Speaking to reporters after the main opposition party staged a walkout from the House, he also accused Vijay of shielding a shadow cartel run by his close aides to monopolise state mining contracts, while dismissing the CM's assembly address as a "memorised cinema script."

Udhayanidhi stated that instead of answering his 15 specific questions regarding the state's "deteriorating law and order", including recent daylight murders in the, the chief minister "resorted to diversionary tactics".

He accused Vijay of deflecting to decades-old issues like the Sarkaria Commission and MISA, while reading out pending Enforcement Directorate charges against opposition leaders.

The Leader of the Opposition stated the DMK boycotted proceedings after Speaker JCD Prabhakar denied them an opportunity to rebut "baseless" corruption allegations leveled by the CM during his 45-minute reply to the debate on the police (Home) department's functioning.

Leveling direct allegations of state-sponsored monopolisation, Udhayanidhi said: "Vishnu Reddy, his brother-in-law Sujay Reddy, and their business partner Anil Reddy have now taken full control of all government-run mining operations. I am going to release the evidence for this one by one."

There was no immediate response from the individuals named by the DMK leader.

Calling the CM a "dummy" whose rise to power was an "accident," Udhayanidhi said the former himself faces an unresolved Income Tax case for allegedly concealing Rs 15 crore.

He further accused the ruling establishment of open horse-trading, claiming an IUML MLA was recently offered cash and a cabinet portfolio for political support.

The DMK leader also slammed the Speaker, accusing him of acting in a partisan, one-sided manner to deliberately silence the opposition benches.

In his letter dated September 5, Haasan recommended enhancing the honorarium for Village Panchayat representatives and giving Gram Sabhas a decisive voice in handling Tasmac outlets.

He also called for greater awareness and public participation in gram sabha meetings and sought time-bound action on resolutions adopted by them.

Kamal recommended giving citizens a greater say in setting the gram sabha agenda, strengthening research and capacity-building in local governance, and making village development planning genuinely participatory.

He also called for building a stronger culture of grassroots accountability.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi's vision of gram swaraj, Haasan said it was rooted in empowered villages and participatory democracy. He said the best way to honour Gandhi's legacy would be for Tamil Nadu to become India's model state for village governance.

Under the reforms, 25 Model Registration Hubs will be established with modern infrastructure to reduce queues and congestion at sub-registrar offices. The first phase will cover North Chennai, Central Chennai, South Chennai, Chengalpattu and Coimbatore North, with citizens able to access services through the hubs or the concerned sub-registrar offices.

The department will also provide additional staff, computers and advanced scanners to 25 high-volume sub-registrar offices, enabling registered documents to be scanned and returned immediately after registration. The department will simultaneously rationalise sub-registrar office boundaries to keep each revenue village within a single registration jurisdiction and distribute workload more evenly.

IIT-Madras has been selected as the technical consultant to improve the speed, load-bearing capacity and security of the STAR 2.0/3.0 registration software, which handles about 35 lakh documents a year.

From September 15, registration of title-deed deposit and receipt documents relating to loans from banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) will be made mandatory through presenceless registration. The department plans to bring all eligible registrations progressively under this system.

From October 15, settlement, release, partition and revocation of settlement deeds will be compulsorily moved to a paperless registration system. Around 5.4 lakh such family arrangement deeds are registered annually.

API-based integration will enable real-time verification of death and legal-heir certificates to curb fraudulent registrations. Another API link will allow the HR&CE department and Waqf Board to update prohibited-land records directly in STAR.

A Data Analytics Cell will analyse registration data, guideline values and geospatial information to support evidence-based policy decisions.

The department will also facilitate direct delivery of digitally generated copies of certificates registered since 2018 after e-payment, while allocating funds to train senior registration officials in evolving legal procedures and technologies.

With the presenceless registration initiative being expanded, compulsory Saturday duty at 100 sub-registrar offices will be discontinued. The offices will function on weekdays, with the move intended to reduce officials' workload and prevent disruption to other administrative work.

The FIR, registered by the Special Investigation Cell of DVAC on September 4, alleges that government contracts under the Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply (MAWS) Department were systematically manipulated between 2021 and 2025, resulting in alleged illegal gains running into Rs 1020 crore.

The case names 13 accused, including KN Nehru, his brothers KN Manivannan and N Ravichandran, and Kavi Prasad, described in the FIR as a close associate of Nehru. D Ramesh and D Prabhu of the TVH Group of Companies, former Town Planning Officer Sasipriya, former Regional Engineers G Balachandran and G Murugesan, former MLAs S. Sudarshanam and JJ Ebenezer, office-bearers of CT Constructions and contractor K Sathish Kumar have also been named.

Unknown MAWS officials, private individuals, contractors and companies are also under investigation.

The case originated from a 258-page report submitted to the DVAC by the Directorate of Enforcement on December 3, 2025. According to the FIR, the Enforcement Directorate alleged manipulation and corruption in the awarding of government contracts between 2021 and 2025.

The report alleged that the accused had cheated the Tamil Nadu government and the public at large and obtained wrongful gains of about Rs 1,020 crore through alleged manipulation of government contracts.

Following permission from the State government, the DVAC registered a detailed enquiry in December 2025. The enquiry, according to the FIR, prima facie found evidence of an alleged criminal conspiracy involving public servants and private individuals to manipulate tenders, collect illegal gratification and award contracts to pre-selected bidders.

Alleged ‘party fund’ collection system

One of the central allegations in the FIR is that contractors were allegedly required to pay between 7.5% and 10% of the value of government contracts as illegal gratification, described in communications as “party fund”.

The DVAC alleged that Kavi Prasad, described as a close associate of Nehru, had allegedly obtained advance information about proposed government works and tenders by maintaining contact with senior IAS officers and other officials.

According to the FIR, this information was allegedly used to identify and “prefix” contractors before tenders were opened. The document alleges that selected contractors were subsequently made successful bidders after illegal gratification was collected.

The DVAC has relied substantially on WhatsApp chats, photographs and calculation sheets allegedly recovered from mobile phones during the Enforcement Directorate investigation.

The FIR claims that photographs and chats recovered from Kavi Prasad's phone showed communications with senior officials regarding government projects, inspections, contractors and departmental matters.

The FIR cites a WhatsApp communication allegedly sent by former Madhavaram MLA S Sudarshanam to Kavi Prasad in September 2021 concerning a Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board contract.

According to the enquiry, details of a contract for outsourcing the operation and maintenance of the Madhavaram Booster for three years were allegedly shared before the tender process was completed.

The FIR states that the name of contractor C&T Constructions had allegedly been marked against the work even before the bid was opened. The approximate value mentioned was Rs 75 lakh.

The DVAC alleged that the contractor had effectively been identified before the tender-opening process and that the work was subsequently awarded to the same company.

Another major allegation concerns former RK Nagar MLA JJ Ebenezer.

The FIR says a WhatsApp chat dated July 30, 2024, allegedly recovered from Kavi Prasad's phone, contained photographs of a letter carrying details of several storm-water drain contracts in Chennai.

The enquiry found that three packages, with a combined contract value of Rs 525.31 lakh, had allegedly been identified in advance.

A separate calculation sheet allegedly showed Rs 55.15 lakh as “party fund” or illegal gratification, approximately 10% of the contract value. Of this, Rs 15 lakh was allegedly shown as already paid, while Rs 35.15 lakh was shown as the balance amount receivable.

The DVAC alleged that the three works were subsequently awarded to contractor K Sathish Kumar on September 6, 2024, although the alleged selection had been recorded on July 30, 2024, before the scheduled opening of bids on August 9.

The FIR also details alleged illegal gratification connected with municipal works in the Tirupur and Coimbatore regions.

A calculation sheet allegedly shared in November 2022 showed Rs 12.08 lakh in alleged illegal gratification connected with works in Udumalpet and Pollachi municipalities.

According to the DVAC, Rs 8 lakh was allegedly connected with the construction of a Knowledge Centre at a municipal school in Udumalpet, while Rs 4.08 lakh was allegedly linked to community toilet projects in Pollachi.

The FIR further cites a December 2021 calculation sheet containing details of works in Dharapuram, Palladam, Velakovil, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamangalam and Bhavani municipalities.

The document allegedly showed illegal gratification of Rs 155.79 lakh calculated at around 10% of contract values.

The FIR states that a subsequent message allegedly indicated that the amount had been received under the “Tirupur RE” account.

Mobile phone records form key evidence

The DVAC said the enquiry relied on material recovered from the mobile phones of several accused and statements recorded by the Enforcement Directorate.

A photograph allegedly recovered from the phone of KN Manivannan contained a list of amounts received from various persons and amounts allegedly handed over to others.

According to the FIR, the records reflected alleged collections totalling Rs 1,198.20 lakh and disbursals of Rs 1,166.90 lakh.

The DVAC alleged that several of the entries corresponded with amounts mentioned in WhatsApp communications between D Prabhu and D Ramesh.

