During the inspection of luggage of passengers bound for Kuala Lumpur by an AirAsia flight on Tuesday, A Thaslima Banu (40), a resident of Ramanathapuram, was intercepted.

She had foreign currency worth Rs 90 lakh, including Indian currency worth Rs 65 lakh. When the officials demanded proof of the currency, Thaslima Banu could not provide it.

The officials seized the money and took her for a separate inquiry.

The Tiruchy City Prohibition and Enforcement Wing police were conducting a vehicle check at Udayanpatti railway gate near KK Nagar in Tiruchy recently and stopped an auto.

They found Appuchi alias Abuthahir (38), a history sheeter, with packs of ganja. When the police attempted to secure him, he escaped. In such a scenario, the police received information that Abuthahir was found dead with several injuries near the Tiruchy-Madurai railway track. Police retrieved the body.

S Velmurugan (45), a resident of Mela Kaviri near Kumbakonam, was staying near the Big Temple and receiving alms. He used to stay along with the vagabonds at the temple premises and was maintaining a puppy. On Monday night, when Velmurugan was sleeping, his puppy raised noises. Irate over this, a fellow beggar, S Ramaiah (40), had reportedly attacked the puppy with a stone, which triggered an altercation between the duo.

Suddenly, Ramaiyya took a knife and stabbed Velmurugan in the abdomen, where he sustained severe injuries. Shocked by the incident, the onlookers passed on the information to the Thanjavur West Police.

The police rushed to the spot and rescued Velmurugan. He was taken to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. However, Velmurugan succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. A case has been registered, and the police arrested Ramaiah. Further investigations are ongoing.

The deceased, Raja of Netaji Nagar in Tondiarpet, was the deputy ward secretary of DMK’s 38th ward.

On July 13, Raja was standing near his house when the three men attacked him with sickles and fled. He was rescued by passersby and admitted to Stanley Hospital in a critical condition.

Based on a complaint, Police arrested three persons- Ganesan (44), Ranjith (33) and Abinesh (18), all from the same locality, in connection with the attack. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the accused had a previous enmity with Raja and had allegedly plotted the attack following a dispute. The three were subsequently produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

The accused, Radhika of Ambedkar Nagar, was employed as a cleaner at the hostel, where students from various parts of Salem stay.

Police said she was acquainted with Raghupathi (30), of Aathumedu. Radhika facilitated a meeting between Raghupathi and two girls. On the birthday of one of the girls, Raghupathi arrived with a cake and took the girls to a secluded location with Radhika’s assistance.

Raghupathi sexually harassed them, who then informed their parents. Based on a complaint, the Vazhapadi All-Women Police registered a case under the Pocso Act against Raghupathi and Radhika. Radhika was arrested, while a search is under way to trace him.

Participating in the debate on the demands for grants for Public Works, Highways, Sports Development and Human Resources Management in the Assembly, she said 10 children had reportedly faced sexual assault in the past five days and called for swift investigation and severe punishment. "Those who commit sexual offences against women and children should be given stringent punishment. After a proper investigation, punishments similar to those followed in Arab countries should be considered. Encounter is the only solution to such crimes," she said.

Premallatha said the growing drug culture was also contributing to crimes and referred to the Amuthan and Dhanush murder cases while stressing the need for a stronger crackdown on narcotics. She said youngsters should be encouraged to take up sports, which would keep them away from drugs and help them become responsible citizens.

Referring to the Karur incident in which a woman allegedly attacked a man accused of sexually assaulting a girl, she described the woman as a "real Velu Nachiyar" and said women fighting back against offenders would send a strong message.

She also urged the government to renovate damaged government buildings, including schools, colleges, and offices; preserve heritage structures; maintain bridges; and improve road conditions across the State.

Raising environmental concerns, she flagged fish deaths allegedly caused by sewage discharge at Ennore port, industrial pollution affecting marine life and the impact of hydrocarbon projects on agricultural land.

She also sought firm action over the killing of three Tamils in Karnataka and urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to raise the issue with his Karnataka counterpart at the southern States' meeting.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar and Leader of the House K A Sengottaiyan said the Chief Minister had taken firm steps to curb drug abuse and crimes against women and children.

He accused the incumbent BJP and the Congress, which had ruled earlier, of using it as a political weapon rather than acting in the interest of students, asserting that Parliament had the power to change laws even after a Supreme Court verdict.

Participating in the debate on demands for grants for Public Works, Highways, Sports Development, and Human Resources Management in the Assembly, Shanmugam said both national parties were blaming each other for the introduction and continuation of NEET.

"Congress says why NEET was introduced, while the BJP says it is being continued based on the Supreme Court's verdict. They may be different parties, but the same gene runs through both," he said.

Shanmugam's choice to attack the BJP, an NDA ally in the State led by the AIADMK, has raised questions about what the dissenter was up to.

Arguing that Parliament could legislate to alter the legal position arising from a Supreme Court judgment, Shanmugam cited the legislation enacted by the Rajiv Gandhi government following the Supreme Court's Shah Bano judgment as an example.

