The officials and employees of from UFBU comprised of seven unions called on a protest demanding to implement the bilateral agreement signed in 2024 agreeing to declare holiday for all Saturdays, old pension scheme, the government to bear the expenses of medical insurance of retired bank employees, appoint adequate number of clerical and sub ordinate staff and increase gratuity amount.

As per the announcement, the members of UFBU assembled in front of the Regional Office of SBI in Tiruchy, headed by the Coordinators K Gurunathan and G Ramaraju and staged a protest.

The members also raised slogans in support of their demands. Since the one-day token strike, around 300 branches of various PSU banks have closed, and business worth Rs 100 crore was affected on a single day.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the incident came to light at Othakkal Mandapam near Chettipalayam, where an unused plot under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department is located. Residents noticed a human hand sticking out of the soil and alerted the Chettipalayam police.

Police and forensic experts rushed to the spot and excavated the area, recovering the body of a man believed to be around 25 years old. The body was sent to a government hospital for postmortem.

Police probe

A preliminary investigation revealed that the man had allegedly been beaten to death and buried at the deserted site in an attempt to conceal his identity. A case was registered and a detailed probe was launched.

Based on suspicion, police arrested six persons from Tripura — Duythe Ryang (22), Sunil Rai Ryang (24), Kothoram Ryang (30), Sumit Kumar (20), Sramit Tarang (35) and Santosh Kumar (20).

During interrogation, police identified the deceased as Badal Shit (24), a native of West Bengal. The arrested persons allegedly confessed to assaulting and killing him. Police are continuing their investigation to ascertain the motive behind the murder.

Thirumavalavan said Vijay had initially proposed naming the alliance the "Social Justice Victory Alliance" and sought the constituents' support for the name. He said he immediately suggested including the word "secular".

"You can give the alliance any name, but the word secular should be present somewhere in it. Vijay immediately agreed and said there was nothing wrong with using the term," he said.

Thirumavalavan said the inclusion of the word was necessary to avoid any ambiguity over the alliance's political position.

"If you don't use the word secular, there will be criticism that there is some wavering in your anti-BJP position or that you are hesitant to oppose the BJP. If you use the word secular, it clearly means opposition to the BJP and the RSS," he said.

He said "social justice" alone could not define the alliance's ideological position, as the BJP, caste-based groups and Left parties were also speaking about it.

"We never expected Vijay to come towards us. When he showed closeness to Congress, I was shocked. The BJP will target and exert pressure on any party that maintains close ties with Congress. But Vijay had the courage to accept Congress's support," he said.

Thirumavalavan also urged VCK cadres not to respond to criticism on social media. "Whatever anyone says on social media, do not pay attention to it or react to it. From now on, Tamil Nadu politics will increasingly be alliance politics in which VCK has a place," he said.

The Left party demanded that the project be scrapped at the present site and an alternative location identified. The protest will be led by CPI south Chennai district secretary SK Siva at 11 am near the Loop Road junction bus terminus at Pattinapakkam. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian will address the protest.

The party has said the proposed project would affect the residential areas and livelihood of fishing communities in the locality. It has demanded that all work related to the project be stopped immediately and a suitable alternative site be selected.

Meanwhile, CPM sought an all-party meeting over the issue. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said the government should not rush into a decision on a project intended to serve as a long-term administrative complex. He said fishing villages surrounding the proposed site had already expressed strong opposition.

"Since all major government offices are currently within Chennai, shifting the Secretariat and Assembly outside the city is also not appropriate. The government should convene an all-party meeting and identify a location acceptable to all. Until then, no work should begin at the site currently selected," he said.

Speaking at a party functionary’s marriage in Dharmapuri, Thirumavalavan said his delayed arrival at the venue led to a massive crowd build-up that eventually resulted in the stampede and deaths. “All those responsible for the tragedy should have been named in the case, and I alleged that the DMK had underestimated the TVK at the time. I said a case should be filed against Vijay in the Karur incident. Why did the DMK hesitate and act liberally? All those who were responsible for the tragedy should have been included in the case. Shouldn’t you have then exposed the politics of Vijay?” he asked.

Thirumavalavan said the DMK should have responded when Vijay began targeting the party. “When Vijay targeted the DMK, it should have reacted. But I spoke against Vijay, criticising him for having RSS affiliations, and I did not have confidence in him,” he said.

However, he said his assessment of Vijay had changed after observing the latter’s political approach. “Today, I have gained confidence in the style of his politics. He has not sought support from the DMK, BJP or PMK, while reaching out to the VCK, Left parties and the Congress after elections. He decided to align with the Congress even after knowing that the BJP may cause disturbances,” he said.

Turning his criticism towards the DMK, the VCK leader blamed the party for failing to maintain cordial relations with its allies, which, he said, eventually forced the VCK and other parties to leave the alliance.

“The DMK-Congress relationship got strained during seat allocation before the polls. The MDMK was forced to contest on the DMK’s symbol, while MNM leader Kamal Haasan was not allotted seats. Suddenly, the DMDK was brought into the alliance and allocated a large number of seats. This did not go down well with the other alliance parties that had been with the DMK for a long time. The DMK is 100 per cent responsible for forcing its allies to leave the alliance,” he said.

Thirumavalavan also recalled that Adhav Arjuna, when he was with the VCK, had proposed an action plan to project him as the next Chief Minister and had urged him to leave the DMK-led alliance.

“However, I refused, as breaking the alliance would have paved the way for the BJP-AIADMK alliance to become stronger in Tamil Nadu. If I had changed my stance then, the history of Tamil Nadu politics would have undergone a change,” he said.

The development comes at a time when seats at government medical colleges and government quota seats in private medical colleges in the State have already been filled in the first round of MBBS and BDS counselling.

During the second round of counselling, only a limited number of seats, mainly under the management and NRI quotas, are available.

In this backdrop, the medical education regulator has granted permission to start a new private medical college in Kancheepuram district with 150 MBBS seats. In addition, 50 seats each have been sanctioned in two existing private medical colleges in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts.

Importantly, all 250 newly sanctioned seats have been permitted to be filled under the State quota. The students who will be participating in the second round of medical counselling will be allowed to take the seats.

Students who will attend the second round of medical counselling can apply for the seat, said the Medical Education Admission Committee, adding that students who have already secured seats can also apply for re-allotment against the newly available seats

In its notification, the Medical Education Admission Committee said students who have already secured seats after participating in the second round of counselling can also apply for re-allotment against the newly available seats.