The FIR also refers to alleged payments involving Sasipriya, who was then serving as Town Planning Officer in Coimbatore.

Among the allegations cited are Rs 20.90 lakh allegedly received in July 2021, Rs 27.25 lakh allegedly received in August 2021 and Rs 27.30 lakh allegedly received in September 2021.

The FIR states that these transactions were allegedly admitted or explained by D Ramesh during questioning by the Enforcement Directorate.

The FIR further refers to several alleged payments involving VR Water Infra.

According to the DVAC document, chats allegedly showed the collection of Rs 1 crore, Rs 2.77 crore, Rs 5 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 4 crore on different occasions in connection with government contracts.

The enquiry also refers to other alleged collections, including Rs 52.66 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, involving contractors and individuals connected with government works.

FIR registered after detailed enquiry

The DVAC concluded that the material collected during the detailed enquiry prima facie indicated an organised conspiracy to manipulate government tenders and award contracts to pre-decided bidders.

According to the FIR, illegal gratification was allegedly collected in the name of “party fund” at rates ranging between 7.5% and 10% of contract values.

The agency has registered offences under provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating under the IPC and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The DVAC said the case had been taken up for investigation and the FIR, along with the Enforcement Directorate's 258-page report, had been submitted before the Principal Judge, City Civil and Sessions Court, Chennai.

After the devastation, farmers were seen removing the bananas from the damaged plantains on Monday (September 7).

According to sources, there was sudden rain coupled with strong winds at Sathanur, Vadugakudi, Achanur, Valappakudi and the adjacent villages near Tiruvaiyaru late Sunday (September 6) evening.

This resulted in electric poles being uprooted and wires getting snapped. This also led to traffic disruption during the night hours on Valappakudi Main Road.

The gusty winds also damaged banana plantations cultivated in an area of 50 acres in the villages, which were ready for harvest within 30 days.

According to the farmers, there was rain and strong winds for more than an hour on Sunday evening, which damaged the crops which were getting ready for harvest.

They said that there were more than 50,000 banana plants either uprooted or damaged.

The farmers also said that they had spent up to Rs 1 lakh per acre and they have to spend at least Rs 5,000 per acre to remove the damaged plantation.

They said that the banana crops in these areas were ready for the upcoming Ayudha Pooja, but they have lost it all.

They demanded that the district administration depute officials immediately to assess the damage and recommend proper compensation.

Speaking in the state Assembly, the chief minister recalled the alleged humiliation late CM J Jayalalithaa faced and condemned the personal attacks amid controversies involving woman personalities. Vijay was wrapping up the Assembly debate for grants to the Home department held by him,

In a stern tone, he made direct and indirect references to two prominent women figures-- late CM J Jayalalithaa and actor Trisha, with the latter being apparently targeted by the DMK very recently, to underscore his stance on public decorum and political ethics.

Firstly, he recalled one of the darkest moments in the history of the House, directly referencing to former the late Jayalalithaa, reminding members of the alleged abuse and physical humiliation she was subjected to inside the Assembly in 1989, when the DMK was in power.

Insisting that such disgraceful political precedents must never be repeated, he declared that toxic legislative behavior cannot be justified by citing past practice.

Secondly, addressing the recent political storm involving a top female actor, Vijay issued an indirect yet scathing rebuke regarding personal and vulgar attacks directed at women in public life.

In his fiery and unyielding address to the Assembly, Vijay placed the dignity and respect of women at the very forefront of his administration's agenda.

"Under the guise of politics, to those who personally disrespect our people, women or anyone else and speak in a very low and degrading manner, my request is please don't do that. Recently, in Tamil Nadu, it seems as though a river of vulgarity and hatred is continuously flowing. Being abusive about women, making defamatory remarks, and using double-meaning words, is wrong," Vijay said without directly naming anyone.

He stressed that while harsh political criticism is welcome in a democracy, personal attacks on women will never be tolerated. "I want to tell those who do this just one thing," the chief minister said.

Vijay's remarks have come weeks after Leader of the Opposition DMK Udhayanidhi Stalin was released on station bail after being arrested in connection with his "double-meaning" remarks seen as a reference to actor Trisha, while he was addressing partymen during a protest on Cauvery issue.

In the Assembly, the Chief Minister said "women are the main reason behind my political victory."

"I will not tolerate any abusive language against them. There can be harsh political criticism, but there should not be any defamatory remarks against women. The public is watching every move," Vijay said, critiquing the political discourse and opposition demeanor.

Also, he explicitly condemned comments involving physical threats - such as remarks about "breaking bones" - and called out statements that displayed disrespect toward the public's democratic mandate.

Reflecting on historical political milestones, including the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), the chief minister quoted the celebrated poet Kannadasan to depict the opposition's conduct, asserting that citizens closely observe these actions and render their judgment during election.

"Speaking lies, taking money, and carrying bags, was what the legendary Tamil poet and lyricist Kannadasan had described the DMK's behaviour," Vijay said.

He outlined a comprehensive vision for public security, defining true progress of the state as one that cannot be calculated solely through physical infrastructure like roads and factories but primarily measured by the safety and freedom felt by citizens in their daily lives.

The police served as a foundational pillar for economic growth and social stability - designed to be a reassuring friend to law-abiding citizens and a source of dread to lawbreakers.

The law enforcement will operate without political interference, ensuring all citizens remained equal before the law regardless of political affiliation, he said and emphasised that his administration welcomed constructive criticism from Assembly members to improve governance.

He reaffirmed the government's zero-tolerance stance against crime and confirmed the arrest of 36 individuals in connection with a student's recent murder in Coimbatore.

Rather than focusing solely on punishment, the CM identified several societal factors contributing to youth involvement in crime, including a lack of family support, negative peer pressure, exposure to social media, substance abuse, and a lack of legal awareness.

Blaming the entire student community or labeling them with terms like "drug culture" is not a sign of strong leadership, he said and pledged that the government would act as a responsible guardian for the youth and implement comprehensive measures to guide students toward a better path.

Speaking at a marriage ceremony here, Stalin invoked the legacy of late Chief Minister C N Annadurai to underscore the historical mandate behind the state's language stance -- a policy implemented to prioritise Tamil and English while rejecting the imposition of a three-language formula.

"When Anna assumed office as chief minister for the first time in 1967 and entered the Assembly, he fulfilled three pearl-like schemes for our Tamil Nadu. One is the two-language policy, another is the event of naming the state as Tamil Nadu, and next is the law validating self-respect marriages," Stalin said.

The former chief minister's remarks came while presiding over the self-respect wedding of DMK functionaries.

Stalin noted that such marriages, which dispense with traditional religious rites and are instead conducted under the principles of the Thirukkural, gained their vital legal sanction only through Annadurai's legislative interventions.

The DMK chief utilised the occasion to push for linguistic pride. He advised the couple to exclusively choose "beautiful Tamil names" for their future children, urging them to live as "lights to the household and servants to the nation" as envisioned by revolutionary poet Bharathidasan.

Five persons, identified as Suresh (46), Manivannan (34), Satheesh (32), Vinod Kumar (22) and another Satheesh (36), all hailing from different parts of the Nilgiris, were arrested by the Pudumund Station Police for stealing seven sacks of soil from the HPF premises.

They had concealed the sacks in a nearby forest area.

When the accused persons attempted to smuggle them to Coimbatore for sale, the police nabbed them. Police seized the soil as well as the vehicle used to transport it.

It is believed that the soil in certain areas of the factory contains traces of silver.

The HPF was closed in 2018, and machinery was removed from the premises, which is now under the control of the forest department.

As part of the protest, members laid siege to district collectorates across the state, urging the government to substantially enhance the assistance to meet rising living costs and basic necessities. Several protesters detained by the police following the demonstrations were kept in public halls.

In the city, over 200 protesters gathered at the Commissionerate for the Welfare of the Differently Abled.

According to official data, Tamil Nadu has around 14 lakh persons with disabilities, of whom over 9 lakh receive monthly financial assistance from the government. Until 2022, the assistance stood at Rs 1,000 for those with disability below 75 per cent and Rs 1,500 for those above the threshold. Following sustained demands and protests, the government increased the assistance by Rs 500 for both categories in 2022.

However, TARATDAC said the current assistance remained inadequate and comparatively lower than that provided in several other states and union territories. Monthly assistance is reportedly above Rs 4,000 in Delhi, Haryana and Telangana, while Puducherry provides Rs 5,500. In Andhra Pradesh, the assistance ranges from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on the extent of disability.

"We have been demanding a hike in assistance for five years. The reality is that, even though governments may change, there is still no government that listens to the voices and demands of persons with disabilities," said a member of TARATDAC.

It must be noted that a similar protest was held in February across the state with similar demands, and the protestors were attacked and arrested by the police, including in Chennai.

Making the announcement during the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Logesh said the exemption would apply to retail outlets that resell petrol and diesel after VAT has been paid at the first-sale stage in the State, provided they are registered under the GST Act.