He also referred to a recent amendment concerning major minerals, claiming that the Centre had amended the law following a Supreme Court verdict on states' powers to levy royalties.

"If there is political will, both Congress and the BJP could bring a law in Parliament to remove NEET and save students' lives. Instead, NEET is being used for politics, while innocent students are losing their lives," he alleged.

The Centre submitted that, as per the Union Home Ministry’s fresh Circular dated July 9, Vande Mataram and the National Anthem should be sung consecutively, with Vande Mataram being sung first. It clarified that the circular made no reference to the State song or stated that it should be sung at the end.

The judges pointed out that the new Circular did not prevent Tamil Thai Vazhthu from being sung first, noting that it only required Vande Mataram to be sung before the National Anthem. They clarified that this was why Tamil Thai Vazhthu was sung first at the Madras High Court on Independence Day, followed by Vande Mataram and the National Anthem. The judges thereafter reserved their judgment.

The petition, filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan, contended that placing Tamil Thai Vazhthu in the third position during the ceremony caused deep anguish among the people and amounted to an unwarranted dilution of the ceremonial dignity traditionally accorded to the State Song. According to the petitioner, the Home Ministry’s January 28 circular, titled ‘Orders Relating to the National Song of India’, does not impose any constitutional, statutory or executive prohibition against commencing official State functions with an officially recognised State Song.

The plea stated that the circular merely regulates the order between the National Song and the National Anthem when both are rendered together and is silent on State Songs, including Tamil Thai Vazhthu.

The plea sought to quash the January 28 circular and direct the authorities to issue appropriate protocol guidelines ensuring that Tamil Thai Vazhthu is rendered at the commencement of official State functions and constitutional ceremonies, and is not relegated to a position subsequent to Vande Mataram or the National Anthem in the absence of any express constitutional, statutory or binding executive mandate.

Madurai city police, in a two-page post on its Facebook account on Tuesday, stated that Paramasivam of Mela Anuppanadi was not assaulted by the police and had instead sustained a head injury after falling from the staircase at his residence.

According to the city police, Paramasivam and his neighbour KP Balakrishnan quarrelled over parking a vehicle on the night of July 17. Members of both families, including Paramasivam and his wife Ayyammal, were admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) for treatment. A case was registered against members of both families in connection with the quarrel and they were subsequently released on station bail, the police said.

The police said they later learnt that Paramasivam had sustained injuries after falling from the staircase at his residence. He was admitted to GRH as an inpatient on August 5 at around 12.05 pm. When police personnel approached the now-dead 'victim,' he reportedly told them that he had fallen from the staircase himself and that there was no need for a police inquiry, according to the police version. Based on this, the station house officer made a general diary entry.

Doctors at GRH advised him to undergo surgery for his head injury, but he refused and was discharged from the hospital on August 6, the police said. He was subsequently admitted to Government Vellore Medical College Hospital in a semi-conscious state on August 11, where he underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, Ayyammal filed a complaint with the Madurai City Police Commissioner, S Rajendran, on August 15, alleging that her husband's health had deteriorated after he was assaulted by police personnel from Chinthamani police station.

The Police Commissioner recommended an inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer.

Paramasivam subsequently died at a private hospital on 16th August, and his body was brought to GRH for post-mortem examination. Arrangements were also made for an inquiry by RDO Sangeetha.

However, the police said Ayyammal did not cooperate with the inquiry on August 17 and approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

The court subsequently directed a judicial magistrate to conduct an inquiry. The police said Judicial Magistrate-I, Madurai, was conducting the inquiry and that further action would be taken based on the report.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the MLAs had been pardoned for violating the party whip and continued to remain members of the party.

“They have not resigned. The petitioner is a third party. The members were pardoned within 15 days as per law and the disqualification proceedings were withdrawn. The Speaker has accepted it. What is wrong in this?” the judges asked, and also observed that there was no anti-defection proceeding pending against them, and subsequently dismissed the petition.

On May 13, 2026, Edappadi K Palaniswamy had submitted a petition to the Speaker seeking the disqualification of 25 MLAs who had violated the party whip by participating in and voting against the Vote of Confidence motion under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India. Four of the MLAs submitted their resignations as members to the Speaker on May 25.

Following this, EPS submitted a letter to the Speaker seeking to drop the disqualification proceedings against the remaining MLAs. The Speaker accepted the letter and dropped the proceedings.

Challenging the decision, PV Selvakumar, a voter from Tiruttani, filed a petition before the Madras High Court.

The complainant Shantha Prabhakaran (74), of Palakkad, was travelling to Madhya Pradesh from Kerala aboard the Ernakulam–Patna Express in June 2024 when her handbag containing 11¾ sovereigns of gold jewellery and Rs 15,000 went missing.

She lodged a complaint with the Satna Railway Police in Madhya Pradesh. The investigation revealed that the theft had taken place within the jurisdiction of the Erode Railway Police.

The case was transferred on June 4 this year. A special team perused CCTV footage, which led them to Harvinder Singh (42), of Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh.

The police arrested him in Uttar Pradesh. Singh had converted 40 grams of the stolen jewellery into a gold bar, which was recovered from him. He had spent the remaining jewellery and cash. A probe is on.

