A CCB team arrested Anbalagan on Tuesday, while Rajkumar of Pudukkottai and Ilayaraja of Usilampatti, who was allegedly hiding in Bengaluru, were arrested on Monday.

Police said Anbalagan, while serving as Madurai North Tehsildar, allegedly removed the temple's ownership from the revenue records and transferred the patta in favour of Ramaayi Ayyar and eight others on June 24, 2016.

The arrests follow an FIR registered by the Madurai city CCB on July 25 based on a complaint by Chellathurai, Joint Commissioner and Executive Officer of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. The complaint alleged that 19 persons conspired to illegally transfer the trust property through fraudulent patta mutation, forged documents and mortgage transactions.

According to the police, a will registered in 1930 at the Saidapet Sub-Registrar's Office states that the Ashoka Vilas Bungalow and its adjoining garden on Alagarkoil Road in Madurai belong to a trust established to render services to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil. The will stipulates that the property may only be leased and may not be sold, mortgaged, or otherwise transferred.

Police alleged that Rajkumar and Ilayaraja conspired with Anbalagan to commit the fraudulent patta transfer and the registration of forged documents. Despite an interim stay granted by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in a case relating to the property, Ilayaraja and P Anil, acting as power agents, allegedly executed a registered General Power of Attorney through the Murappanadu Sub-Registrar Office and later registered a mortgage deed before the Vadamadurai Sub-Registrar Office in favour of Kavitha, Piragasu and Kalikumar.

Following the alleged illegal patta transfer in 2016, the temple administration immediately approached the district administration. Former Village Administrative Officer Arasan was placed under suspension, while departmental action and an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption were recommended against Anbalagan.

Subsequently, the Revenue Divisional Officer cancelled the Tehsildar's order, ruled that the property belonged to the trust attached to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Alagarkoil, and directed that the patta be restored in the temple's name.

The CCB has also sought an explanation from the Karambakudi Tehsildar over the issuance of the legal heir certificate allegedly relied upon by the accused. The certificate listed Ramaayi Ayyar, Senthamizh Selvi, Prema, Rajkumar, Muthurani, Rajendran, Kuzhandhaiya, Pushparaj, Jothi and Geetha as the legal heirs of Vellaichamy Pallavarayar.

Police said Anandan had returned home late on Monday night after performing a special puja at the temple as part of the ‘Aadi Perukku’ festival celebrations. At night, a wild elephant entered the area near his shed. Awakened by the movement of the animal, Anandan came out to check, when the elephant attacked and trampled him. The animal also trampled one of the cows tied nearby, killing it.

Hearing Anandan’s cries for help, nearby residents rushed to the spot. However, by the time they arrived, the elephant had moved away towards the forest area. The villagers found Anandan dead with severe injuries.

Shocked by the incident, residents staged a road blockade on the Krishnagiri–Kuppam National Highway demanding action to prevent further human-animal conflicts.

Police and forest department personnel rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesters. Following negotiations, the villagers withdrew their protest after three hours, at around 1 am. The police later recovered Anandan’s body and sent it for post-mortem.

The raid was carried out following complaints that bribes were being collected from vehicle operators to allow them to cross the check post. A DVAC team comprising more than ten officials launched the surprise inspection at around 4 am and concluded around noon.

Officials seized Rs 3.36 lakh in cash that was not accounted for in official records. They questioned Motor Vehicle Inspectors Sumathi and Mahalakshmi with regard to the seizure of cash.

In Tirunelveli, the Palayamkottai All-Women Police arrested Perumal (71), a former hockey player from KTC Nagar, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act following a complaint by the parents of a schoolgirl.

The police said Perumal, who had been coaching school students in Palayamkottai for the past few years, allegedly made obscene remarks to a schoolgirl during a hockey practice session. The student later informed her parents, who lodged a complaint with the police.

In a separate incident in Theni district, the Bodi All-Women Police arrested Venkatesh Prabhu (40), a teacher at a government-aided school, for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old studying Class 12.