The move seeks to simplify tax compliance for fuel retailers by dispensing with a separate VAT registration requirement where GST registration is already in place.

The announcement is significant for petrol and diesel retailers, as it removes a separate registration requirement under the State's VAT law for establishments that meet the specified conditions.

Logesh also announced the creation of a separate tax assessment circle in every Commercial Taxes division to administer dealers governed by earlier tax laws, including the Tamil Nadu VAT Act and the Central Sales Tax Act.

A new Economic Intelligence Wing will be established at the State level to analyse data, monitor the performance of officials and facilitate the sharing of intelligent practices, he said.

The Minister further announced the expansion of faceless procedures in tax administration, covering assessment, audit and refunds, with the objective of improving services to taxpayers.

The department's training policy will also be restructured to enhance the knowledge and skills of officials and staff and promote the use of technology in various functions under tax laws.

Front-line staff of the department spotted the distressed elephant on September 2 in the Uliyur beat of the Pethikuttai area in the Sirumugai Forest Range.

The animal was having difficulty moving after a fence wire became embedded in its foreleg.

Subsequently, the forest department took efforts to locate, immobilise and treat the elephant in its natural habitat.

Under the supervision of District Forest Officer N Venkatesh Prabhu, veterinary teams from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), along with around 60 forest department personnel, were deployed for the rescue and monitoring operation.

“Drones equipped with high-resolution cameras were also used to track the elephant’s movements and locate it in the forest terrain. After continuous surveillance, the elephant was located in the early hours of Monday. It was brought under the influence of sedation with a tranquiliser dart, following which the veterinary team removed the wire from its foreleg. Its wounds were then cleaned, and medicine was applied,” said an official.

As the elephant soon began to show signs of recovery, it was allowed to return to the forest cover.

Still, a team of forest department staff has been deployed to closely monitor the elephant’s movements until its complete recovery.

Vijay was scheduled to leave around September 10 for his first overseas trip as Chief Minister to UK, where he was expected to meet business leaders to showcase Tamil Nadu's investment potential and oversee the signing of memoranda of understanding with prospective investors.

However, according to senior officials, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar spoke with Vijay and advised him to postpone the UK trip so that he could receive the Malaysian Prime Minister. Anwar, who is scheduled to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 11 to 13. He had spoken with the chief minister in May and had said he would visit Tamil Nadu if an opportunity arose during his India trip.

"Anwar is coming to Chennai specifically to meet the Chief Minister. It would not be appropriate for Vijay to miss the meeting. The Governor has advised him to defer the UK visit," said official sources.

Sources said arrangements were being considered for Anwar's stay in Chennai on September 13, including a reception at Lok Bhavan, where he could hold talks with Vijay.

Meanwhile, Vijay completed formalities to obtain a diplomatic passport ahead of the proposed overseas tour. Reports have put the proposed itinerary between September 10 and 16.

The proposed visit follows the Vettri Tamil Nadu investors' conclave, where 97 companies signed MoUs involving investments of Rs 67,452 crore. The government has said its investment commitments in the first 100 days crossed Rs 1 lakh crore.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, Philomin Raj (67), a resident of VOC Street in Ariyamangalam claimed that his wife, a retired school teacher, received a call from an unknown number on August 31.

The caller identified himself as Madhan Kumar and claimed to be an official from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Digital scam

The caller allegedly told her that a bank account had been opened in a nationalised bank using her Aadhaar details and that a large amount of money had been transferred through the account. He further threatened that she would be arrested unless she paid money to avoid arrest.

Believing the caller's claims, the woman transferred Rs 17 lakh to a bank account provided by him. She later realised that she had been duped after the caller's mobile phone was switched off when she tried to contact him.

Police investigation underway

Following the incident, Philomin Raj lodged an online complaint with the Cyber Crime Police.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the caller and recover the money.

Police have also been probing the bank account to which the amount was transferred.

Jayashakthi's daughter Selvamari, Selvamari's husband Muraleeswaran, and factory manager Surya Prakash, have been booked as well, under four sections, including recklessly causing death and careless handling of explosives.

While Surya Prakash has been arrested by the Sattur taluka police, the other three are absconding, according to a Maalaimar report.

Based on the complaint filed by the village administrative officer, Shanmugaraj, the First Information Report (FIR) claims the accident ocurred because the people working at the factory were not provided with proper safety equipment. The workers were also asked to manufacture firecrackers in a large quantity, knowing there would be a risk of fatalities in case of an accident.

The factory operating in Ottaiyal village near Sattur in Virudhunagar district is run by Jayashakthi, who is from Mallankinaru, and Mariappan.

On Saturday, more than 15 workers were working in the five-room unit when a sudden explosion ocurred. A worker named Madasamy (38) from Meenampatti, who was preparing a mixture in a chemical mixing room at the time, was injured and died in the incident.

The unit was reportedly operating with the proper license from the district revenue department. It manufactured small firecrackers as well as fancy firecrackers.

The state recorded 1,490 murders in 2024, which came down to 1,463 in 2025, a decline of 27 cases or about 1.8 per cent. In the first seven months of 2026, up to July, 873 murders were reported, the data showed.

Domestic quarrels as a motive accounted for the highest number of murders during all three periods, with 396 cases in 2024, 377 in 2025 and 245 cases up to July 2026.

Verbal fights emerged as the second biggest cause, accounting for 344 murders in 2024 and 376 in 2025, and 204 cases during the first seven months of 2026.

Murders linked to love affairs and sexual causes formed another major category, accounting for 224 cases in 2024, 245 in 2025 and 140 up to July this year.

Other prominent motives included drunken brawls, previous enmity, land disputes and money transactions.

Drunken brawls accounted for 156 murders in 2024 and 153 in 2025, while previous enmity was cited in 103 cases in both years.

The data also showed a decline in murders linked to caste-related causes, from seven cases in 2024 to one in 2025, with no such case reported up to July 2026.

Political reasons accounted for no murders in 2024 and 2025, while one case was reported this year.

(The figures for 2025 and 2026 (up to July) are tentative, according to the SCRB)

Vijay, who had days earlier asked the principal opposition party not to “run away” from the Assembly under some pretext on Monday, alleged the collection of “party funds” and what he described as “scientific corruption” during the previous DMK regime, recalling instances dating back to the 1970s.

“Irregularities happen only where the DMK is present, and the DMK will be present only where wrongs occur,” he asserted while wrapping up the Assembly debate on grants for the Home department, which he holds. Citing Enforcement Directorate documents, the chief minister listed alleged irregularities in the municipal administration department and the state-run liquor behemoth TASMAC.

During his speech, Vijay also said he would not engage in “low-level politics” by trading crime statistics from 2021 to 2025 with the DMK, adding that his party neither practised nor needed to resort to such tactics.

He also recalled the humiliation former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa allegedly faced at the hands of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, saying no woman should ever be subjected to similar treatment.

The remarks came amid a noisy protest by DMK MLAs as government Bills were introduced in the House. Despite the uproar, the Ministers concerned introduced the Bills.

Vijay targets DMK over ‘party funds’ and corruption allegations

Vijay recalled poet Kannadasan’s criticism of the DMK, saying the poet had described the party as one accustomed to “speaking lies, taking money and carrying bags”.

Referring to three files on his table, Vijay said DMK members had asked him to open them and offered to read out details sent by the Enforcement Directorate during the previous government. He also claimed that the commission of inquiry report had brought several irregularities to light.

Vijay alleged that commissions had been collected in instalments, comparing the alleged practice to paying a loan through EMIs. He claimed that the inquiry commission report had mentioned allegations of forced commission collection in tenders and referred to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in this context.

Vijay quipped that the DMK had a habit of demanding evidence while keeping the evidence itself nearby, adding that the Enforcement Directorate had itself referred to party funds in its report.

Responding to remarks by a DMK member about “breaking bones”, Vijay asked whether the member was an orthopaedic doctor. He also criticised another remark that those who did not vote for the DMK would not have a good death, saying such statements were among the reasons the party was now sitting in the Opposition.

ED documents cited by CM Vijay

Citing Enforcement Directorate documents, the chief minister listed alleged corruption during the previous DMK regime in the municipal administration department and in the state-run liquor behemoth TASMAC.

Relying on such official papers, Vijay alleged that former Chief Minister MK Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi were cited by the Central agency as among the "beneficiaries" in respect of the collection of alleged "party funds."

Former Excise Minister V Senthilbalaji and his brother Ashok were also cited by the CM in connection with the alleged corruption in TASMAC.

DMK protests CM Vijay's remarks

"Dishonest intention, what a great achievement that is DMK," the CM asserted again, referring to the union government agency's papers.

The allegations led to a major showdown and the main opposition strongly opposed the chief minister's statement, and a ruckus ensued. DMK MLAs surrounded Speaker JCD Prabhakar's podium, raised slogans and rushed to the well.

Vijay initially cited the Sarkaria Commission report of the 1970s over alleged "2.5 per cent corruption in tenders," during the then DMK regime led by M Karunanidhi.