The addition of the 250 seats is expected to provide another opportunity for eligible NEET UG candidates who are seeking MBBS seats under the State quota.

With the seats becoming available at this stage of the counselling process, 250 more students will now have an opportunity to secure admission to the MBBS course in the State.

Karnataka has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Cauvery Water Management Authority's direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu.

The CWMA on Tuesday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

"The petition will come up for hearing (on Monday). The state government was compelled to continue releasing water to Tamil Nadu until that day based on the advice of legal experts, as directly approaching the court in violation of the CWRC order could have jeopardised the petition," the state's Water Resources minister said.

Despite the acute water shortage in the state, the government was in a difficult position as it had to comply with court orders within the framework of the federal system, he said.

"Over the last 20 years, this is the year when the least amount of water has been released to Tamil Nadu. Even during similarly difficult situations in the past, there have been instances where 35 TMC of water was released," the minister was quoted as saying by his office in a release.

Chaluvarayaswamy said the government had always been committed to protecting farmers' interests, adding that the state's officials and legal team were presenting strong arguments before the court.

Currently, water is being supplied to farmers for their crops on a rotational basis, while efforts are also being made to fill lakes and tanks, he said.

The minister further said sufficient water would be reserved in the four major reservoirs in the Cauvery basin to ensure there was no shortage of drinking water between December and June.

The government did not want to engage in political mudslinging with the Opposition over the Cauvery issue, he said.

"If BJP MPs from Karnataka and union ministers take steps to secure the Centre's approval for the Mahadayi and Mekedatu projects, it would provide a permanent solution to the state's water-related concerns," he said.

The minister said discussions had already been held with the Union Jal Shakti Minister (CR Patil) regarding the Mekedatu project and expressed confidence that approval would be secured soon.

Regarding cloud seeding undertaken in the state, Chaluvarayaswamy said the exercise had not produced the expected results during its initial phase. However, he expressed hope that favourable weather conditions after the Gauri-Ganesha festival would lead to better results.

According to the farmers, the water released from the Amaravathi dam located at Udumalaipettai in Tirupur district is the main source of water for drinking and irrigation in districts like Tirupur and Karur.

Since there was no adequate water released from the dam, it failed to reach Karur and its tail-end parts for the past several months, and so the Amaravathi Ayacutdars could not concentrate on cultivation of crops. There is an acute water shortage even for drinking purposes for the people and the cattle.

Against such a backdrop, the farmers from Karur appealed to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to release adequate water from the Amaravathi dam to Karur, and so the court directed the Water Resources Department to release 1,000 cusecs of water to Karur.

Subsequently, the state government directed the officials to release 1,000 cusecs of water from August 31 to September 7. Since the riverbed was parched due to scarcity of water, the release of 1,000 cusecs would fail to reach the tail-end part of the district, and so the farmers from the district demanded the release of between 2,000 and 3,000 cusecs.

They also staged a protest at Chinna Dharapuram along the Karur and Tirupur border, and the officials who held talks assured to increase the quantum of water, but it was not practised.

Meanwhile, the water released from Amaravathi reached Andankovil check dam on September 7, but it failed to reach the tail-end parts like Koyampalli, Tirumanilaiyur and Tirumukkoodalur till Thursday.

Subsequently, the irate farmers who benefited from Amaravathi irrigation, belonging to Sanapiratti, S Vellalapatti, Melapalayam, Kunnanur, Emur Puthur and Puliyur converged in front of the Karur Collectorate on Friday and attempted to besiege the office.

On receiving information, Collector C Muthukumaran held talks with the farmers. The Collector told the farmers that he had requested the Tirupur Collector to step up the release of water for the benefit of Karur farmers based on the water availability. The Collector also assured them of getting water at the earliest.

However, the farmers who temporarily withdrew the protest decided to intensify it if Amaravati water failed to reach the tail-end parts within a week.

Earlier on September 2, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced the introduction of a facility to digitally download driving licences and RCs on the day of completion of the driving test and vehicle registration, respectively.

Following the announcement, the Transport Commissioner issued a communication proposing to discontinue the existing manual mode of issuance and dispatch of driving licences and RCs, and implement an exclusive, digital-only mode from September 12.

Challenging the proposed system, Force Identification Private Limited, a Bengaluru-based ID card printing company, filed a petition before the High Court.

In its plea, the company contended that the decision to discontinue the manual issuance and dispatch of driving licences and RCs and introduce the digital-only mode was contrary to the laws of the central government, and sought a stay on the implementation of the Tamil Nadu government's decision to digitise the issuance of the documents.

When the case came up hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, the petitioner's counsel argued that people without mobile phones or smartphones would be unable to access their documents under an entirely digital system, and sought continuation of the existing practice of providing printed copies.

Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that from September 12, people could download the documents through e-Seva centres and obtain printed copies. He said the system would be implemented through the central government's Parivahan website.

After hearing both sides, the bench directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its response within two weeks and adjourned the hearing.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the proposed location, along Santhome Road adjoining the Pattinapakkam beach, was already heavily congested. The area has fishermen’s settlements, residential neighbourhoods, schools and significant vehicular movement, and the construction of a major administrative complex could further worsen traffic congestion and inconvenience residents, he said.

He recalled that during the AIADMK governments led by former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, efforts had been made to identify a suitable location for a new Secretariat without space constraints or traffic-related problems.

Palaniswami said that farmers’ issues and several social welfare concerns remained unresolved, while the State was facing a severe financial crisis. In such circumstances, borrowing Rs 1,200 crore for the construction of a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam was unnecessary, he argued.

He urged the government to drop the proposal and consider constructing a new Secretariat only after the State’s financial position improved. Any future site, he said, should be selected carefully to ensure that it does not create traffic problems or cause hardship to residents.

Palaniswami also urged Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to reconsider the proposal and abandon the plan to construct the new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam.

Pappaiah made significant contributions to Tamil language and literature, having moderated more than 12,000 debates during his illustrious career.

He also authored commentaries on several ancient Tamil literary works, including the Thirukkural.

In recognition of his contribution to Tamil, he was honoured with the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani award in 2000.

He also acted in several films, including Rajinikanth-starrer Sivaji.