This election petition was filed by C Geetha, a voter in the Uthangarai Constituency, seeking a declaration that the election of N Elaiyaraja, the returned candidate from the 51-Uthangarai (SC) Assembly Constituency in the Assembly elections, be declared void under Section 100 (1) (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Meanwhile, N Elaiyaraja filed a petition seeking dismissal of the petition filed against him.

After hearing both sides, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy allowed the application filed by the winning MLA seeking rejection of the election petition and accordingly dismissed the election petition. The judge also made it clear that he intended to dispose of all election petitions pending before him within the six-month period prescribed under the Representation of the People Act, and would not keep them pending for a long period.

Candidates can access the answer scripts on dge.tn.gov.in. They can also download the relevant scripts after registering with their exam roll number and date of birth.

Those seeking retotalling or revaluation must submit applications on August 20 and 21 between 11 am and 5 pm at designated District Government Exam Offices in Chennai, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Tirupur, Kallakurichi, Chengalpattu and Mayiladuthurai.

Fee for retotalling is Rs 505/subject, and revaluation per subject costs Rs 205. Candidates have been advised to carefully verify their answer scripts before applying.

Police said the accused, Aslam, who is the Pappireddipatti Union Youth Wing organiser of the DMK, later transported her body in an ambulance before dumping it in a disused stone quarry in Tirupathur district.

The murder came to light on Monday when residents spotted the body of a woman floating in a quarry pit near Bharat Nagar in Vaniyambadi and alerted the police.

Police identified the deceased as Sasikala (50), wife of Ashokan, a retired sugar mill employee from Pappireddipatti. The body was found with marks suggesting strangulation and was sent to the Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Ashokan had lodged a complaint stating that his wife had gone missing along with gold jewellery and Rs 25,000 in cash.

Police questioned Aslam, who initially gave contradictory answers but later confessed to the murder.

He lured Sasikala into accompanying him by telling her that a relative had met with an accident. “She was seated in the front seat, while Aslam was in the rear, and one of his friends was driving the car. Aslam strangled her with a rope from behind. The body was packed in a sack, transported by an ambulance to Vaniyambadi and dumped in stagnant water at a stone quarry," police said.

Police suspect that Aslam committed the murder to steal Sasikala’s jewellery. Further investigation is on.

"I didn't know whose attention you wanted to attract by speaking about matters outside the subject. You should consider the problems created when speaking about other things," Speaker Prabhakar said. The Speaker also instructed DMK members to remain calm in their seats when the Opposition Whip was standing.

During the Special Calling Attention Motion on the killing of three Tamil-origin persons by foresters in Karnataka, minister Nirmalkumar made some allegations against the former Chief Minister and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. DMK members opposed them and raised their concerns with the Speaker, creating a din in the House.

Following the incident, the Speaker instructed ministers to stick to the subject while they were replying to the Calling Attention Motion. Referring to the issue, the Speaker said ministers should reply only on the subject taken up for consideration and should not deviate. He also directed the Opposition members not to stand when their party whip was given a chance to speak.

They have warned that they would launch a continuous hunger strike at Thangachimadam from September 1 onwards if their demands weren't met.

Sagayam of the Rameswaram Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association said the fishermen have sought the immediate release of fishermen lodged in Sri Lankan prisons and the return of fishing boats seized by Sri Lankan authorities. They have also demanded adequate compensation for the seized boats and the facilitation of dialogue between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen.

The fishermen said disruption to fishing would affect not only them but also thousands of workers employed on mechanised boats. “Our families depend on this income to meet our daily needs and support our children’s education,” said the fishermen.

The damning audit has exposed financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 107.94 crore across 186 blocks. Aside from straight money transfers, auditors uncovered outright bill manipulation and payments made without basic supporting documents.

"These amounts are meant to improve the livelihood of rural women," said Radhakrishnan, a Theni-based RTI activist who obtained the audit documents through the Right to Information Act.

In Sembanar Koil block of Mayiladuthurai district, Rs 42 lakh intended for 42 Panchayat Level Federations under the Vulnerability Reduction Fund was transferred to BMM Vimala and five other individuals. Though the full sum was later recovered, the breach exposed systemic vulnerabilities.

In the Kuttalam block of the same district, audit spotted a Rs 1.64 lakh bill altered for notebook purchases alongside a blank bill attached to claim Rs 60,000 for self-help group training. Offending officials in Mayiladuthurai were subsequently terminated and faced police action to retrieve unrecovered balances.

The malaise extended to other districts as well. In Villupuram’s Vallam block, Rs 35 lakh meant as incentives was redirected under the names of T Elumalai and Raghul Agency to open a petrol pump before authorities clawed it back. In KV Kuppam block, Vellore district, Rs 2.92 lakh allocated as honorariums for 39 federations was diverted into the personal accounts of five individuals.

So far, authorities have managed to recover Rs 1.43 crore directly from BMMs who routed funds into personal and family accounts. An additional Rs 3.61 crore that sat idle in dormant accounts for years was retrieved and deposited back into the state treasury in May 2026.