Citing the "Karur gang" reference by the ED over alleged graft in TASMAC, he said even illegalities were done in an organised manner and alleged that "this was the scientific corruption" during the DMK regime. Karur is a part of the western "Kongu" region of Tamil Nadu, which is the native turf of Senthilbalaji.

When files related to just two departments were opened, so much was being disclosed, he said, asking would be the outcome if more departments were scrutinised.

'Where there is wrongdoing, there is DMK': CM Vijay

Vijay said the DMK claimed that where there was wrongdoing, the party would not be present, but countered that “where there is DMK, there will be wrongdoing, and where there is wrongdoing, there will be DMK.” Seeking to substantiate his allegations, he said there were two kinds of people: those who get caught after committing wrongdoing and those who commit wrongdoing without getting caught, and alleged that the DMK belonged to the second category.

He further said DMK members immediately rose whenever corruption was mentioned and asked whether they could claim that they had never indulged in corruption. "Only those involved in corruption demand evidence, those who do not indulge in such activities will not bother about accusations," he said.

'Look at your own record': CM Vijay tells DMK

Vijay also attacked the previous DMK regime over law and order and drug-related issues. He said there had been a deterioration in law and order and an increase in drug use during the previous DMK government, and advised the party to look in the mirror at its own record before speaking about law and order in the current TVK-led regime.

Last week, during a heated debate on the 4-month old TVK government's handling of the law and order situation in the state, Udhayanidhi had sought to corner the ruling TVK over law and order. Vijay had assured that he would provide a detailed reply to the allegations raised by the DMK.

Listing iconic leaders--CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and NT Rama Rao-- he said after such leaders it was himself, Vijay.

He reiterated that he did not aspire for chair and power. His goal was to do good to the people, and pay his debt of gratitude to them.

(With inputs from Daily Thanthi, PTI)

The AIADMK chief assured party men that by-polls aren't expected any time soon, citing the court cases, and asked the cadre to use the time to effectively prepare the ground.

Chairing a consultative meeting of district secretaries at the party headquarters in Chennai, Palaniswami directed them to convene meetings in their respective districts, accelerate organisational activities and strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

He asked newly appointed district secretaries to maintain unity among cadres and work collectively to strengthen the organisation. They were also directed to fill vacant posts at various levels of the party in their respective districts.

Following the meeting at the party headquarters, Palaniswami held separate discussions with district secretaries from the six Assembly constituencies where by-elections are expected. At the meetings held at his Royapettah residence, he reviewed the political situation in the constituencies and the party’s preparedness for the electoral battle.

Palaniswami said the by-elections were unlikely to be held immediately and that the local body elections in the State could also be postponed. He, however, asked party functionaries to remain prepared for both elections.

The meeting took on added significance as AIADMK deputy general secretaries Natham R Viswanathan and SP Velumani, dissenters unhappy about getting their district secretary posts back, did not attend. Organisation secretary CVe Shanmugam was also absent, reviving speculation about continuing differences between some senior leaders and Palaniswami.

The AIADMK chief also discussed arrangements for statewide celebrations to mark the 118th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Dravidian leader C N Annadurai.

He asked district secretaries to submit updated lists of Executive Committee and General Council members, with the party planning to convene an EC meeting next month. Under the party’s bylaws, the Executive Committee is required to meet twice a year, and the proposed meeting is expected to be the first of the year.

Palaniswami urged district secretaries to ensure unity among cadres and work collectively to revive and strengthen the organisation following its recent electoral setback.

The meeting also led to speculation that Palaniswami yielded to pressure from dissenters keen on holding the general council meeting soon. There were reports that the GC meeting could be held any time now. However, party sources denied any such chance, as the meeting could be used by dissenters to remove Palaniswami from the post of party chief.

According to insiders, AIADMK is expected to hold the EC meeting first next month and schedule the crucial GC before December. Under the law, the GC must be convened before the end of the year, giving Palaniswami ample time to quell internal challenges.

Responding to media persons here, Arunraj said the circular had been issued without the government's knowledge and that the officials responsible had faced action.

"It is amusing to say that the government is under the control of officials based on this one incident," he said.

"During the previous DMK regime, it was the officials who ran the government. The then Chief Minister did not know what was happening and believed that whatever the officials said was the reality," Arunraj alleged.

He said officials were being given the opportunity to work under a transparent administration under the TVK government and that the mistakes of a few could not be used to indict the entire system.

On law and order, Arunraj said Opposition parties and legislators had the right to raise questions in the Assembly and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would respond.

He alleged that the Opposition was deliberately attempting to create a wrong impression about the Chief Minister and said the government was taking several measures to maintain law and order and ensure women's safety.

Speaking at an eye-donation awareness rally at Besant Nagar, Arunraj said Tamil Nadu had remained a leading State in organ donation and urged people to donate their eyes and other organs.

He said the Health Department had made arrangements ahead of the monsoon, including dengue preparedness at medical colleges, hospitals and primary health centres.

At an event for children with special needs at Rajarathinam Stadium, he said every child has unique abilities and that society's responsibility is to provide equal opportunities rather than sympathy.

"Every child is a potential achiever. We do not need to show them compassion; providing them the opportunities they need is enough," he said, adding that government programmes were in place for the early identification of children requiring special care.

In a letter to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, All Omni Bus Owners' Association president A Anbalagan said the delays were causing losses to operators, affecting passengers, and depriving the government of tax revenue.

Around 1,200 omnibuses operate daily from Chennai to southern districts, and another 600 to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Puducherry, and Telangana, carrying over 70,000 passengers every day.

Across Tamil Nadu, more than 6,000 omnibuses serve over 2.5 lakh passengers daily, he said.

The sector contributes around Rs 900 crore in direct revenue and Rs 3,000 crore in indirect revenue to the government annually, Anbalagan said.

He said permits had earlier remained pending for over 51 days.

After the present transport commissioner assumed charge, an online system was introduced and around 270 permits were issued. However, another 300 applications have remained pending for over a month.

Several buses registered against the permits already issued are also unable to operate as they await the transport commissioner's final approval, despite owners paying around Rs 1.5 lakh in quarterly road tax per bus.

Approvals for new tourist and omnibuses have also been pending for over a month, he said.

Anbalagan also alleged that officials at 22 border check posts were collecting Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 as bribes from each vehicle.

KOYAMBEDU PLUS KILAMBAKKAM MULTI-HUB MODEL

Pointing out that the existing omnibus facility can accommodate only around 150 buses, against nearly 1,200 buses operating through the area daily, resulting in congestion due to inadequate parking, staging and boarding space, the association has sought temporary or permanent allotment of the underutilised Koyambedu CMDA bus terminus for government and omnibuses.

It proposed a "Koyambedu plus Kilambakkam" multi-hub model, with Koyambedu serving passengers from north, central and west Chennai and Kilambakkam serving those from south Chennai and surrounding areas.

The association said the arrangement would spare many passengers a journey of up to two additional hours to Kilambakkam and the need to change buses, besides reducing congestion around Koyambedu.

Anbalagan urged the Chief Minister to consider the demands and take steps to ease the difficulties faced by operators and passengers.

K Loganathan, who retired as scientific officer two months ago, was instrumental in bringing to light various violations in post-mortem proceedings.

When he was in service, he had sent a representation – and later several correspondences - to bring the alleged violations to the notice of his senior officials.

According to the communication now cited by the retired staffer, officials have continued to correspond with him regarding matters connected to his service and retirement, with references made to government orders and earlier official proceedings.

However, he alleged that his legitimate retirement benefits have not been released despite repeated representations.

This delay was not merely due to administrative reasons but linked to his earlier efforts to bring the wrongdoing in post-mortem procedures to the attention of higher authorities, he alleged.

Loganathan said he had submitted detailed complaints and representations to his departmental superiors in the past, seeking action against those responsible for the alleged violations.

He has now sought the intervention of higher authorities for the immediate release of his pending retirement benefits and an independent examination of his allegations regarding the autopsy proceedings.

According to the Directorate of Government Examination (DGE), 25,771 candidates had registered for the examination, which was conducted at 114 exam centres across the State.

Of the registered candidates, 19,614 appeared for the exam, while 6,157 candidates were reported absent.

Of the total candidates appearing for the examination, 202 are persons with disabilities. The authorities have made special provisions for these candidates, including an additional 40 minutes of examination time.

Among the candidates with disabilities, over 40 candidates wrote the exam with the assistance of scribes.

The exam was organised as part of the State's initiative to support candidates preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil services preliminary exam.

The Directorate said that no untoward incidents were reported during the exam.

Government schools across the State have been instructed by the School Education Department to begin forming SMCs for the next two academic years, with parent and teacher representatives and, mandatorily, alumni members.

As part of this process, school principals will meet with parents and conduct awareness sessions on the importance of SMCs.

They will also identify interested candidates and complete the election process by the end of September, as directed by the department.

The SMCs, formed to undertake administrative responsibilities and support the overall functioning of schools, both for academics and otherwise, comprise 24 members.