Solomon Pappaiah's funeral arrangements

According to a media reports, the mortal remains of veteran Tamil scholar and pattimandram speaker Solomon Pappaiah have been kept at his residence in Gnanolipuram near Arappalayam in Madurai for the public and leaders to pay their last respects. His final rites are scheduled to be held at the Thathaneri electric crematorium in Madurai tomorrow afternoon, according to his family.

Solomon Pappaiah's career and awards

Solomon Pappaiah was born in 1936 at Sathankudi near Tirumangalam in Madurai district. He served as a professor in the Tamil department at Madurai American College and became widely known for his humorous and engaging speeches at pattimandrams and public events.

His popularity took him to several countries, including the US, Australia and Singapore, where he participated in pattimandram programmes. He was honoured with the Kalaimamani award (2000) by the Tamil Nadu government and the Padma Shri (2021) by the Central government.

Pappaiah had participated and spoken at a pattimandram organised by a private television channel in Sivakasi on September 5.

Leaders condole Solomon Pappaiah's death

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the death of Solomon Pappaiah, saying his demise was a great loss to the Tamil-speaking world. In a post on X, Vijay said Pappaiah had used his humour and deep knowledge of Tamil to take social ideas to people in a simple manner and had transformed pattimandrams from mere entertainment programmes into platforms that encouraged thought.

DMK president MK Stalin also expressed shock and grief over Pappaiah's death. He recalled that festivals such as Pongal and New Year had become closely associated with Pappaiah's pattimandram programmes among Tamil people.

Stalin also recalled meeting Pappaiah when he visited Madurai last May for a public interaction, saying Pappaiah had come to his doorstep to welcome him.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed shock and grief over the veteran speaker's death. He said Pappaiah had entertained people through his humorous speeches while taking the richness of the Tamil language and Tamil culture to the younger generation.

Palaniswami said Pappaiah's death was an irreparable loss to the Tamil literary world and the pattimandram field.

Since Vijay has joined hands with the very parties he once dismissed as "and others," he has become one among the "and others."

DMK's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli', referring to the ruling party-led combine being named as the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, said: "look at their faces." Apparently, it was referring to the alliance leaders of the ruling party.

It said Vijay has now brought together all the very parties he labelled as "cash-box alliance parties" before the Assembly polls. "Going by Vijay's own words, should not they now be called the cash box alliance parties."

Vijay was the very person who thought these parties were not even worthy of being named. He dismissed them simply as "and others." Now, he is showing a "thumbs up" sign after bringing together these very "and others."

The DMK newspaper in its editorial on September 11, 2026 said the CM has now become one of the "and others" as has joined forces with the rest of the "and others."

Vijay once said, "If you just walk past the gates of Arivalayam, they will call those parties inside and hand them seats."

Today, Vijay sits on the chief minister's chair supported by the very parties that earned their right to enter the legislative assembly by walking through those gates. He has conducted a photo shoot with same parties outside the gate of the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur, it claimed.

The CM also had ranted that the "Congress party has been sold out to the DMK."

Now, what did Vijay give in exchange to "buy" the Congress party, it asked.

During the run-up to the polls, the TVK chief mocked at the DMK-led alliance saying it was like a broken glass glued back together, a torn piece of cloth that has been mended, and also had asked if that alliance was aimed at people's welfare.

"Look at the alliance he has formed today, it looks just like a stitched up piece of torn cloth. The faces of the five people looks just like a broken glass," the write-up said.

The Murasoli's reference here is apparently to TVK chief Vijay, TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, and IUML and MDMK top leaders, KM Khader Mohideen and Vaiko respectively.

Further, the DMK newspaper said that Vijay did not secure the majority required to form a government.

The people of Tamil Nadu did not give his party 118 seats. Vijay had to resort to seeking "the mercy" of the DMK-led alliance parties he had once degraded.

Five nominees of the Congress party, two from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and two belonging to the Indian Union Muslim League won by contesting in the DMK alliance.

Also, two candidates of the MDMK won (in DMK symbol Rising Sun).

"By casting his net wide, offering two minister posts to the Congress party, one minister post to VCK and one to the IUML, Vijay managed to hold on to his chair."

Murasoli alleged that Vijay is an "opportunist" who secured the votes of 25 AIADMK MLAs --in the confidence vote in Assembly-- by dangling tempting promises of ministerial posts and board positions.

Once he proved his majority, he declared that they would not get any ministerial posts. He orchestrated a scheme to make AIADMK MLAs resign, induct them into his party, and face by-elections, it claimed.

The DMK mouthpiece claimed that Vaiko had admitted that Vijay engaged in "horse-trading." Vaiko stated before the media personnel, "Chief Minister Vijay asked me to make two MDMK MLAs resign. I conveyed this to both of them, and neither of them agreed."

He repeated this at his party's general council meeting as well. Both of these speeches exist as video footage, the DMK daily claimed.

Vaiko also gave a "confession statement." He had told his party MLAs (legally DMK legislators since elected on Rising Sun symbol) that "when chief minister Vijay himself has promised to make you win, why don't you just resign."

The DMK daily cited VCK chief Thirumavalavan's comments and quoted him as saying: "Why doesn't Vijay talk about the BJP? They are desperate to split us from the DMK alliance...Vijay wants to break our alliance...Vijay hasn't spoken about any welfare schemes for the people."

The same Thirumavalavan today stands with Vijay, the DMK daily apparently rued.

"Opportunism is visible on every single face and all of them together have participated in the photo shoot."

The DMK daily was referring to the christening of the TVK led bloc as Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance days ago and a picture released by the ruling party that showed the five leaders together displaying the thumbs up sign.

Hence, it is only fitting to call the alliance Vijay has formed now as one that lacks a conscience, an "Opportunistic Cash-box Alliance," it said.

Further, the DMK daily said it was borrowing Vijay's own words and hence, "Let there be no anger."

According to the police, Aakash (23) from Alangulam in Tenkasi district, who sustained grievous injuries to his head and legs, was undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit at the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. His wife, Sushmitha (21) from Melariyanayagipuram village, who sustained a cut injury to her hand, was also undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Though the couple belong to different communities, both are from the Backward Classes. Murugan, Sushmitha’s father, had strongly opposed their marriage, said the police.

Aakash and Sushmitha had studied at the same college and had been in love since their college days. After completing college, the duo got married three months ago despite strong opposition from Murugan, said the police.