The probe was triggered after the TNCDW financial adviser, internal auditors, and anonymous whistleblowers flagged widespread rot in several blocks. To stem the damage, the Managing Director ordered a sweeping check across all 388 blocks in the state. The 15th Audit Committee recommended the exercise on March 5, 2026, with the board clearing it the very next day.

Commencing on March 9, 2026, the investigation initially targeted transactions between April 2023 and March 2026 across 14 central and northern districts. Given the extent of the fraud, the scope was extended to cover transactions dating back to the inception of the scheme.

To prevent further siphoning, the audit team has recommended strict financial monitoring, establishing clear standard operating procedures for block-level federations, and switching exclusively to direct benefit transfer for all scheme payments.

Ranjith's statement comes after many students faced difficulties while applying for visas after receiving financial assistance letters as several UK universities reportedly did not officially accept the Tamil Nadu government's financial assistance letter for the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) process.

In a statement posted on X, Ranjith also said that one student reportedly had their visa rejected. Delays in obtaining the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate, which can take seven to eight weeks, were also cited as a concern.

Ranjith said 385 students had received assistance under the scheme over the past five years, while 375 students were selected for the 2026-27 academic year. Of them, 316 had secured admission to universities in the UK

What are Ranjith's recommendations given to fix certificate issue?

Ranjith listed the following suggestions to ensure students selected for assistance under 'Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship' scheme could pursue their studies abroad without further delays.

1. Application process for should begin in January and be completed by February. Ranjith noted that this year's process began late and was completed only by the end of July.

2. Formal agreements or clear recognition from foreign universities so that Tamil Nadu government's financial assistance letters are officially accepted.

3. Ranjith sought advance clarity on scholarship sanction and payment schedules to ensure students do not have to spend their own money upfront on visa procedures, university deposits and travel expenses.

4. The government should ensure that students shouldn't lose educational opportunities because of government delays. If so happens, then they should not have to apply again from the beginning.

5. The 'Annal Ambedkar Overseas Higher Education Scholarship' scheme should cover not only tuition fees but also essential expenses such as living costs, medical insurance and travel expenses. Ranjith urged the government to consider a comprehensive financial assistance package in the next Budget.

6. Ranjith also sought immediate release of pending financial assistance to students who had been selected for the scheme in previous years but had not received the funds.

The 13-classroom building was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.06 crore with financial assistance from NABARD to meet the growing requirements of students at the school in Narikudi union.

Though all construction work was completed around six months ago, the building is yet to be opened for use.

Students continue in old building

The delay has raised concerns among parents and residents as students and teachers continue to use the school's 35-year-old building. The old structure is reportedly in a poor condition, with portions of its roof and walls considered unsafe.

Parents said students attend classes under constant apprehension as the condition of the old building poses a potential safety risk.

They questioned why the newly completed classrooms have not been handed over for use despite the urgent need for additional and safer learning spaces.

Parents seek immediate action

Parents and social activists have urged the district administration and the School Education Department to intervene and open the new building without further delay.

"It is unclear why the opening of the completed building is being delayed. The authorities should act immediately before an untoward incident occurs and ensure that students are shifted to the new classrooms," they said.

They also appealed to officials to inspect the old building and take necessary safety measures until the new block is made operational.

The announcement was made during a Special Calling Attention Motion on the incident, which was raised by Opposition members.

Several members, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, A Ganeshkumar (PMK), Tharahai Cuthbert (Congress), and T Ramachandran (CPI), demanded a CBI inquiry into the deaths. DMK member Paul Manoj Pandian and CPM member T Latha were among those who participated in the discussion.

Replying to the debate, Energy and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had urged the Karnataka government to conduct a high-level inquiry into the incident and provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.

"The TVK-led government has been consistently monitoring the issue. Wherever Tamil people are affected, the first voice to be raised will be that of our Chief Minister," Nirmalkumar said.

Following his reply, Forest Minister Ranjithkumar said the Forest Department would provide Rs 10 lakh to each of the three families after completing the necessary consultations and inquiry.

In a statement, the Thanjavur police said the youth was arrested to prevent a confrontation from escalating into a law-and-order issue.

The incident occured when 40 VCK members were staging a road blockade in front of the Thanjavur railway station, which led to traffic disruptions. At the time, the 26-year-old man, identified as Aakash, was passing through the area on a two-wheeler and allegedly kept honking. This led to an argument between him and the political party members.

The police said that Special Sub-Inspector Raheem, who was deployed for security duty, intervened to prevent the argument from turning into a physical confrontation. He reportedly pacified Aakash and asked him to leave the area but the youth continued arguing and allegedly used abusive language towards the officers. As the situation continued to escalate, Raheem used minimal force to bring the situation under control.

The police said Aakash then slapped Raheem on the cheek. Other officers immediately intervened and brought the situation under control.

Police claim Aakash repeat offender

The police maintained that the force used against Aakash was intended solely to prevent the dispute from escalating into a larger law-and-order problem. They also said allegations that the police had assaulted Aakash without provocation were false.

According to the police, Aakash was previously booked in a case at the Thanjavur Taluk Police Station in connection with an alleged assault on a woman last year. The police further said that a few months ago, his supervisor had filed a complaint alleging that Aakash used inappropriate and defamatory language at his workplace, although the matter was later settled between the two parties.