The police said the student informed her parents about the alleged harassment, following which they lodged a complaint. A case was registered against the teacher from Bodi under the Pocso Act and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand and Health and Family Welfare minister KG Arunraj chaired a high-level coordination meeting at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital at Omandurar estate, attended by senior officials from health, rural development, municipal administration, school education and other departments to streamline disease-control measures ahead of the northeast monsoon.

The government directed departments to intensify surveillance for dengue, chikungunya, malaria, leptospirosis and diarrhoeal diseases while ensuring seamless coordination between field agencies. Fever surveillance will continue through 5,781 government and private hospitals, supported by 4,083 laboratories functioning under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme to detect unusual disease clusters and trigger immediate containment measures.

Officials were instructed to keep fever wards, fever clinics, medicines, laboratory facilities, beds and emergency treatment infrastructure ready. Local bodies have been asked to conduct door-to-door inspections to eliminate mosquito breeding sources, remove stagnant water, intensify fogging wherever required, chlorinate drinking water supplies, repair leaking pipelines and strengthen sanitation campaigns.

“Prevention before the outbreak of disease is the Chief Minister’s priority,” Anand said, urging officials to intensify mosquito-control efforts, particularly in vulnerable habitats. “The annual review should not remain a routine exercise but translate into committed field action, as monsoon disease prevention is a collective responsibility. Awareness on safe water storage must increase. Senior officials must mentor newly appointed health inspectors to ensure effective implementation of preventive measures across districts.”

Speaking to reporters after being questioned by police near Tiruchy, he maintained that his entire 25-minute speech was focused on farmers' issues, the Cauvery water dispute and the State government's handling of agriculture.

Udhayanidhi claimed that after his speech received a positive response from farmers, the government resorted to a "diversion tactic" by circulating edited videos and attributing statements that he never made. He alleged that fake reels and manipulated clips were distributed widely, including to national media, to create a false narrative and pave the way for police action.

Rejecting allegations that his speech contained offensive or derogatory remarks about women, Udhayanidhi said he had no such intention. He said his parents had raised him to respect women and added that, as a husband, father of a daughter and brother, he viewed every woman in Tamil Nadu as his own family. He maintained that his speech was solely in support of farmers and insisted he had not used any double meaning or objectionable language.

He said the case and police action were politically motivated attempts to intimidate him, but asserted that he would continue to raise the Cauvery issue and the concerns of farmers. "I will speak again, even a hundred times," he said, adding that he was prepared to challenge the case legally.

LoP criticised the manner in which he was transported by road from Chennai with heavy police security. He said nearly 3,000 police personnel escorted him over about 400 km from Chennai at public expense "as if they were transporting a terrorist". He alleged that despite being taken towards Thanjavur, he was stopped midway at Sengipatti police station where he was questioned before being released, describing the exercise as an unnecessary misuse of taxpayers' money.

Udhayanidhi also called Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay a "cowardly Chief Minister", alleging that he had avoided facing the media during an earlier crisis in which around 41 people had died in a Karur stampede and had remained "underground" for weeks. He claimed Vijay now believed filing cases against DMK leaders would similarly intimidate them. "The DMK has never been afraid. We will continue to meet the people and the media,"

Expressing disappointment that some political leaders had criticised him without watching or listening to his full speech, Udhayanidhi reiterated that he had spoken only about farmers, the delay in releasing Cauvery water and the need for the government to protect Tamil Nadu's rights. He maintained that the case was an attempt to divert attention from those issues and vowed to continue raising them both inside and outside the Assembly.

At a meeting of TVK legislators and ministers at the party headquarters in Panaiyur here, minister Aadhav Arjuna urged legislators to remain focused on the government's vision, the Budget and the debate on the demands for grants, instead of being drawn into exchanges with the Opposition.

If a message is directed at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Minister N Anand, Aadhav said the responsibility of responding to allegations levelled by the Opposition should rest with other ministers. "You please leave the opportunity of replying to the questions and charges raised by the Opposition in the House. We will take care of them. You please focus on governance and Assembly proceedings, " he said.