Murugan’s daughter married outside the community against his wish; he later pretended to have accepted their decision to gain their trust and entry to their home

After their marriage, the couple rented a house at Sivakamipuram near Pavoorchatram and had been living there. Aakash was working as a daily-wage labourer in gooseberry farms in the village.

Meanwhile, Sushmitha’s father, Murugan, pretended to have accepted their marriage and started frequently visiting their house. During his visits, he used to buy groceries for his daughter, said the police.

On Thursday night at around 9.15 pm, when Aakash and his wife were at home, Murugan arrived on a motorcycle and parked it near their house, said the police.

He entered the house after allegedly concealing a sickle that he had brought with him. Before the couple could realise his motive, he allegedly attacked Aakash repeatedly with the sickle, causing injuries to his head and legs. He also allegedly attacked his daughter, causing a cut injury to her hand.

When the couple cried out in pain, neighbours rushed to the house. Murugan, however, allegedly escaped from the spot on his motorcycle.

After being informed, the Pavoorchatram police rushed to the spot and took the injured couple in a 108 ambulance to the Tenkasi Government Hospital for treatment. Aakash was later shifted to the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment, while Sushmitha continued to receive treatment.

The police later arrested Murugan in the Veeravanallur area on Friday morning and brought him to the Pavoorchatram police station for questioning.

With Vinayagar Chaturthi falling on Monday (September 14), the three-day holiday weekend has triggered a rush among Chennai residents heading to their hometowns.

As train tickets are usually sold out within minutes during festive periods, many passengers are turning to private omni buses.

Taking advantage of the increased demand, operators have raised fares significantly for services departing Chennai on Friday (September 11).

Fourfold price hike

The maximum fare from Chennai to Madurai has been fixed at Rs 4,013, while tickets to Coimbatore cost up to Rs 3,239.

The fare to Tirunelveli has risen to Rs 3,499, while passengers travelling to Kanniyakumari and Nagercoil have to shell out up to Rs 3,882 and Rs 3,699, respectively.

The maximum fare for buses to Erode has been fixed at Rs 2,580.

Fare details for September 14

Meanwhile, fares for the return journey to Chennai on Monday are also high. A ticket from Madurai to Chennai costs up to Rs 2,650, while the maximum fare from Coimbatore is Rs 2,999.

The fare from Tirunelveli to Chennai has touched Rs 3,999, while passengers travelling from Kanyakumari and Nagercoil have to pay up to Rs 3,831 and Rs 3,599, respectively. The maximum fare from Erode to Chennai stands at Rs 2,040.

With passenger demand expected to remain high on Sunday and Monday, fares could rise further, according to passengers and transport sources.

The statutory inspection of the newly electrified section was completed by Southern Railway Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Ganesh on September 9.

With this, the trains operating across Southern Railway's broad-gauge network will no longer require a change of traction between electrified and non-electrified stretches. This is expected to give the zone greater flexibility in deploying locomotives and improve their utilisation.

The completion of electrification is also expected to reduce dependence on diesel traction and improve energy efficiency. Southern Railway said it would facilitate faster train movement and contribute to more reliable services.

Southern Railway's electrification programme dates back several decades. Electric traction was first introduced in Madras on May 11, 1931, making it the second metropolitan city in India after Bombay to have electric traction. The 25 kV AC system was subsequently commissioned between Madras Beach and Tambaram in 1968.

The 11 injured labourers were rushed in ambulances to the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital, the Christian Medical College Hospital and a hospital in Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A police officer said the roof slab of the under-construction Church of South India edifice at Mandi Krishnapuram, near Katpadi, collapsed while labourers were pouring concrete for the roof.

"The 20-foot steel scaffolding and support framework structure collapsed all of a sudden, trapping the workers under heavy concrete debris and rubble," the officer said, confirming the deaths of three labourers.

A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Arakkonam, joined the district administration, police and fire service personnel in rescuing the trapped workers at the construction site.

Vellore District Collector PS Leela Alex, who was coordinating the rescue operation at the site on Thursday evening, told reporters that the condition of at least eight labourers was stable.

To a question, she replied that the administration would form a committee to investigate the exact cause of the structural failure and ascertain if the builder had secured all necessary approvals and building permits for the construction of the church.

The Advocate General appearing for the State government informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that there was no statutory obligation on the government to implement the Commission's recommendations in their entirety. The decision assumes political significance as the Leader of the Opposition challenged the ruling TVK government to implement the recommendations in full, when some minister questioned the earlier DMK government over the action taken on anti-Sterlite killings.

The AG submitted that Rs 25 lakh had already been paid to the families of those killed in the firing in accordance with Government Orders and indicated that the government would not pay the remaining Rs 25 lakh recommended by the Commission.

Countering this, petitioners' counsel Henri Tiphagne questioned the conscience of the State government on this issue.

Pointing out the alleged shortcomings in the CBI investigation, he submitted that the CBI had filed a chargesheet against only Thirumalai, the then Inspector of Police. He wondered whether the State Government would constitute a Special Investigation Team to conduct the probe.

The issue came up during the hearing of a petition filed by K Kathiresan of PP Kulam in Madurai and others, seeking directions to register criminal cases against those responsible for the police firing and to pay the balance compensation to the victims

During the previous hearing on August 31, the State government filed a detailed affidavit stating that the disciplinary action recommended against the then Thoothukudi Collector N Venkatesh, the then South Zone Inspector General of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav, and the then DIG Kapil Kumar C Saratkar had been dropped.

In the case of P Mahendran, then Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi, the government had directed the inquiry authority to resubmit the inquiry report, clearly indicating its findings on the charges.

Justices CV Karthikeyan and R Sakthivel had then directed the Advocate General to obtain the government's response on whether departmental action could be initiated against the senior officials.

The Bench had earlier observed that a related case was pending before the Madurai District Court and said that it could not pass orders at this stage. The court consequently adjourned the hearing.

“As a minister from Tamil Nadu, it is my right to proclaim Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha election now itself. Chief Minister Joseph Vijay would also officially declare it and every Congress worker across the country would work hard to ensure the victory of our leader Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

Meanwhile, talking about the by-elections, he expressed confidence that TVK candidates would win. “Madurantakam is located in the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency in which I had won once, and so I know the ground reality of the people. Since the TVK holds the support of Congress, VCK and IUML, the victory is a mere formality,” he said.