Allaying the apprehensions of the members over the proposed hydrocarbon project in the state, the Minister said any project that detrimentally impacts the livelihoods of fishermen or harms the environment would not be allowed in the state.

Responding to a "call attention" motion brought by the legislature party members in the House on the proposed hydrocarbon project, the minister clarified that permission for previous hydrocarbon wells in the region were granted during both DMK (three wells) and AIADMK (one well) administrations.

The Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited has proposed drilling four additional developmental wells in the existing offshore area. The project has received 'Terms of Reference' from the central government and is currently under review by the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority following an application submitted earlier this year, he said.

Earlier, the members raised concern about the proposed project by HOEC to drill four new hydrocarbon wells in the sea near Parangipettai, and said the move would adversely impact the environment in the Chidambaram constituency.

They said the drilling posed a severe threat to marine life, local fishing livelihoods, and agricultural lands due to the risk of saltwater intrusion. Also, they highlighted the proximity to the ecologically sensitive Pichavaram mangroves. PTI JSP SNR JSP ROH

He was responding to DMK leader EV Velu's questions over the relocation of the The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), and allegations of irregularities in the tender process for the work.

The CMO, which has functioned from the Secretariat building at Fort St George for more than five decades, is being shifted to Namakkal Kavignar Maligai to improve administrative convenience.

CMO relocation work under way, says Aadhav Arjuna

Aadhav Arjuna told the Assembly that work is currently under way on the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavingar Maligai to establish the new office, including a chamber for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and rooms for his personal secretaries. The Tamil Nadu Public Works Department has invited tenders worth Rs 5.54 crore for the work, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Responding to Velu's allegations on the tender process, Aadhav Arjuna said the tender process had not yet been completed and questioned the basis for raising corruption allegations at this stage. He said tender estimates are generally prepared based on the construction cost, with a margin of around 3 to 7 per cent added, however, the department had proceeded using estimates from the previous year.

The Minister also announced that the government would soon release a white paper detailing tender-related developments in the Public Works and Highways departments over the past five years. He said 20 tenders had been cancelled and re-issued in the last 60 days, with the new bids coming in at rates 25 to 30 per cent lower.

Aadhav Arjuna explains need for CMO relocation

Aadhav Arjuna said the relocation was being undertaken primarily to provide adequate space and facilities for the Chief Minister and his staff. He pointed out that the Chief Minister regularly meets government officials and foreign representatives and requires adequate space for such meetings. He said the Chief Minister’s personal secretaries are currently working in a room measuring less than 100 sq ft and that proper restroom facilities are also unavailable.

The Minister said both former Chief Ministers M Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa had envisioned the construction of a new Secretariat and claimed there was broad agreement on the need for better administrative infrastructure. Aadhav Arjuna also hit out at what he described as misinformation surrounding the relocation.

Referring to Vijay’s lifestyle during election campaigns, he said the Chief Minister had eaten at ordinary eateries and rested for only short periods inside campaign vehicles. He maintained that the shift was being carried out for practical administrative reasons and to provide better working facilities for the Chief Minister and his staff.

The Tamils - Anthony Samy, John Rose Peter, and Kumar, who lived in the villages in Hanur Taluk of Chamarajanagar district in Karnataka, were shot dead by the forest department in the early hours of August 15, in the Cauvery Wildlife sanctuary area.

Following the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay strongly condemned the alleged brutal killing and said the explanation given by the Karnataka forest department regarding the incident is "unacceptable".

A fair investigation should be conducted by a high-level committee on the heinous incident, the Chief Minister had said in a social media post late on Sunday.

Raising the issue, former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed that the victims' families had stated that the Karnataka forest department allegedly shot and killed three men while a fourth individual is currently receiving medical treatment for injuries at a government hospital in Mysore.

While officials claimed the victims were involved in deer poaching, the families allege that this is a conspiracy and that the victims were innocent civilians, Palaniswami said and urged the government to pursue a CBI investigation into the matter to uncover the truth, noting that the location of the incident sits on the border of two states.

He criticised the compensation amount of Rs 5 lakh offered by the Karnataka government to the victims' families as insufficient and stressed that Tamil Nadu government should provide additional support to the families and to engage with the Karnataka government to prevent such incidents from recurring.

DMK MLA Manoj Pandian labelled the incident as a "fake encounter" and a "grave human rights violation," asserting that the farmers were unarmed and merely searching for their cattle when they were killed. He demanded a formal judicial inquiry into the incident and insisted that murder charges should be filed against the forest officials involved.

Pandian questioned whether the forest department followed Supreme Court guidelines, noting that they failed to report the death to the National Human Rights Commission and argued that the Tamil Nadu government should exert pressure on the Karnataka government to provide compensation and employment to the affected families and to ensure such incidents do not recur.

Congress member Tharahai Cuthbert strongly condemned the "encounter" and rejected the compensation offered by the Karnataka government as inadequate. She demanded a formal CBI investigation into the incident and support for victims.