Stepping up his attack on Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, Aadhav condemned his alleged remarks against women and asserted that no one was above the law.

"He made disgusting remarks against women yesterday and today he faced the consequences. No one should escape the law. The government will take all measures to uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety and dignity of women," he said.

Udhayanidhi is not fit to be the Leader of Opposition or to guide the DMK, Aadhav claimed. "TVK will remain in power for the next 50 years. Let Udhayanidhi expose himself before the people and face their verdict," Aadhav said.

Ministers from TVK's alliance partners, including P Viswanathan and AM Shahjahan, also attended the meeting held ahead of Wednesday's Budget presentation.

Finance, Planning and Development Minister N Marie Wilson will present his first Budget after assuming office. The Budget is expected to outline the government's fiscal priorities and development agenda for the current financial year.

The government is preparing the Budget amid severe financial constraints and limited fiscal space. Owing to the shortage of funds, it has so far refrained from announcing major welfare schemes, except for the Thaimaman Thanga Modhiram Scheme.

However, the Budget is expected to include several new schemes, policy changes and administrative reforms aimed at improving governance and public service delivery.

Following the Budget presentation, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet to finalise the duration of the Assembly session and the schedule for Budget discussions.

The government's first Agriculture Budget will be presented on Thursday by Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare R Vinoth. After the general discussion on both Budgets, the Assembly will take up the Demands for Grants for various departments, with the Budget session expected to continue for around 25 days.

TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja had filed a complaint alleging that Thirunavukkarasu, an aide of former minister V Senthilbalaji, offered him Rs 35 crore to vote against the Speaker during a proposed no-confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and later threatened him and his family after he rejected the offer. Based on the complaint, the Triplicane police registered a case and have arrested 14 persons so far, including Ramesh, who the Madras High Court recently granted bail.

Ramesh has moved the Madras High Court seeking transfer of the investigation from the State police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), contending that he would not receive a fair and impartial investigation.

At an earlier hearing, the court granted an interim stay on the investigation against petitioner Ramesh pending further orders.

Subsequently, Sethuraj and Karthik, who were granted bail on Monday, also moved the High Court seeking transfer of the case to the CBI and a direction for a fresh investigation by the central agency.

When the batch of petitions came up for hearing before the Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, the Court directed the Union Government, the Tamil Nadu government and the CBI to file their responses to the petitions.

The bench further ordered that all further proceedings and the investigation in the case on the file of Triplicane police station shall remain stayed until the next date of hearing. The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 27.

The inflow at Biligundlu, which stood at 500 cusecs on Monday evening, rose to 1,000 cusecs in the early hours of Tuesday. It further increased to 8,000 cusecs by 7 am and surged to 18,000 cusecs by 10 am, bringing the dry stretches of the Cauvery back to life with water flowing in full force.

Officials said the inflow is expected to rise further as Karnataka continues to release more than 27,000 cusecs of water from the Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoirs following heavy rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas.

With the river flow increasing, police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel have intensified patrols and monitoring along the Cauvery banks. As a precautionary measure, the Dharmapuri district administration has prohibited bathing and suspended coracle operations at Hogenakkal.

Officials from the Central Water Commission are also closely monitoring the water flow at Biligundlu, the interstate gauging station on the Tamil Nadu–Karnataka border. The Cauvery water reached the Mettur Dam at around 8 pm, with the inflow recorded at 4,923 cusecs.

As on Tuesday morning, the Mettur reservoir’s water level stood at 73.02 feet against its full reservoir level of 120 feet. The dam was receiving a meagre inflow of 67 cusecs, while 1,500 cusecs of water was being released for downstream requirements. The arrival of Cauvery waters from Karnataka is expected to substantially improve inflows into the Mettur reservoir and provide relief to farmers in the drought-hit delta region.