Referring to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s statements in the Assembly, Viswanathan said the Chief Minister’s long speech had made an impact among youngsters. He said Vijay had spoken about certain events under freedom of expression and that his speeches had historical importance.

Meanwhile, Viswanathan expressed concern over the rising prices of essential commodities and urged the State government to take steps to control price rise and ensure the smooth livelihood of the people.

The division bench comprising Justice Jagadish Chandra and Murugesan issued this direction while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the girl’s mother, Angaleeswari, from Virudhunagar district.

The petitioner said her husband had separated from her and that she was raising her daughter and son by working as a daily wage labourer. Her daughter left home on August 30 and had not returned. She and her relatives searched for her but in vain.

The petitioner said one Mageshwaran from the same area used to stalk her daughter and harass her. Hence, she suspected that he might have taken her away.

After she lodged a complaint with the Alangulam police station, the police registered a case. However, she alleged that they had failed to take effective steps to trace the girl.

She further alleged that a police officer attached to the Alangulam police station had contacted her during midnight hours and asked for details about her family, causing her mental distress.

The judges directed the SP to inquire into the alleged midnight phone calls and take appropriate action. The Bench adjourned the hearing by two weeks.

"An investment decision should not get lost in a circle of approvals. Making it easier to invest also means making it easier to move from an investment decision to a functioning enterprise," she said in a statement.

The government is pursuing this through a combination of ready infrastructure, digital land-allocation services and institutional reforms. Plug-and-play industrial facilities are being developed at Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi to provide investors with ready-to-use industrial infrastructure, she said.

The State is also developing a digital platform for industrial land allocation, offering information on available and upcoming plots, along with 3D visualisation to help investors assess sites.

At the institutional level, the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Commission has been established through the Tamil Nadu Business Facilitation (Amendment) Act, 2026.

The Commission will bring multiple state laws under a common investment facilitation framework, with a 21-day timeline for applicable regulatory approvals. It will also coordinate and monitor large, strategic and high-impact investments.

The measures are intended to give investors greater certainty over land availability, regulatory clearances and project implementation, while improving coordination among government departments.

"The objective is clear: reduce the time between an investment proposal and its execution, and make Tamil Nadu a more predictable place to invest, build and grow," Keerthana said.

Bishop Sahayaraj made this announcement during the annual festival after the appeals by the devotees drawn from across the world. The churches on the premises used to be open between 5 am and 8 pm, and the devotees who were travelling to the Basilica from far-off places found it very difficult to enter the church if they arrived during late hours, and many were waiting outside the churches all through the night.

Against such a backdrop, several devotees appealed to the Shrine administration to ensure that at least the main shrine is open round the clock. As per the appeals, the Shrine Basilica administration sent a proposal to the Bishop, who granted permission.

Accordingly, the main shrine and main altar would remain open round the clock from October 3. “This loving initiative will allow devotees to come before our Lady of Good Health Velankanni and pray at any time, day or night,” said the Shrine Basilica communication.

The devotees have expressed their gratitude to the Basilica for the initiation.

Party state president Nainar Nagenthran called the elections unnecessary, accusing the TVK of engineering defections. He alleged that candidates who had won their constituencies three months ago as members of another alliance had resigned or switched parties following what he described as horse-trading by the TVK, and were now being fielded again. The people of Madurantakam and Dharapuram should question why the bypolls became necessary, he said, adding that the elections would impose an avoidable financial burden on political parties and the government.

Nagenthran also accused the TVK government of failing to adequately address law-and-order issues in the Assembly. He claimed the State had witnessed around 160 sexual assault cases and more than 200 murders, alleging that even TVK functionaries had been hacked to death in broad daylight.

The former minister questioned the proposed Rs 1,200 crore new secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam, alleging that the project lacked adequate planning. He claimed the site had only 25 acres, while at least 45 acres would be required for a 20-lakh-square-foot complex, and suggested the 35-acre government land at Guindy as an alternative.

Nainar also criticised the ruling alliance's claim to be secular and objected to remarks by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the Assembly that allegedly mocked former Chief Minister MK Stalin's appearance. Such personal attacks had no place in the House, he said.

Instead of revisiting issues dating back decades, the TVK leaders should focus on policies and measures that would benefit the people, Nainar Nagenthran added.

Ajith Kumar, a guard at Madapuram Badrakali Amman temple, was arrested based on a theft complaint and subsequently tortured to death in police custody.

The V Additional District and Sessions Court, Madurai, Judge V Dhamodharan, framed charges, including murder, under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, against the four accused (A7 to A10) — former Manamadurai DSP N Shanmugasundaram, inspector SP Ramesh Kumar, special sub-inspector S Sivakumar and head constable G Ilayaraja.

The court noted that Shanmugasundaram has been under suspension, while Ramesh Kumar is serving as inspector with the Manamadurai police and Sivakumar and Ilayaraja are serving at the Sivaganga Town police station.

The alleged crime of the accused and the positions they hold are relevant factors in this case. “This court is of the view that the outside custody of A7 to A10, at this stage, raises a reasonable apprehension of the possibility of influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence,” the judge observed.

The court said the apprehension was based on the gravity and nature of the offences — the allegations of custodial death, the previous conduct of the accused, the nature of material witnesses and allegations of tampering with police records.

Referring to the prosecution's case, the court observed that the four accused are not ordinary persons. The police personnel had already attempted to create false entries in the public records to conceal the commission of the crime. Moreover, the prosecution has also alleged that Shanmugasundaram (A7), with the help of local politicians, attempted to reach an out-of-court settlement with the parents of the deceased immediately after his custodial murder, said the court, adding it was also alleged that the accused destroyed their mobile phones to destruct evidence.

The defence counsel argued that the accused should not be remanded merely because they had not obtained bail, and they had been regularly appearing before the court and would not tamper with the evidence. However, the CBI opposed it, stating that three accused personnel are still serving in police stations. It further submitted that the witness protection extended to Naveen Kumar, the brother of the deceased and a key eyewitness, had been withdrawn by the present Thiruppuvanam inspector Sethumani Madhavan.

The court then pointed out that Shanmugasundaram allegedly constituted a special investigation team comprising A1 to A6 and took Ajith Kumar into illegal custody in connection with an alleged jewellery theft.