The panel includes 14 parent representatives, one teacher, the school head, two community representatives including an elected representative, one educationist and four alumni.

Former students who studied for at least two years in the same or another government school and have completed Class 10 are eligible to serve as alumni representatives, the department clarified.

Since there is no proper profit in idol making, the younger generation has switched over to other work like carpentry, construction and textile firms.

The idol-making season commences during the Tamil month of ‘Thai’ (between January 15 and February 15), and the work will be completed by August.

“Our next generation is not interested in taking this profession as a full-time job as there is no adequate profit in it, and so it is time the state government should come forward to provide alternate job training to our youngsters and provide employment, as for more than six months we sit idle without any work,” said S Sakthivel, a sixth-generation potter.

Despite these artisans making other pottery works including Akal Vilakku, Thee Chatti and utensils, their employment is not stable, they said.

“Our people are particular in minute carving works even in clay, and the government should initiate steps to establish a government undertaking pottery-making units and initiate business promotion which would ensure livelihood of the people belonging to the community," Sakthivel stressed.

They also appealed to the government to control the migrant workers who are in the practice of making Plaster of Paris without proper finishing and sell at a lower price, which is preferred by the people for its lower cost.

“The government should conduct periodic inspections in the units where the migrant workers are involved and ensure strict following norms. The government should issue an order to use the idols made only by the registered manufacturers, and this would ensure quality and strict adherence to the norms,” he said.

In less than two decades, the vehicle population has more than quadrupled. The state had 4.057 crore vehicles in 2026-27 (up to June), up from 3.992 crore in 2025-26 and 1.007 crore in 2007-08.

The state took about seven years to move from one crore to two crore vehicles, another six years to cross three crore and roughly six more years to breach four crore.

The character of Tamil Nadu's vehicle growth has also changed sharply. Two-wheelers alone account for 3.38 crore vehicles, or more than 83% of the state's entire vehicular population. Their numbers have risen from 82.6 lakh in 2007-08 to 3.38 crore in 2026-27, registering a more than four-fold increase.

Cars have also emerged as a major contributor. The number of motor cars increased from 8.3 lakh in 2007-08 to 42.2 lakh in 2026-27, a more than five-fold rise. Together, two-wheelers and cars account for nearly 94% of all vehicles in the state.

The growth has been particularly pronounced over the past decade. Total vehicles increased from 2.04 crore in 2014-15 to 3.76 crore in 2024-25, before crossing 4 crore in 2026-27. Two-wheelers increased from 1.70 crore to 3.16 crore during 2014-15 to 2024-25, while motor cars rose from 18.2 lakh to 38.4 lakh.

In contrast, the growth in public transport has been modest. Stage carriages numbered 31,148 in 2024-25, compared with 24,879 in 2007-08. The increase of about 25% over nearly two decades is dwarfed by the growth in personal vehicles.

The number of stage carriages, which stood at 34,381 in 2014-15, has in fact declined since then. Public-sector stage carriages fell from 22,474 in 2014-15 to 20,527 in 2024-25, while private stage carriages remained broadly in the 7,000 to 8,000 range.

Retired Anna University urban engineering professor KP Subramanian said the government should make a determined effort to strengthen public transport to check the growth of personal vehicles, particularly two-wheelers.

“Public transport should be promoted by increasing its frequency and integrating it with other modes of transport. There is also a need for fair integration. Footpaths and cycle tracks should be provided to connect public transport stations,” he said.

Subramanian said personal transport offered comfort, but lacked safety, particularly two-wheelers, which he described as the most vulnerable mode of transport.

While the commercial idol makers customise Vinayakar just to allure the customers, the traditional idol makers are never involved in such customisation.

“Vinayakar is a God, and we should give him respect. We even commence our preparations for the idol making with special pooja and despatch them to the customers after pooja and special arathi because we should give due reverence to the God,” says P Manikandan.

He said that they give prominence to the 'Rajapeetam' (Royal pedestal) initially, where Lord Vinayakar is seated.

“My father Periyasamy used to tell us that we are making idols and we should give prominence to the deity and not any other attractions, and we have been following this. Our products depict Vinayakar seated majestically, and there is no compromise in it,” he said.

However, the visibly furious Manikandan said that a few people approached him to customise Vinayakar with the signature hand posture of the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly, and they offered even more than the actual price.

“Without waiting, I refused the offer. It is very easy to make Vinayakar in such a posture. A minor change in the hand will do, but it is not sensible. We should give due importance to Godly matters. Such meaningless customisation would result in a negative impact on the personality, health, and career,” Manikandan, who opted to vote for TVK during the Assembly election, said.

He also stressed that making such an unsensible posture in Vinayakar would even invoke a divine curse on the idol makers too, and so we are very particular about it, he stressed. He showed a few idols in various sizes and said that all his products would depict Vinayakar in high regard.

Echoing the same, G Jai Shankar, owner of Manicka Vinayakar Agencies in Mela Kondayampettai, said that most of the artisans belong to the traditional potter community and they have venerated their trader for generations, and so they never deviate from the tradition.

Jai Shankar mentioned that a few traditional idol makers even observe fast before the commencement of the manufacturing work.

“We fear that any harm by any means to the idol would invoke a divine curse and so we never deviate from the tradition by giving priority to the God,” Jai Shankar added. 

The artisans say that the rapid evolution of marketing trends through social media in every field, in which influencers draw customers and hold their attention for a long time, has been one of the main reasons that customers never look up to the hard work they put in during the season.

The artisans also complain that these influencers and middlemen even divert their regular customers, resulting in poor annual business, and they are now anticipating a huge loss this year compared to before.

As the Vinayaka Chathurthi festival falls on September 14 this year, idol installation committee members from across the state have already begun a hectic search for and purchase of idols.

The tiny village of Mela Kondayampettai near Srirangam used to be bustling with activities, as the villagers are usually immensely involved in making Vinayakar idols. But things have changed over the past few years, and this year it has turned from bad to worse, as the handpicked idol-making units which survive now have seen several varieties of idols still waiting for customers.

“In those days, each unit in Mela Kondayampettai used to make at least 100 idols ranging from three feet to 10 feet, and the devotees from across the state used to throng to this sleepy village during the festival days. But now, they have been hesitant to make idols as most of the sheds have stocks of idols made last year due to poor business and now, like any other business, the middlemen have entered into this business and they eat our profit by making negotiations with the prices. We relent to their offers to avoid loss of money,” said P Manikandan (52), a fifth-generation idol maker from Mela Kondayampettai and owner of Sri Annapoorani Kalai Koodam.

Manikandan referred to the social media influencers as the latest threat to their business. He said that they commence their work from the month of Thai and complete it just a week before the Vinayakar Chathurthi festival.

“In those days, we got orders from the regular customers with certain customised models, and we prepared them without negotiating the quality, and they would come on the particular day and take the idols. But nowadays, we face less business and, sensing this, a few social media influencers approach us for making reels for their pages and even give their contact numbers for their likes, shares, comments and their business,” complains Manikandan.

He said that recently, a group of three persons approached him and video-recorded the making of idols and the available idols, asked him a few questions, and went back.

“After a few days, one of those people ordered three 10-foot idols and negotiated for prices, and the amount he suggested was just the making charge. To avoid stagnation of stocks, I had to hand them over, but he ate my profit without any sweat, and I decided not to entertain such people in my unit anymore,” he said.

He also said that a few people approached him a week back for a social media video shooting.

“I refused, and they even convinced me of making good business through their page followers, but still I refused. We toil for months; they (influencers) make money within seconds,” worried Manikandan.

Like the social media influencers, the middlemen too have become another threat to the traditional idol makers.

“There are several middlemen across the state. They contact us and demand idols of certain variety and they fix the price. Even if we refuse to accept the price, they go to the extend of diverting our regular customers. We find no other way but to accept their offer and they fix the prices as per their will while selling after establishing galleries during the festival season,” Manikandan further said.

Apart from all these factors, the prices of raw materials had gone steeply high. Now, they are only allowed to make idols either from clay or from tapioca flour, which is soluble. The price of tapioca flour (50 kg) has increased to Rs 2,250 from 1,300, and the paper pulp piece to Rs 40 from 25, while the Casuarina pole (savukku pole) has increased to Rs 45,000 per tonne from 30,000. They need at least 20 kg of tapioca flour for making 4-foot idol.

“Despite there being less profit, we don’t want to quit this ancestral profession,” Manikandan said.

As almost all of these workers are traditional potters, their life style so humble, and they cannot even invest money in advance. They said that when they approach the banks, the officials refuse to give them loans, suspecting their promptness, and so are left with no option but borrowing money from money lenders for a hefty interest.

“The government should instruct banks to allow us small-scale industrial loans with certain subsidies,” Manikandan adds.