In his reply, Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had already ordered a magisterial enquiry into the death of the killing and announced an interim relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the affected families.

The bodies were handed over to their families following postmortem on August 17 for conducting the last rites.

"Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had strongly condemned the incident and sought an impartial probe by a high level committee. The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt condolences, and had said Karnataka's explanation was not acceptable," the Minister said.

The Speaker’s counter affidavit was filed before the first bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan. He stated that as a co-constitutional authority, he has the highest regard and respect for the judicial process and that it was never his intention to abstain from participating in the matter.

He stated that he had inquired with the resigned MLAs and the MLAs clarified that they had resigned of their own free will and volition, with no undue influence or coercion.

He further stated that there was no information indicating that the resignations were not voluntary at the time of the inquiry. He was also satisfied that the resignations were genuine after the MLAs confirmed that the resignation letters were in their own handwriting. Prabhakar said he accepted them, guided by the proviso to Article 190 (3) (b) of the Constitution and Rule 22 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules.

He submitted that the inquiry was within the permissible scope under the Constitution and the TNLA Rules and, therefore, the acceptance of the resignation was valid and suffered from no legal or constitutional infirmity.

Former AIADMK Minister and party whip of the AIADMK party, Agri SS Krishnamurthy and others had approached the court challenging the acceptance of the resignation of 6 MLAs - S Jayakumar, Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, Dr Esakki Subbaya, C Vijayabaskar and MR Vijayabhaskar, who won from the AIADMK party but later resigned from the party and joined TVK. The matter was posted to September 1 for further hearing.

Nilgiris District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru on Monday (August 17) inaugurated the pilot project near the Uzhavar Sandhai in Ooty. The machine has a 200-litre capacity and is equipped to store milk at 4°C, ensuring it remains refrigerated until dispensed.

“The AVM accepts cash, ATM cards and UPI payments. When a customer pays in cash, the machine automatically calculates the corresponding quantity of milk and dispenses it, making the transaction entirely automated. The system is also integrated with software that enables real-time monitoring of the quantity of milk available and the number of days it has been stored,” the District Collector said in a statement.

At present, one variety of milk is being sold through the machine at Rs 54 a litre. Additional varieties may be introduced depending on consumer demand.

Customers can bring their own cans, containers, cups or tumblers and purchase the quantity they require directly from the machine.

Officials said the number of AVMs could be increased at other locations depending on the response from consumers.

The initiative marks a revival of the concept of milk vending machines, popularly known as ‘button paal’, which had earlier been used in the State. Those machines were discontinued in 2014 following complaints of adulteration in milk sold through them.

The 71-foot Vaigai dam had reached an unusually low level amid inadequate monsoon rainfall, which the report attributed to the impact of El Niño. The low storage levels led to the suspension of all drinking water schemes implemented through the dam.

The shortage also meant that water could not be released from the Vaigai dam in June for firstcrop irrigation in Madurai and Dindigul districts, as is usually done every year.

The situation began to change after sudden rains in Kerala increased inflow into the Mullaiperiyar dam and raised its water level. Water was subsequently released from Mullaiperiyar for irrigation in Theni district.

As the released water began reaching the Vaigai dam, its water level started rising steadily. The dam continues to receive inflow, and its level is gradually rising.

For farmers dependent on the Vaigai for irrigation, the rise has also raised expectations of further improvement if the catchment area receives more rain.

Tangappandi, a resident of Ayyappanayakkanpatti under Kuruvithurai post, submitted the petition at the grievance redressal meeting held at the collectorate.

According to his petition, his relative, Mariappapandi and the deputy tahsildar, who works at the Collectorate, told him they could secure a government job for his younger daughter, Mohanapriya.

Believing them, he said he paid a total of Rs 3.80 lakh in several instalments through Google Pay and in cash.

He further alleged that he and his daughter were asked to attend an interview at the Virudhunagar Collectorate, where two persons collected copies of her mark sheets and transfer certificate.

Later, Mariappapandi allegedly sent him a government appointment order on his mobile phone. When Tangappandi went to the Virudhunagar Collectorate to verify the document, he said officials told him it was fake.

According to the petition, Mariapapandi sent Rs 60,000 to Tangappandi through Google Pay on August 10 and subsequently lodged a complaint with the Tallakulam police over the incident.

While the Tamil Nadu government claimed before the apex court that the CWMA’s directive was not being complied with, the Karnataka government said the picture being projected was “extremely incorrect”.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) had directed Karnataka to release 1 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12. The CWMA subsequently upheld the decision.

On Monday, the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking directives to the Karnataka government for the immediate release of water came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

“We feel this matter should be posted after a week so that the further status regarding the release may be placed before the court,” the bench said, posting the matter for August 24. “Ensure compliance of the CWMA directives,” the bench said.

Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, told the bench that the CWMA’s directive was not being complied with and the state was unable to release water to its farmers.

“They (Karnataka) have started releasing water for irrigation in Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu has not been receiving water,” he said. “As of now, they have 76% live storage in the reservoir and they have hardly released,” he added.

The bench then asked the Karnataka government, “Why are you not releasing?”

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Karnataka, replied that the picture being projected before it was “extremely incorrect in every material respect”.

