria for appointing Law Officers. The Court observed that appointments should strictly adhere to those standards and be based on demonstrable professional ability, competence and integrity rather than extraneous considerations.

The Court further observed that a Public Prosecutor is not expected merely to file lengthy written objections but must effectively assist the Court by identifying and presenting the material facts relevant to the issue under consideration. Effective advocacy, it said, lies in clarity, brevity and highlighting the decisive facts rather than the volume of pleadings.

The judgment also reiterated that once the High Court is seized of a bail matter, subordinate courts should ordinarily avoid entertaining subsequent bail applications unless there is a substantial change in circumstances, emphasising the need to maintain judicial discipline and prevent conflicting orders.