On Monday, a group of 10 persons, including Pandian (49), from Karambakudi in Pudukkottai, his wife Valarmathi (45), son Pavin and relatives, R Dhanalakshmi (47), Thirunavukkarasu (52) and his wife Thillayammal (48), were on a pilgrimage to various temples during the Aadi Perukku by car. Meheswaran from Karambakudi was driving the car.

After visiting various temples in Thanjavur, they headed towards Tiruchy late at night. When they were nearing Pallividai on the Tiruchy-Chennai bypass, the driver missed the service road to Samayapuram, and they were proceeding towards Chennai for around 50 metres.

Upon realising this, the driver, Maheswaran, stopped the car and moved it back, when an omni bus heading to Chennai from Tiruchy rammed into the car in which Pandian, Dhanalakshmi and Pavin, who were seated in the back seat, were crushed to death while Gowsalya, Valarmathi, Thirunavukkarasu, Thillayammal, Gokulavani (13), Mani Sharma (16) and the driver Maheswaran sustained severe injuries.

The onlookers rushed to the spot, rescued the injured and rushed them to a private hospital in Samayapuram. Based on information, Samayapuram police rushed to the spot, commenced the rescue operation, retrieved the bodies and sent them to Samayapuram Government Hospital.

The police also registered a case and arrested the omni bus driver, Ajith Kumar, from Ramanathapuram. Further investigations are under way.

The Thanjavur SP E Sundaravathnam and DSP Alagesan conducted inquiry with Udayanidhi and after the process completed, he was freed from the station.

The cadres greeted him and Udayanidhi waved at them. He is scheduled to reach Tiruchy and would head towards Chennai by flight. He might give a press briefing in Tiruchy airport.

The State witnessed high drama today after police arrived at the DMK leader and Chepauk MLA's Neelankarai residence in the morning and took him away in a police vehicle for questioning, shortly after a TVK women's wing functionary in Thanjavur filed a complaint against Udhayanidhi's remark on actor Trisha while attacking Chief Minister Vijay at a Cauvery agitation yesterday. Angry DMK cadre raised slogans against the ruling party, protesting against the police action, outside his residence, outside Anna Arivalayam, and in Thanjavur, as well as on the route taken by the police vehicle en route Thanjavur.

The tenders covered rural infrastructure works, including construction of community sanitation complexes, laying of cement concrete roads and compound wall improvements across the three panchayat unions - Kadayanallur, Kuruvikulam and Alangulam.

According to the organisation, it had on July 21 submitted a representation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister N Anand, Principal Secretary Prashanth M Vadnere and Tenkasi Collector Ranjit Singh, alleging that the tender notifications were contrary to GO (Ms.) No. 115.

Arappor Iyakkam had objected to the eligibility condition allowing only contractors registered with the respective panchayat unions to participate in the tenders.

The organisation pointed out that under the revised registration system, all eligible contractors registered with the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) are entitled to bid for tenders floated by any procuring entity within the district and are also eligible to participate in adjoining districts.

Following the cancellation, Arappor urged the state government to ensure that all panchayat unions and local bodies strictly implement GO (Ms.) No. 115 and take action against officials issuing tenders with eligibility conditions contrary to the revised norms.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued notice to the Director General of Police (DGP) and posted the matter to August 11.

Kali Poongundran has filed a petition before the Madras High Court challenging the police's refusal to grant permission for the organisation's proposed two-wheeler propaganda campaign against NEET and the EWS quota.

The petitioner submitted that, following the alleged NEET scams and question paper leaks across the country, the organisation had planned a statewide two-wheeler propaganda campaign from July 30 to August 2, 2026, demanding the abolition of NEET and opposing the EWS quota.

He stated that a representation seeking general permission and police protection was submitted to the Director General of Police (DGP) on July 18. However, instead of granting general permission, the DGP directed the organisers to obtain permission from the respective jurisdictional police authorities. Despite submitting applications to the concerned police stations, permission was allegedly denied across Tamil Nadu.

Contending that Dravidar Kazhagam has been campaigning against NEET since 2010, the petitioner sought to quash the DGP's order and direct the police to grant permission for the proposed two-wheeler propaganda campaign.