IDOL HUES

(Number of permitted idol installation spots in districts)

• Tiruchy Urban - 230

• Tiruchy Rural - 219

• Thanjavur Urban - 85

• Thanjavur rural - 697

• Tiruvarur - 485

• Nagapattinam - 380

• Mayiladuthurai - 395

• Pudukkottai - 482

• Karur - 286

• Perambalur - 256

• Ariyalur - 233

1. 3 ft, 5 ft, 7 ft and 10 ft are the different sizes of idols

2. Rs 6,500 to Rs 28,000 is the price range of idols

Thousands of people living in 98 villages in the Megamalai-Varusanadu hills at the southern end of the Western Ghats are facing a serious threat not from nature, but from bureaucracy.

“Bureaucrats view the forests and the people who depend on them for their livelihoods through a colonial lens to them, we are encroachers who should be uprooted at any cost,” said scores of forest dwellers, who participated in a solidarity march organised by the DYFI across the mountain villages of Varusanadu on August 29, demanding protection of their land and livelihoods from eviction.

The Supreme Court, in its direction issued on May 29, 2026, warned of deploying paramilitary forces to remove 4,600 families residing in the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, who were identified as encroachers based on the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The Court also directed authorities to clear kapok cultivation and disconnect electricity and water connections to encroached structures. The compliance hearing is scheduled for September 8.

“We’ll not leave this place. We’ve lived here for generations, and our forefathers taught us to consider this land sacred. Let them take our land after killing all of us,” said elders, women and children among the hundreds of traditional forest dwellers, who marched along the hilly roads towards Varusanadu town.

Living with nature

A loudspeaker mounted on a van travelling ahead of the procession played songs celebrating the people’s centuries-old love and attachment to the land. “See, this forest is our soul. We do not see ourselves as separate from it. This flora and fauna, birds and animals, air and water constitute us. How can the court call us outsiders?” fumed 76-year-old Sini Muppur from Veera Chinamalpuram village, who says he was just five years old when his family migrated to the hills with his great-grandfather Kayakudi.

Sini says he is the third generation in his family. “This forest was under the Gandamanayakanur Zamindar when we settled here,” he stated. “I still remember that, through a thandora (drum), a message was spread in weekly markets in places such as Usilampatti, Uthamapalayam, Theni and Cumbum, urging people to come and settle in the Varusanadu hills.”

It was a period of acute poverty, and it was difficult even to have a meal a day. “We didn’t own land; we were all agricultural labourers. If the entire family worked from early morning until sunset in the agricultural fields, we would be paid just Rs 5,” said Panjagam (76) from Selamuthaipuram village.

Karuppayya (82), from the same village, recalled, “You wouldn’t understand what hunger meant then. With this meagre amount, we had to feed 8 members of a family. Many times, elders in the family would feed their children, and then sleep with a towel soaked in water over their stomachs to fight hunger.”

Like Sini’s family, Panjagam and Karuppayya’s great-grandfathers brought their families from Cumbum to these hills to escape poverty. But it was not just these three families. Thousands of subalterns, mostly daily-wage labourers, migrated from the interior villages of the erstwhile Madurai district, which comprised the present-day Theni revenue district, and settled in 98 hamlets spread across nine panchayats, including Megamalai, Varusanadu and Thummakundu, in the Kadamalaikundu-Myladumparai Union. The accounts of residents suggest that the migration dates back nearly two centuries.

“We came not in search of economic prosperity, but simply to stay alive,” said Chinna Amma (80), her face grim as she walked down memory lane. “There were no roads, shops, electricity or houses when we came here. It was just us and these hills.”

There were bushes and trees everywhere. “We cleared some areas and ploughed them to cultivate samai (little millet), kuthiraivali (barnyard millet), thinai (foxtail millet) and kezhvaragu (finger millet). We got just 10 bags of grain in a year,” said Panjagam. “These were just enough to meet our food needs. We never thought of having anything more.”

Legacy of MGR

Over the years, as millet cultivation could not provide them with sufficient income to cope with the demands of a cash-driven economy, these people shifted from millets to cash crops such as lemongrass, silk cotton, cotton and cashew. Yet, they remained largely cut off from the outside world.

“In those days, the Vaigai River would flow for nearly 6-8 months in these areas, where it originates. Crossing the river to reach Varusanadu or Kadamalaikundu to sell agricultural produce remained very difficult for them,” recalled T Kannan (69), district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, Theni.

Kannan, from Jayamangalam village near the Vaigai dam, first visited these hills in the mid 1980s. He and other CPI (M) cadres were shocked to see K Veerayan, a former MLA, returning from an inspection of the Varusanadu hills completely drenched, with his white shirt and dhoti turned red from the soil.

Veerayan was part of a committee constituted by the then Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, to tour the 98 hills of the Megamalai-Varusanadu region and recommend measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of these people, he recalled.

MGR won the Assembly election from the Andipatti constituency, which comprises Varusanadu and Thummakundu in the Kadamalaikundu-Myladumparai Union, in 1984 while recuperating at the Brooklyn Hospital in the United States. “MGR was moved by the love and affection shown by these people and was also deeply concerned about their backwardness when he came to address a public meeting at Andipatti after recovering from his illness,” said a retired senior government officer who hails from the region.

What followed was the construction of bridges across the Vaigai river, electricity connections, laying of roads on patta land and distribution of house pattas to people in some hill villages. “If we’re encroachers, as claimed by the Court now, how did the then CM MGR provide house pattas, bridge connectivity and power supply to us?” asked Panjagam (76), referring to houses in Selamuthaipuram village.

Successive governments also established schools, ration shops, anganwadi centres and drinking water facilities in many villages, but the Forest Department did not express any objections to these activities at the time, said the villagers.

State playing villain

The first list of 1,595 encroachers released by the district administration for eviction included the names of 14 members of the Paliyar tribe from Nochiyodai tribal hamlet in the Varusanadu hills. Ironically, authorities had granted them individual pattas under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, between 2018 and 2023.

“We had applied for FRA pattas for 29 families living in Nochiyodai tribal hamlet in 2010. After a lot of struggle, we secured FRA pattas for 18 members, as well as community rights under the FRA for all families, which give these tribes legal rights to manage and protect their traditional community forest land and resources,” said S Thanaraj, a tribal rights activist.

“What is troubling me most is that this list was prepared after the Central Empowered Committee visited the area and discussed with officials how to identify genuine encroachers. It raises questions about the mechanism they followed to identify the encroachers. Did they really look into the FRA?” he asked. “Even if tribal forest dwellers did not have pattas, they should not be considered as encroachers under the FRA.”

This clearly shows the Forest department's intention to evict the tribal people, which according to Thanraj, started after the State government declared it as a Reserve Forest in 2009. Subsequently it was declared as Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in 2009 and later, as the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in 2021.

The situation appears to be the same for non-tribal traditional forest dwellers. “Many ask us why we did not obtain land pattas when the government appointed a settlement tahsildar long ago to settle our patta claims. But our answer is that we’re illiterate, tied to the land. Moreover, we do not have sufficient money to pursue the claims,” said several elders aged above 70 living in the hills.

After the Zamindari system was abolished and the land was brought under the Tamil Nadu Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948, eligible occupants became entitled to Ryotwari pattas. “In 1967, during the DMK regime, they gave us pattas. Some people who could afford the expenses managed to get pattas, but many could not. The process is cumbersome,” laments Panjagam.

As mentioned earlier, there was no road connectivity to these places. “In such a situation, we had to make arrangements for a land surveyor to come to our land, bring the survey chain to measure it and pay Rs 25, besides providing food for him,” he said.

“When we’re cut off from the mainland, how is it possible for all the people living in the interior hills to know all these procedures?” questioned the elders. “Our understanding of land ownership was minimal. All we knew was to work hard and earn enough to feed our families,”.

Farmers say that Forest officials visit their villages once every 15-20 days. “If they found us cutting one or two trees, they would ask for money. We would pay them, and then they would leave. Now we’re called encroachers. Even if we cut a tree, we’ll plant another one elsewhere because this forest has given us life for generations,” said women farmers from Vandiyur village.

The village has a ration shop, a government school and facilities for the younger generation to flourish. “Since 2009, we’ve constantly lived in fear because the Government stopped all development activities after that. Now, we’re ready to die on the land where we were born,” said the group of women with grim faces.

FRA regulations

People living in the 98 hills are anxious over their loss of living space because successive governments have viewed them primarily through the lens of electoral benefits, while the bureaucracy has continued to function with a colonial mindset, environmental activists alleged.

“The forests in India belong to indigenous people who have lived there for centuries, preserving them rather than exploiting them, as claimed by bureaucrats. It was the British Raj that first introduced the Tamil Nadu Forest Act in 1882 to exploit the country’s natural resources and forcibly evicted large numbers of tribal people and other traditional forest dwellers who depended on the forests,” explained CR Bijoy, a prominent environmental activist.

“The Megamalai-Varusanadu hills, where the Vaigai originates, have a long history of human settlement. Even today, artefacts can be found there. The Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology and the Archaeological Survey of India have identified more than 100 megalithic sites,” pointed out Pavel Bharathi, founder of the Archaeological and Cultural Forum for Vaigai. “These sites can be dated back to around 1000 BC.”