“This has been an extremely severe distress year, and when you have an extremely severe distress year, there is a mechanism and a machinery for the purposes of balancing,” he said.

As far as the Cauvery basin is concerned, Divan said, there is an enormous deficit, and the CWMA is alive to the situation and has issued directives. According to the first directive, Karnataka was required to ensure the release of 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days till August 11, he said.

The trans persons alleged that some youths were throwing broken liquor bottles into the public water tank to prevent them from using it.

They also alleged that caste-based insults were hurled against some trans persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste community.

They said they had repeatedly complained to the Tiruppuvanam police, but in vain. They urged the District Collector to take action against those responsible and provide protection.

Making a series of announcements following the debate on demands for grants for the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the minister said that 12,466 VAOs and 1,253 RIs would benefit from the initiative.

The devices would help officials conduct crop damage assessments during disasters such as droughts and floods, he said.

The minister also announced that the land tax introduced during British rule and continued by the Revenue Department would be abolished. The benefit would be applicable to farmers and landowners from Fasli year 1436.

The existing four-stage process would be reduced to three stages to simplify the issuance of revenue certificates, Sengottaiyan said. Chennai residents would also benefit from the establishment of 12 mini-taluk offices, which would facilitate the quicker issuance of certificates.

The minister further announced that house pattas would be issued to around 20 lakh poor and marginal families living on vacant lands classified as village natham.

Sengottaiyan also announced that a separate Work Safety Act would be enacted to prevent untoward incidents involving VAOs while they are discharging their duties.

He further said the government would simplify the procedures for land acquisition for highway projects.

Police said the victim, a resident of Kondalampatti, had celebrated her birthday some time ago with two friends, aged 16 and 17, who had also invited some of their male friends to the gathering. “The accused persons, who were in an inebriated condition, had sexually assaulted the minor after forcing her to consume liquor,” police said.

An investigation is underway to establish whether they committed the offence on multiple occasions by taking the girl to secluded spots.

As the girl studying in Class 9 was absent from school for an extended period, the teachers informed her mother, who, suspecting that something was amiss, approached the Child Welfare Department officials.

The Salem All Women Police Station registered a case and identified seven suspects in connection with the incident.

Of the seven suspects identified, police traced and arrested four — Balamurugan (21), Akash (19), and two others aged 16 and 13. An intensive search is underway to trace the remaining suspects, who are absconding. Police are also investigating whether two other girls were subjected to similar abuse.

Police said that over 25 members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) from Broadway (Chennai) were travelling towards Ulundurpet in vans and other vehicles to attend a party conference scheduled to be held there.

When they were nearing Acharapakkam, a vehicle travelling ahead suddenly applied the brakes. Three vehicles following it reportedly collided one after another, resulting in a chain of accidents.

Upon information, Acharapakkam police rescued 12 injured persons, and sent them to Acharapakkam GH, where they received first aid. They were later shifted to Madurantakam GH, where they are undergoing treatment.

Following the accidents, traffic movement on the highway came to a standstill, with vehicles being held up for more than an hour.

Police brought cranes to remove the damaged vehicles and cleared the road, restoring normal traffic movement. The Acharapakkam police have registered a case.

According to a representation submitted by the International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET) to the Indian Ambassador in Oman and other authorities, an agent who was working as a boat captain in Oman had taken them there for fishing after promising them a monthly salary of Rs 1 lakh and assuring them that their visas would be converted into work visas.

“They agreed to go fishing with the agent because they were acquainted with him,” said P Justin Antony, founder-president of INFIDET. The five fishermen are Cyril Robin George (47), Antony Pitchai Alex Ravi (46), Anthoni Pitchai Saron Joseva (22) and Thomas Arul (51), all from Kanniyakumari district, and Mariappan Jetli (29) from Ramanathapuram district.

However, the promised work visas were not issued. The fishermen claimed that the agent kept postponing the process, citing various reasons. Fearing penalties for overstaying, they repeatedly approached the agent and his sponsor for help, but received no assistance, according to the representation.

The fishermen are now without money and struggling to meet their day-to-day expenses. Their overstay was not intentional and that they were allegedly trapped by the agent after trusting his promise of employment, said INFIDET. “They went to Oman in February this year and have been struggling there since then,” said Antony.

INFIDET has urged the Indian Ambassador to Oman and the Tamil Nadu government to intervene and take immediate steps to facilitate the fishermen's safe return to India.

Police said the complainant, a retired government doctor residing with her mother in the city, had received a WhatsApp video call from a man who claimed to be a senior official of the CBI.

Threatening action by accusing her of doing illegal money transfers, he placed her under digital arrest.

He asked her to transfer the money to the accounts they provided, claiming it would be returned after verification.

The doctor transferred her entire savings of Rs 98 lakh, after which the caller went unreachable. Coimbatore city cyber crime police registered a case.

Police said more than 10,000 online fraud complaints had been received so far this year, with victims losing around Rs 48 crore.