Staff members said that salaries for April and May were credited only recently after months of uncertainty. However, they alleged that delayed payments have become a routine issue rather than an exception.

According to employees, they have repeatedly raised the matter with authorities and highlighted it through the media, but salary disbursement and reimbursement of allowances continue to be irregular. “We were informed that the delay was linked to the late release of funds from the Ministry of Women and Child Development,” said an employee. “This kind of financial uncertainty continues to affect our daily lives.”

Several staff members also alleged that they were denied essential employment benefits such as Provident Fund (PF) and insurance despite working in an emergency service that regularly handles distressing and sensitive child protection cases. They said that the demanding nature of the job, coupled with delayed wages, had taken a toll on their mental and physical well-being. Field experts have reportedly described the situation as a form of labour exploitation.

The Child Helpline workforce includes supervisors, counsellors, coordinators and case workers, earning monthly salaries ranging from Rs 18,000 to Rs 28,000. One staff member claimed that only 40% of the salary was released in May and that June and July’s salary remains unpaid.

They also said conveyance expenses incurred during child rescue and rehabilitation operations were often reimbursed only after significant delays, placing an additional financial burden on frontline workers.

According to an official statement, Chief Minister Vijay inaugurated new buildings under the health department through video conferencing from the Secretariat.

The projects include additional buildings at government hospitals in Aranthangi (Pudukottai), Sivakasi, Pallipattu, Pothatturpettai (Tiruvallur), Attur (Dindigul), Marakkanam and Valavanur (Villupuram), constructed at a total cost of Rs 113 crore.

In another event, Vijay inaugurated 4,260 tenements constructed by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board in various districts at a cost of Rs 525.75 crore.

He also inaugurated an air-conditioned bus shelter at Perambur in Chennai and new buildings under the higher education department, constructed for Rs 274.46 crore.

Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and P Viswanathan, Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, and senior officials participated in the inauguration ceremony.

In a separate statement, the government announced that the Chief Minister had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for conducting the International Women's Tennis Championship in Chennai. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu Stadium in Nungambakkam.

The first special will leave Arakkonam at 10.20 am and return at 11.15 am, the second will operate between 1 pm and 1.50 pm, while the third will run from 2.50 pm to 3.40 pm, with brief halts at Tiruttani in both directions.

The police had initially planned to question Udhayanidhi Stalin at the Thanjavur South Police Station. However, he was taken to Sengipatti Police Station instead of being brought into Thanjavur city, reportedly due to the presence of a large number of DMK cadres near the Thanjavur South police station.

Udhayanidhi Stalin told the police that, as per the court's order, he should be questioned at the concerned police station and refused to get down from the police vehicle, according to a Thanthi TV bulletin.

The State witnessed high drama today after police arrived at the DMK leader and Chepauk MLA's Neelankarai residence in the morning and took him away in a police vehicle for questioning, shortly after a TVK women's wing functionary in Thanjavur filed a complaint against Udhayanidhi's remark on actor Trisha while attacking Chief Minister Vijay at a Cauvery agitation yesterday. Angry DMK cadre raised slogans against the ruling party, protesting against the police action, outside his residence, outside Anna Arivalayam, and in Thanjavur, as well as on the route taken by the police vehicle en route Thanjavur.

Several of them were detained by the police. Later, the Madras High Court instructed to let the DMK leader out on station bail today itself after inquiry, after the State submitted it had no intention of seeking his judicial remand.

He alleged that the government had invoked non-bailable sections to intimidate the Opposition leader.

In a statement, Stalin said the government had failed to safeguard Tamil Nadu's interests in the Cauvery dispute and had resorted to arresting Udhayanidhi to shift the focus from the issue. "The TVK-led government believes that the Leader of the Opposition, who enjoys Cabinet rank, should not be present in the Assembly during the presentation of the Budget on Wednesday," Stalin alleged.