The British introduction of the the draconian Criminal Tribes Act in 1871, which criminalised entire communities in India and targeted the Piramalai Kallar community in the Usilampatti region, forced many of them to migrate to these hills. “A large number of people migrated to these hills during the Madras Famine of 1876-78,” said Pavel.

Against this backdrop of historical injustice done to tribes and traditional forest dwellers across the country, the Central government enacted the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, to safeguard the traditional rights of tribal people and forest dwellers. “The Act recognised traditional forest dwellers as an integral part of the forest ecosystem,” said Bijoy. “Under the FRA, claims over forest land must first be examined by the Gram Sabha (village assembly), followed by the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) and finally by the District Level Committee (DLC). Neither bureaucrats nor courts are empowered to determine whether a person qualifies as a traditional forest dweller.”

Additionally, countering Forest official’s claims under section 4 notifications in 1978 under Tamil Nadu Forest Act 1882, only 168 claims were received and considered for Patta, a government officer, said that the then Madurai district Collector had reported to the State Government on June 16, 1970, that there were 7,964 occupants in this region who demanded rights over pattas, not leases.

“Accordingly, the Collector, on June 30, 1970, recommended issuing pattas. Therefore, the forest officials’ allegation that the encroachers are subsequent encroachers are without any basis,” the officer said. “No notice was served on those 7,964 occupants as warranted under Section 6 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act.”

“What we’re requesting the court is to provide sufficient time for the people who have been identified as encroachers, including 118 government employees, to establish their claims under the FRA,” said Maruthu Pandi, secretary of the Traditional Forest Dwellers’ Rights Association, adding that they also support the removal of illegal encroachments and the preservation of the forest.

WHAT THE COURT SAID

• Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered the demolition of illegal lodges, resorts, and commercial plantations on protected forest land, alongside cutting off electricity and water supplies to these areas

• All government establishments, public utilities, and unauthorised infrastructure within the Tiger Reserve be discontinued, relocated, dismantled, or removed within 6 months

• TN told to initiate disciplinary and legal action under the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules against 118 serving and retired government employees identified as encroachers

"While the same hands that launch rockets admired by the world are being forced to submit petitions and letters seeking job security, proper wages and livelihood, is this not a tragedy?" he asked.

Tagore alleged that the BJP government was attempting to hand over the institution, built over decades through the efforts of Indian scientists in pursuit of self-reliance, to corporate interests.

He added that the country celebrated ISRO's achievements, including rocket launches, lunar and solar missions and plans to send humans into space, but questioned whether the hardships faced by its scientists and employees were being adequately recognised. "ISRO is an identity of India. We will not allow it to be handed over to private players and destroyed," Tagore said.

He said ISRO scientists had worked round the clock, often sacrificing family time and enduring heavy workloads, stress and the emotional burden of failures before achieving major breakthroughs.

He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public appearances with scientists during successful missions, asking why their concerns over employment and rights were not receiving similar attention.

Sowmiya Anbumani inspected the ongoing works being carried out under the 'Neithal Restoration and Protection Works' project at Pallikaranai and later interacted with the media. She said the project, which was intended to protect the wetland, could have the opposite effect by interfering with its role as a natural floodwater storage and drainage system.

The PMK MLA said, "Instead of protecting the wetland, the government is constructing a concrete compound wall. During the monsoon, when rainwater accumulates, there will be no adequate outlet for the water. This could result in water stagnating in residential areas surrounding the marshland and cause serious damage," she alleged.

Questioning the need for a walkway within the wetland, Sowmiya said a concrete structure was unnecessary to protect the marshland. "There is no need for a concrete compound wall. A simple fence would be sufficient to protect the wetland. If a walkway is required, it can be constructed outside the wetland. Why should Rs 21 crore be borrowed and spent on constructing a walkway inside the marshland?" she asked.

Sowmiya said the funds could instead have been utilised to clean and restore the Pallikaranai marshland. She urged the government to formulate a comprehensive plan to conserve wetlands rather than undertake construction activities that could alter their natural functioning.

She further demanded that the government officially notify the area as a Ramsar site and strengthen its protection. "The government must protect wetlands. We will bring this issue to the attention of the Tamil Nadu government," she said.

Government officials assured that the authorities would adopt a humanitarian approach while implementing the Supreme Court’s orders.

“The Court hasn’t given the final verdict yet. We request people not to get carried away by rumours about the immediate eviction of encroachers,” said a senior government officer. “We’ve so far sealed resorts and disconnected water and electricity connections to such structures. We’ve not carried out any such action in the hills where people are living.”

The district administration is also processing claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) submitted by residents. “After farmers’ organisations brought to our notice that a separate Gram Sabha, as required under the FRA, had not been formed in the forest villages, we initiated the process,” the officer said. The Gram Sabha serves as the primary authority for initiating the process of receiving, consolidating and verifying claims for individual and community forest rights in forest areas under the FRA.

Regarding the authenticity of the recently released list of encroachers, a Forest Department source admitted that it was a clerical error that resulted in the inclusion of 14 members of the Paliyar tribe from Nochiyodai tribal hamlet. “We’ll not evict them because we have issued FRA pattas and community rights to them,” the source said.

“Moreover, even if the eviction process is initiated, we’ll not carry it out mechanically. We’ll verify each patta and cross-check it with the boundaries before evicting encroachers,” officials said.

Elaborating on encroachments in the forest by outsiders, a source at the Forest department said only about 20% of the encroachers living in Manjanur and a few other villages within 30 km of the Kerala forest boundary were people whose families had settled in the forest three generations ago. “They live in thatched houses and cultivate one or two plots. We’re seriously concerned about rehabilitating them,” the source said.

The second category comprises people who have patta land and houses but have allegedly encroached upon additional forest land for cultivation. “We’ll not disturb their patta land or houses. We’ll take over the encroached land,” the officer said.

The third category comprises people who allegedly migrated to the hills in the 1990s and encroached upon forest land while exploiting earlier settlers through money-lending activities, the source said. “How can we allow such activities in the forest? We’ll definitely take over the land, mainly to protect the forest,” the officer said.

The Coimbatore DVAC earlier this week booked P Irulappan (41), former CSCID sub-inspector, and R Praveen Kumar (40), a private individual, in connection with the alleged bribery racket.

A former CSCID head constable, V Rajkumar, who was also named as an accused, died in October 2021.

The DVAC alleged that the bank account and ATM card in Praveen's name were effectively controlled by Irulappan to receive and conceal illegal monthly payments. The account had a balance of Rs 5.74 lakh on August 26, 2021.

Irulappan allegedly told investigators that Rs 1.5 lakh belonged to Praveen, while the remaining amount represented "mamool" collected from transporters and others.

The alleged racket involved demanding monthly payments from transporters and sellers of essential commodities in return for not booking cases against them under the Essential Commodities Act.

The case originated from a 2021 complaint and a trap operation in which Rs 40,000 and a handwritten list of transporters and sellers, containing the amounts allegedly collected from them, were recovered from Rajkumar.

Another Rs 30,000 and the ATM card in Praveen's name were recovered from Irulappan.

The DVAC has booked Irulappan under Sections 120B and 213 of the IPC and Section 7 (a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Praveen has been booked under Section 7 (a) read with Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The accused were booked in 2021 by the DVAC in the trap case based on a complaint of demanding ‘mamool’ from a trader for permitting him to conduct the business of collecting waste oil from auto carriage workshops in Coimbatore.

The latest case originated from the earlier case investigation.

But returning her to the State is still unclear, not just due to the administrative coordination between officials in the two states but with Saira’s only known relative now living in Kuwait.

Bano, around 50, was found at the Mandi bus stand in August 2021 and has since been under care at a One Stop Centre.

Her family could not be traced for years as she was unable to provide enough information about herself and had difficulty communicating in Hindi. Also, Saira’s struggle with mental health issues made the situation worse.

“She was unable to provide enough information about herself,” said Sub-Divisional Magistrate N Samritika, who met Saira during a visit to the centre in August 2026. “I happened to know that she was very aggressive initially, she used to beat others. Subsequent treatment and trust building have calmed her nerves down. Yet, she was unable to communicate.”

The search acquired a new lead only in 2026. During an interaction, Saira repeatedly uttered a word that sounded like “Panniyur”. “We did not know if Panniyur was a person’s name, village or town,” the SDM said.

Saira subsequently provided more information, including names of family members, and indicated that Panniyur was near the coast.

Turns out, it was ‘Panaiyur’ along the ECR. The case was eventually connected to an NGO, The Banyan in Chennai. The organisation followed the leads in Tamil Nadu and traced Farook Muhammad Ansari, her nephew.

Farook, who lives and works in Kuwait, spoke to Saira over a video call, which also helped her caregivers in Himachal to understand more about her life before she reached Himachal Pradesh.