A woman teacher was also arrested for aiding the accused. R Divya (38), a private school teacher, has been taking tuition at her house in the evening hours. A 16-year-old girl from her school was attending tuition. Divya’s family friend Shanmuga Sundaraj (61), a retired government-aided school teacher, used to visit Divya’s house frequently. He was in the habit of making video calls to the girl. One particular time, Shanmuga Sundaraj used obscene words. The girl took this to the notice of her school principal, who lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur All Women police.

The police registered a case and arrested Shanmuga Sundaram on Monday. Later, the police also arrested Divya for assisting the accused. Further investigations are on.

The issue cropped up during the debate on demands for grants for Revenue and Health departments. DMK MLA and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam pointed out that the Assembly had established conventions. Members traditionally stood only when the Speaker entered, while the Chief Minister would proceed to his seat after greeting the Chair.

Panneerselvam noted that Vijay's practice of walking through the House and greeting members before taking his seat was a departure from convention.

He sought clarification on whether members were expected to stand for the Chief Minister and if the same applied to the Leader of the Opposition.

Responding, Prabhakar said he had noticed the Chief Minister personally greeting members upon entry. "There is no doubt that the Speaker should be accorded due respect when the House meets," he said. He added that former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami used to stand and return Vijay's greeting.

"Standing up and greeting the Chief Minister is not compulsory. It is part of our tradition and dignity. However, I leave it to the discretion of individual members," Prabhakar said.

The showrooms are at Salem (Hosur Old), Cuddalore (Mangai), Tirunelveli (Senthil), Vijayawada (Guntur, Machilipatnam, Srikakulam New, Nellore, Parlakhemundi), Mumbai (Ponda Goa), and Vellore (Vandavasi), said an official report.

The report shows the closure process is at different stages, with sales withdrawn at some outlets, premises being vacated and legal proceedings underway in others. At Nellore, the building has been handed over to the owner, while at Ponda, the case is to be withdrawn and sales continued until August.

Co-optex Chief General Manager K Sankar, in a communication dated August 15, directed managers of Design and Production to stop procurement of home textile products until further orders. The directive said existing stocks should be exhausted and no further fresh purchases be made.

The order covers bedsheets, bedspreads, towels, furnishings, bags, quilts and other home textile products. It also applies irrespective of production plans or inputs already issued for 2026-27.

Where production inputs have already been issued, but goods not procured, further purchase has been ordered to be kept in abeyance. Any exceptional requirement must be referred to the Head Office with full justification and prior approval.

In a statement, Veerapandian noted that several industries, including the Kattupalli port operated by the Gautam Adani group and those in special economic zones, were functioning in north Chennai. Over 50 of these were hazardous industries classified under the red category, he said.

He questioned whether the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health was conducting periodic inspections of such units to assess preventive measures and emergency response arrangements and submitting reports to the government.

He cited the recent collapse of a concrete arch structure during expansion work at the Ennore thermal power station in Tiruvallur, in which nine migrant workers were killed. He also referred to the ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit at Kannigaiper village, in which 13 migrant workers were killed.

The mass death of fish in the Kosasthalaiyar river was another alarming incident, he said, adding that it had affected the livelihood of thousands of fishing families in more than 40 fishing villages, including Nettukuppam, Thalangkuppam, Mugathuvarkuppam, Ennorekuppam and Sivandikuppam.

Veerapandian said that while dead fish were being removed from the river, some species were believed to have sunk to the riverbed. The foul smell from the area indicated severe air pollution, he said. Authorities have already advised people not to consume the dead fish or use them for making dried fish.

He demanded that the findings of the ongoing inquiry into the cause of the death of tonnes of fish be made public. He also called for periodic industrial inspections and publication of inspection details every month.

The CPI state executive urged the government to arrest those responsible for the incident and ensure that they were punished under law without being allowed to escape accountability.

An unwritten convention in the Assembly is that former Chief Ministers, including M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa, are referred to with due respect rather than by name.

The DMK strongly objected to the minister's remarks. Intervening in the debate, former Chief Minister and DMK MLA O Panneerselvam recalled that during the AIADMK regime, then Chief Minister MG Ramachandran had warned a ruling party member for referring to former Chief Minister Karunanidhi by his name.

"The members of this Assembly should also follow the dignity and conventions defined by our leaders," Panneerselvam said.

At that time, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay intervened and apologised for his Cabinet colleague's remarks before making a statement under Rule 110. "It was wrong for the minister to mention your leader's name. I am sorry," the Chief Minister said.

However, the issue triggered another uproar when Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister S Ramesh made remarks about the Leader of the Opposition.

He said the former Chief Minister (OPS) should teach the Leader of the Opposition a lesson about the dignity of the Assembly, who remains seated whenever the Chief Minister enters the House.

The DMK hit back, saying that the Speaker alone is the head of the House, and if the CM needs to be respected, then the same rule applies to the Leader of the Opposition, questioning whether ruling party MLAs reciprocate it to DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Former Minister KN Nehru intervened and said the same convention had been followed in the previous Assembly as well. Hence, there was no need to lecture the Leader of the Opposition on Assembly dignity, he said.

Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan intervened and urged the Speaker to end the political exchanges among members.

Following the intervention, TVK member Balamurugan commenced his speech on the demands for grants.