The court observed that accused 8 is alleged to have registered a false FIR with the intention to cover up the murder. It is further alleged that A9 and A10 fabricated and manipulated the general diary 9/10 entries of the Thirupuvanam police station and that A9, Sivakumar, fabricated an ante-dated Community Service Register (CSR) entry on the complaint allegedly made by one Nikita.

On the question of their bail, the court observed that though they have appeared before this court for several hearings, they have not chosen to file any application.

He alleged that fares were 20% to 50% higher than under the previous DMK regime and questioned whether this was the "change" promised by the TVK government.

Anbumani said the alleged fare hikes were openly displayed on online booking platforms and had been reported by the media, yet the government had not even issued a warning to operators.

With Vinayagar Chathurthi falling on Monday, September 14 and Saturday and Sunday holidays preceding it, thousands of people are expected to travel from Chennai to their hometowns.

Anbumani alleged that private omni bus operators were exploiting the demand by hiking fares to unprecedented levels.

Citing online booking details, he said fares for buses leaving Chennai on Friday night had reportedly reached Rs 3,999 to Tiruchy, Rs 4,000 to Madurai, and Rs 6,154 to Coimbatore. For passengers returning to Chennai on Sunday night, fares were as high as Rs 4,499 from Tiruchy, Rs 4,899 from Madurai and Rs 4,799 from Coimbatore.

He also pointed to fares of up to Rs 3,179 for Kumbakonam and Rs 3,419 for the return journey. A family of four travelling to Tiruchy and back could end up spending nearly Rs 34,000 on bus fares alone, he claimed.

Recalling several Madras High Court directions on regulating omni bus fares, Anbumani urged the government to constitute a fare-fixing committee and take immediate action against operators indulging in excessive pricing.

AMMK has extended its support to AIADMK, but a common opposition candidate is the most potent weapon against an immature Vijay and his political calculations, he said, addressing reporters in Tiruchy.

It's time to show him the place after relying on cinematic dialogues to woo his fans, the AMMK chief said.

“People of the State are witnessing a dark period under the TVK government. The government lacks clarity and vision for development, nor the basic knowledge about governance, and the people ultimately suffer,” he charged.

Dhinakaran also accused the TVK government of failing to properly handle the Cauvery issue, leaving farmers struggling to ensure proper cultivation.

“They have already lost kuruvai, and this Tughlaq-darbar government is sitting just like a mere spectator and just blaming others instead of making any constructive decisions,” he charged.

Wondering why people had opted for the “immature” TVK despite Tamil Nadu witnessing progress in several ways during decades of Dravidian rule, Dhinakaran said the government had pushed the State into a “dark period”.

“People have started to realise that they have chosen wrong persons,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran reiterated that a common candidate against the TVK in the upcoming Assembly bypolls was a good suggestion and said he would discuss the proposal with NDA alliance partners.

He also criticised the DMK and other parties in the State for remaining silent about the BJP government, saying that while the DMK had earlier raised its voice strongly against the BJP, it was now keeping quiet. "The Congress will continue to expose the BJP's fake propaganda and anti-people policies," he said.

Addressing a press meet at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on Thursday, Tagore said that Congress was the only party in Tamil Nadu that had consistently spoken against the BJP government's "anti-people" policies and would continue to do so without any compromise.

Citing the CAG findings, Tagore said that the funds allocated to the rural employment scheme had been reduced by 34% since 2022.

He also claimed that the Union government's subsidies to Tamil Nadu had declined from around Rs 34,000 crore to Rs 16,000 crore.

Referring to the CAG report on the Jal Jeevan Mission, he alleged that the number of people affected by water-related diseases had increased significantly over the past four years.

According to him, the figure had risen from around 16,000 in 2019 to nearly 1.12 lakh annually, which he said indicated the failure of the Centre's Jal Jeevan Mission.

Tagore challenged BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran to explain why the Union government was allegedly "betraying" Tamil Nadu repeatedly.

He also criticised the Centre's caste Census plans, claiming they could put Tamil Nadu's unique 69% reservation at risk. The TNCC would organise an awareness movement on September 17, he announced.

Tagore further said the TNCC would begin preparations for the upcoming by-election and work to ensure the victory of the alliance candidate.

This sets the stage for a pitched electoral contest over two seats that the AIADMK won just months ago, as the bout is not only to win the seats but also to know who comes second.

As expected, the TVK named former MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama as its candidates for Madurantakam and Dharapuram, respectively. Both had won the constituencies on AIADMK tickets in the April Assembly elections before resigning as MLAs on May 25 and joining the TVK. Their resignations subsequently rendered the seats vacant.

Announcing their names, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said the nominees would contest under the banner of the newly formed Secular Social Justice Victory Front, which includes the Congress, VCK, IUML, and the MDMK.

Kanitha had earlier won from Tiruporur in 2001 by a margin of 24,600 votes, and from Madurantakam in 2011 by a margin of 18,900 votes. In 2021, she contested from Cheyyur but lost by a margin of 3,000 votes. Bhanumathi is the joint secretary of Tirupur suburban east district.

The DMK has already named I Paranthamen, a former MLA and joint secretary of its legal wing, for Madurantakam, and advocate S Suganya for Dharapuram.

The AIADMK is seeking to reclaim the two constituencies, while the TVK is attempting to retain seats represented by its newly inducted leaders. The DMK, meanwhile, is also keen to perform well to shore up its standing.

The bench of Justices PT Asha and N Mala noted that the relationship between a husband and wife is reciprocal and cannot be dictated by either spouse. The matrimonial bond has to be nurtured with compassion, mutual adjustment and love.

The frequent visits of the appellant to her maternal home “for unjustifiable and invalid reasons, amounts to cruelty, as it will cause the husband to live in the fear that his wife may pick up a fight with him and leave him at the drop of a hat," the court said, while hearing an appeal filed by the wife, challenging the family court's order granting divorce to her husband.

The couple got married in June 2019.

The husband alleged that the wife initially refused to accompany him to the matrimonial home; she came after persuasion by him and his parents. After two months, she left for her maternal home and did not return for nearly four months. The husband said he tolerated her conduct for the sake of his family’s honour. He alleged that she later insisted on a separate residence, but stayed there for only a month, before asking him to shift to another house near her parents. He further alleged that she left the house after a quarrel over a phone call and did not return, leading him to seek a divorce.