Farook explained that Saira had a mental illness. After her parents death and with no immediate family members, he sent her to a centre in Bengaluru for care with the help of members of religious communities.

Saira subsequently left/escaped the centre, but how she travelled from Bengaluru to Himachal Pradesh remains a mystery.

“Farook is now the only known relative available to Saira but he told me that he would not be able to personally care for his aunt,” stated Samritika, SDM. “At the same time, the video call showed the importance of reconnecting her with people who could speak her language. She was so happy to see her own people.”

The Mandi administration has now forwarded the case to the district administration and the Women and Child Development authorities.

Tamil Nadu police have also been alerted, and officials are working on arrangements to bring Bano back to the state. The process will also require documentation, as Saira does not have an Aadhaar card.

“Once procedures are done, she will soon be transferred to her home state soon,” the SDM said.

The VCK chief, along with the State Social Welfare Minister Vanni Arasu, met the Union minister on Sunday and submitted a detailed memorandum seeking Rs 466.33 crore in central assistance for various tribal welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu. He defended meeting the BJP leader hailing from Odisha, despite his staunch opposition to the saffron party, saying that meeting people for the benefit of Tamil Nadu's people isn't wrong.

Meanwhile, in response to statements positioning Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate, the VCK president said it should not be construed as the party’s official position.

Thirumavalavan said that some TVK leaders and ministers may have expressed such views out of personal enthusiasm, but their remarks should not be taken as the party’s stand.

“Why should we discuss the prime ministerial candidate now when the next Lok Sabha election is due only in 2029? Some North Indian media organisations have unnecessarily included Vijay in the race for Prime Minister, perhaps for political reasons. This does not mean that the TVK is opposed to the Congress,” he said.

Thirumavalavan said the VCK would participate in the TVK’s second post-poll electoral meeting to be chaired by Vijay on September 9. On the law-and-order situation in the State, he said it was currently good but stressed that sustained efforts were necessary to maintain peace and security, regardless of which party was in power.

Thirumavalavan said a special law to prevent honour killings would be enacted based on the recommendations of the Justice KN Basha Committee. He said the committee had sought a nine-month extension to submit its report and expressed confidence that the recommendations would form the basis for appropriate legislation.

He also called for constructive debates in the Assembly and Parliament, saying discussions should focus on issues affecting the people rather than degenerating into confrontation. The VCK leader also criticised organisations that were promoting religious ideas under the guise of teaching yoga. “While we are committed to secular principles, religious ideas should not be promoted through such activities, as this could affect social unity,” he said.

Addressing an IUML meeting in Tiruvannamalai, the Vaniyambadi MLA alleged that two muftis approached them after the Assembly elections with cash and a letterhead, asking them to pick ministerial portfolios.

“They came looking for Shahjahan and me, brought crores of rupees and said they would give us ministerial posts if we signed. We are not people who bow to crores; we stand by our principles,” Basha said, adding they were specifically offered the Local Administration and Transport portfolios.
“We told them Allah is the one who can give us a position. We were not prepared to compromise our principles for their posts and sent them away,” he said.

Shahjahan was subsequently inducted into the Vijay cabinet, while the party leadership had also sought a cabinet position for Basha.

Basha’s remarks have triggered an intense war of words between the DMK and TVK on social media, with the IT wings of both parties accusing each other of making the offer.

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures in north interior Tamil Nadu are expected to remain 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal until September 10.

On Monday (September 7), thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km per hour are likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

Isolated areas along the Western Ghats are expected to experience moderate rain with thunderstorms.

Additionally, light to moderate rains with thunderstorms are expected at isolated places in North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on September 10.

For Chennai, Monday's maximum temperature will hover around 37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature will drop to 26 degrees Celsius.

Some areas in the city are likely to receive light rain with thunderstorms and lightning during the evening and night.

In a statement, the Vriddhachalam MLA said harvested paddy was lying along roadsides and in open spaces in several districts, including Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur, as direct procurement had not been undertaken adequately.

With the onset of the monsoon, the exposed grain could get soaked, germinate or rot, she said. Premallatha also claimed that recent rains had completely damaged paddy crops in parts of Tiruvarur district and sought immediate compensation and relief for affected farmers.

She demanded temporary protective measures for stocks awaiting procurement and urged the government to ensure that farmers were paid without delay upon purchase of their produce.

"Protecting the livelihood of farmers and not disregarding their hard work is the government's primary responsibility," she said.

Premallatha said farmers who had invested their labour and money in cultivation were facing severe financial losses and urged the government to act on a war footing to prevent further damage.

She also stressed the need for timely procurement and proper storage arrangements to ensure that harvested paddy did not go to waste.

The DMDK leader called upon the State government to address the issue without further delay and provide adequate relief to farmers whose standing crops had been damaged by the rains.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay opened the sluice gates of the reservoir on September 1 to facilitate samba cultivation

The water release is expected to continue for 45 days, until October 15. The discharge was initially fixed at 3,000 cusecs and was subsequently increased to 7,000 cusecs. With the demand for irrigation water increasing, the discharge was raised further to 10,000 cusecs from Sunday evening.

As of Sunday, the water level in the Mettur Dam stood at 92.39 feet, while the inflow into the reservoir was recorded at 9,709 cusecs. The water released from the dam is expected to benefit nearly 16 lakh acres of farmland across 13 Delta districts.

The girl, K Kaviksha, studying Class 3 at Panchayat Union Primary School in Kuppichipalayam, suffered a fracture in her leg while playing at the school on August 24.

"Two days later, she was taken to a private hospital in Paramathi Velur, where she was treated with a plaster cast. However, the condition of the girl deteriorated, and she was taken to two other private hospitals in Paramathi Velur and Namakkal, where doctors, upon examination, informed the family that the condition of the girl’s leg had deteriorated severely,” police said.

The girl’s parents, Kannan, who runs a fish stall and Kavya of Poyyeri near Paramathi Velur, then admitted her to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry on August 30.

The girl’s right leg was amputated up to the knee, and despite treatment, she died on Sunday.

Following the girl’s death, parents and relatives gathered outside the private hospital in Paramathi Velur and staged a protest claiming that improper treatment led to her death.

As there was no response from the hospital, the protesters placed the girl’s body on the Paramathi Velur-Namakkal Road and resorted to a roadblock. They then shifted the protest to the Karur-Namakkal bypass road.

Namakkal SP Yadav Girish Ashok and other police officials reached the spot and held talks and persuaded the protesters to withdraw the agitation.

Subsequently, the girl’s body was sent to Namakkal GMCH for post-mortem. In a further development, the police summoned the doctor from the private hospital and questioned him. Further inquiries are under way.

Rajmohan, who underwent two days of scuba-diving training in Chennai, entered the sea with the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) Director VP Jeyaseelan, and observed work in waters about 10 metres deep.

He interacted with the archaeology team and divers.

Adviser to TNSDA Prof K Rajan, Joint Director R Sivanantham and other officials were among those present. A team of about 25 personnel, equipped with diving gear and cameras, is involved in the operation.

The department, in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University, had conducted two phases of exploration in 2025 and in March this year. The latest phase will continue for 20 days.

Poompuhar, or Kaveripoompattinam, is identified by the TNSDA as an ancient port city of the Sangam period at the confluence of the Cauvery and the sea. Earlier underwater investigations have documented structural remains and artefacts.

“I am happy to have personally participated in the exploration and seen ancient Poompuhar beneath the sea,” Rajmohan said.

Rajmohan’s dive is notable among political visits to submerged heritage sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had scuba-dived off Dwarka in Gujarat in February 2024, visiting the submerged site associated with the ancient city.

The consultation, titled "A Decade of Implementation and the Way Forward, " was conducted with Justice G Jayachandran, chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) Committee. Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice S Srimathy, members of the committee, also participated in the deliberations.

The programme brought together representatives from the judiciary, senior government departments, police leadership, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), child care institutions and organisations working in the field of child rights.

Participants reviewed the progress made in implementing the JJ Act and discussed measures required to make child protection mechanisms more effective, accessible and accountable. Reflections on the Act's functioning during the last ten years were also shared during the consultation, along with recommendations for the next decade.

As one of the participants, Andrew Jesuraj, a child rights activist, said, "A major focus was placed on preventing children from entering vulnerable situations through early identification and timely intervention. Strengthening the functioning of CWCs, JJBs and child care institutions was identified as another key priority."

The discussions also highlighted the need to support families and reduce avoidable institutionalisation by expanding adoption, foster care and other family-based care options. Greater attention was sought for children with disabilities and special needs.

With children increasingly exposed to risks online, participants stressed the importance of strengthening safeguards against digital exploitation and emerging forms of abuse. Better coordination among child protection agencies, police, healthcare, education and social welfare departments was also emphasised.

The consultation further underlined the importance of involving children meaningfully in decisions affecting them and strengthening professional social work services.

Speakers noted that effective implementation, accountability and responsive institutions are essential for translating the objectives of the JJ Act into tangible improvements in children's safety, dignity, development and long-term well-being.