The wife disputed the allegations, contending that they shifted to a separate house due to problems caused by her in-laws over dowry. She also submitted that the husband did not visit their daughter after she was born. According to her, the divorce petition was filed only to deny her maintenance and enable him to remarry.

The court noted that the wife had not cooperated in the trial or subjected herself to cross-examination to controvert the husband's case.

The court further held that the wife, knowing that her husband was his parents' only son and responsible for caring for them, had unjustifiably pressured him to set up a separate residence, which amounted to cruelty. The court declined to interfere with the family court's order and dismissed the appeal.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the State government said the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit in Britain.

During his visit, the Chief Minister will review the design of the racing circuit, safety features and best practices in maintaining the facility on a commercial basis.

The Chief Minister announced in the State Assembly the creation of a world-class Motor Sports City. To realise the announcement, he is scheduled to visit the Silverstone Racing Circuit.

During his visit, he may meet actor Ajith Kumar, who is participating in a racing event on Saturday.

"An important objective of his foreign trip is also to attract investments in sunrise sectors such as electric vehicle manufacturing, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and electronics. This will create a large number of employment opportunities," the State government said.

The State government also said that the Chief Minister's trip would aim to strengthen relations with British companies that have long operated in the State.

"After the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and Britain, Tamil Nadu is also one of the foremost states in exporting various goods. The Chief Minister's visit to Britain will further enhance cooperation on new investments and technical support under the CETA," it said.

After completing his visit to Britain, the Chief Minister will return to Chennai on September 17. Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna and other officials accompanied him.

Hinting at legal hurdles for the project, he said that when the Tamil Nadu Housing Board evicted government servants and others from the flats at Foreshore Estate, the Board and the government had assured them before the Madras High Court that multi-storey residential apartments would be constructed and that they would be rehoused in the flats once the construction was completed.

The TNHB flats were built in 1963 during the Kamaraj regime to provide refuge from the volatility of private rental rates.

When the building became dilapidated, the government assured that it would be restored to its original purpose after being rebuilt. The DMK MP is pointing to such an assurance in the HC.

"Considering that the designated site falls within the CRZ-II zone, the FSI could be less than 1.97. Can a large-scale project worth Rs 1,200 crore, covering 20 lakh sq ft, be accommodated on narrow roads, causing traffic chaos and encroaching on fishermen's territory?" he asked.

Questioning the reasons for choosing the site for the new Secretariat, he asked whether it was being selected simply because it was near Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's residence, a location that could displace many fishermen and endanger their livelihoods due to security-related concerns.

The letter, drafted on the letterhead of the Leader of Opposition and addressed to Assembly Speaker Prabhakar, stated that, as per the earlier decision taken by the party leadership, the DMK rejected the government's proposal to provide cars and an allowance for maintenance and personal assistants, amounting to around Rs 1 lakh for each MLA.

The 59 MLAs representing the DMK have signed the annexure pages of the letter individually, while the alliance party MLAs have handwritten their names and signatures.

"Speaker Prabhakar has yet to decide on the letter. All issues will be sorted out once the Assembly Secretariat finalises the arrangements on the car issue, including the DMK's decision," an Assembly official said.

Meanwhile, the actual outcome of such a communication is in question, as the government has decided to hike the MLAs' salaries, including perks, as part of the package. So, even though DMK stands by its decision not to receive cars, they won't be in a position to completely reject it as it would land in their accounts as part of the monthly salary.

When Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the scheme in the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that all 59 DMK legislators had decided not to avail themselves of the offer. He questioned the TVK-led government's consistency, pointing out that the administration had frequently highlighted the State's financial distress since taking office.

The direction was issued by the Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Shastri after reports of the alleged assault circulated on social media.

According to the police, Augustine Baskar of Vallathu Nambikulam had lodged a complaint at the Veeravanallur police station alleging that two gold earrings and ear ornaments weighing around 10 grams had been stolen from his house.

He had expressed suspicion against Antony, also a resident of the village.

Based on the complaint, the Veeravanallur police registered a case on September 9, and Sub-Inspector Leo Renis is conducting the investigation.

Later that evening, at around 6.40 pm, the police received an intimation from the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital that Antony had allegedly been assaulted by two unidentified persons.

Police personnel went to the hospital and enquired with Antony and his relatives. But Antony was not willing to lodge a complaint at that time and would submit one after two days, said the police

The police said Antony’s statement and the details of the incident were video-recorded and the information was also entered in the station’s general diary.

With the VCK having exited the alliance, the DMK is seeking Dalit support in the SC constituency, which is also dominated by the PMK and has a strong Vanniyar base. In this context, a minor Dalit party with pockets of strength in the northern districts, Indhiya Kudiyarasu Katchi (IKK), has extended its support to the DMK for the upcoming by-elections in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies.

Though the support base could be marginal, to take on the might of AIADMK, fighting the polls with the support of PMK, with a strong Vanniyar base in the northern districts, and TVK powered by charismatic Vijay, who has stolen all the allies of Arivalayam, the Stalin-led party is in an unenviable position to prove its mettle. The Muslim party SDPI has also supported DMK in the by-elections.

Meanwhile, the DMK candidates for the two Assembly constituencies — I Paranthamen and S Suganya — met party president MK Stalin on Thursday.

Identified by the forest department as MP 20TI, Bahubali frequently moves through the forest fringes in Mettupalayam and Sirumugai areas.

A few days ago, the elephant ventured out of the forest at around 2 a.m., prompting a team of frontline forest staff from the Sirumugai Forest Range to rush to the spot and take measures to drive it back into the forest.

During the operation, the forest staff noticed an injury near the rear body portion of the elephant.

The matter was immediately brought to the attention of senior forest officials, following which surveillance was intensified to track the animal and assess its condition.

As Bahubali generally does not venture out during the daytime, forest personnel continued their search and later detected the elephant at night in the Vachinampalayam area.

A team of forest department officials, including forest veterinarian Dr. Vijayaraghavan, examined the injury.

It was suspected that the wound could have been sustained during a confrontation with another wild elephant, possibly after the animal was pierced by the other elephant’s tusk.

“As direct medication is not feasible, we mixed the medicines with ragi cake and placed them on banana leaves along the elephant’s path on Wednesday night. Bahubali has consumed the medicated food,” a forest department official said.

The elephant is being monitored round the clock by forest personnel, while the veterinary team is continuing efforts to provide further medical treatment.

The festival is scheduled to begin with the flag-hoisting ceremony on October 11. The Mahisha Soorasamharam, the main event of the festival, will be held on October 20.

Around 25 lakh devotees from across India are expected to attend the festival. With an increase in the number of devotees and vehicles anticipated this year, authorities have identified 28 locations covering 250 acres for vehicle parking.

Last year, around 200 acres of land were identified for parking vehicles brought by devotees.

Tiruchendur Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumar inaugurated the cleaning work in the identified areas. Kulasekarapattinam Inspector Innos Kumar and others were present.

Three JCB machines are currently being used for the cleaning work. Officials said additional machinery would be deployed shortly and temporary bus stands would be set up.

Drinking water and toilet facilities would also be arranged at the temporary bus stand locations for the convenience of devotees, officials said.

He went on to say that more than 90 lakh devotees from across the country are expected to take part in the event, which is held once in 12 years, and adequate facilities would be made for them.

Speaking to reporters in Kumbakonam after reviewing the ongoing preparatory works for the Mahamaham festival, the HR&CE Minister Ramesh said, the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam is scheduled to be held in 2028, and the preparatory works for the event have commenced already. The HR&CE department has also already granted permission for adequate renovation works.

He stated that around 50 lakh devotees took part in the previous event, and the strength is expected to surpass it, with at least 90 lakh devotees from across the country taking part. 

“To ensure smooth conduct and make adequate facilities for the devotees, a total allocation of Rs 600 crore has been earmarked after receiving details from every government department. The details of as many as 17 temples connected to the Mahamaham have also been received, and the works were under way while the heritage committee from HR&CE has been inspecting the construction of Rajagopuram for Kumbeswarar temple in view of the festival,” the minister said.

He also said that at least 50 lakh devotees would commute by train and so adequate facilities in association with the railways have been initiated.

“We have received information from every department about the requirements from the Centre, and they would be made to the notice of the Union Government through the Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay,” Ramesh said.

The minister also stated that the Chief Minister is very particular about the conduct of the event in a grand manner and instructed the officials and the ministers to ensure hassle-free convergence of the devotees.

The ongoing preparatory works would be completed on time and desilt of water bodies and the repair works in every bathing ghat along the Cauvery would also be undertaken ahead of the Mahamaham event, the minister added.

Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, MP R Sudha, District Collector R Revathi and others were present. 

The accused, Ponraj (40), was arrested after the woman police personnel lodged a complaint with the Kadayamallur police. He was later produced before a court and remanded in custody.

According to police, Ponraj and the woman cop, who were working at the same police station, had an argument on the day of the incident. They allegedly had another argument near the Kadayamallur police quarters, following which Ponraj allegedly assaulted her.

It was also alleged that Ponraj inappropriately touched the woman police personnel during the incident.

Based on her complaint, Inspector Christy conducted an inquiry and registered a case against Ponraj under provisions relating to offences against women. He was arrested two days ago.

Following his arrest, Ashok Kumar ordered Ponraj's suspension.

Police are investigating what led to the alleged assault and whether the dispute arose from personal differences or an argument related to their workplace.

Police said they had received information that ganja and other contraband were allegedly being transported on the weekly special train operating from Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh to Thoothukudi over the past few weeks.

Following this, on the instructions of Tiruchy Railway Superintendent of Police Adarsh Baser, a special team from the Nellai Junction railway police conducted a surprise check on the train.

The train had left Narsapur for Thoothukudi the previous day.

The police team, led by Sub-Inspector Perumal and comprising head constables Marithurai and Karuppasamy, conducted checks while the train was travelling between Sattur and Maniyachi railway stations.

During the inspection, police found an unattended blue travel bag in the general compartment. On checking it, they found around 10.50 kg of ganja packed in a khaki-coloured bundle.

The ganja was seized, and police are investigating to identify and trace the persons who allegedly transported it.

Venkat Sri, 22, secured admission to a dental college in Nagercoil, while his younger twin brothers Arun and Dharan, both 18, secured seats at Tirunelveli Government Medical College and PSG Medical College in Coimbatore, respectively.

The three students were brought to Chennai by former MP and AIADMK organisation secretary Soundararajan, who arranged their meeting with Palaniswami. The brothers thanked the AIADMK leader and received his blessings.

Venkat Sri scored 440 marks in the 2026 NEET examination. Arun and Dharan, who also appeared for the examination this year, scored 511 and 494 marks, respectively.

The three are sons of Ramkumar, 49, a weaver from Vellankuzhi in the Ambasamudram Assembly constituency, and his wife Mangaiyar Thilagam, 46.

AIADMK organisation secretary Sudha Parasivam, Tirunelveli suburban district secretary Rama Subramanian, Radhapuram East union party secretary KPK Selvaraj, Tirunelveli councillor Chandrasekar, and party functionaries Muthuraj, Kumaresan, Selvam, Aanaiyappan and Ramesh were also present during the meeting.

The victim, a resident of RS Puram, received a phone call from unidentified persons claiming to be police officers from Mumbai. They told him that his bank transactions were under scrutiny and claimed that his account had been used to transfer money for terrorist activities.

The fraudsters then told him that he had been placed under digital arrest and instructed him not to leave his residence, speak to anyone over the phone or meet relatives and friends in person.

“The callers further claimed that armed police personnel in plain clothes were keeping watch near his residence and warned that he would be arrested unless he transferred the money in his bank account to accounts specified by them for verification,” police said.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. They subsequently told him that more money remained in his account and threatened him with arrest unless he withdrew and transferred it as well.

Acting on their instructions, the elderly man went to the bank and withdrew another Rs 3.5 crore. The unusually large withdrawals within a short period raised suspicion among bank officials, who questioned him about the transactions. He told them that the money was required for business purposes.

However, his nervous demeanour aroused further suspicion, prompting the bank officials to alert the Coimbatore city cyber crime police.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters

A police team subsequently visited the industrialist’s residence and questioned him. On examining his mobile phone, the police found communications with the fraudsters and uncovered the digital arrest scam.

"Because of our swift action, the industrialist was stopped from transferring Rs 3.5 crore to the fraudsters," police said. Based on his complaint, the cybercrime police have launched an investigation to trace the accused.