Questioning the manner of the arrest, Stalin asked why the police took him all the way to Thanjavur to interrogate Udhayanidhi when they could have questioned him in Chennai. "If the police wanted to investigate him, they could have done so in Chennai. Why did they have to go to Thanjavur? Why were non-bailable sections invoked against him?" Stalin asked.

Referring to the court proceedings, Stalin said the Madras High Court had directed that Udhayanidhi be released on the same day. "The order is a severe setback to the fascist TVK-led government," he said.

Recalling the earlier arrests of DMK MLAs Anitha R Radhakrishnan and GV Markandayan, Stalin said Udhayanidhi's arrest was a continuation of the government's attempts to target Opposition leaders.

"Arrogance paves the way for disaster, and sustained arrogance will only lead to greater disaster," Stalin said.

Defending Udhayanidhi, Stalin said the LoP had never used vulgar language in public life. "That is not his character. If he had inadvertently made any objectionable remark, he is someone who would immediately express regret," he said.

Stalin also criticised those condemning Udhayanidhi's speech, calling it an attempt to divert attention from the real issues. He urged the Chief Minister to act responsibly and demanded the immediate release of all DMK cadres arrested during the protests.

In a statement, Anbumani said the comments made by Udhayanidhi during Monday's protest in Thanjavur against the proposed Mekedatu dam project were "unacceptable" and lacked the dignity expected from a former Deputy Chief Minister and the current Leader of the Opposition.

He said Udhayanidhi, given the constitutional position he holds, should exercise restraint and maintain decorum in public speeches.

At the same time, Anbumani criticised the State government for arresting Udhayanidhi with "undue haste". He pointed out that the Madras High Court had directed that no arrest be made until noon, and questioned the urgency in taking the Leader of the Opposition into custody, particularly when the Assembly session is scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Anbumani alleged that the speed with which the government and the police acted in the case, unlike in addressing several public issues, gave the impression that the arrest was politically motivated.

Stating that Tamil Nadu is facing several pressing challenges, Anbumani urged both the ruling party and the opposition to shift their focus from political confrontation to governance and public welfare.

He also called upon the government to ensure that Udhayanidhi's arrest does not lead to any deterioration in the law and order situation in the State.

Speaking to reporters, CPM State Secretary P Shanmugam said the remarks were "obscene" and "disgusting" and deserved strong condemnation. He said political leaders, especially those holding responsible positions such as the Leader of the Opposition, had a greater responsibility to uphold political decency while addressing the public.

Shanmugam said women had repeatedly been subjected to derogatory references in political discourse over the years and stressed that such practices must come to a permanent end. He said political parties should ensure that their members refrain from making such remarks.

Referring to the Left parties, he said they had consistently upheld women's rights and approached such issues with seriousness. He alleged that some parties had people who routinely made such comments at public meetings, and said party leaderships should first discipline their own members. He added that if anyone from the Left parties made such remarks, they would not be retained in the party.

CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian said social reformer Periyar had championed women's liberation, while poet Subramania Bharati, Bharathidasan, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and Tamil cultural traditions had celebrated womanhood. He said no form of political discourse should cross the line by insulting or humiliating women, adding that this remained the CPI's firm stand.

On the police action against Udhayanidhi, Shanmugam said CPM had strongly condemned the remarks and that a complaint had been lodged, following which legal action had been initiated. He said the matter should now proceed in accordance with the law.

He also noted that the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly's first Budget session under the present government was scheduled to begin on Wednesday and said the participation of the Leader of the Opposition was important. He expressed hope that the government would take this into consideration while acting on the issue.

According to a press note, the anti-graft agency laid 24 traps across Tamil Nadu between July 1 and July 31. Officials were arrested for demanding and accepting bribes ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1 lakh to perform official duties, it added.

The arrested personnel included a Joint Commissioner of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, a Tahsildar, an Assistant Engineer (Electrical), a Village Administrative Officer (VAO), and various officials from the police, revenue, and local administration departments.

In coordination with District Inspection Cell officers, the DVAC conducted surprise checks at 13 government offices in Krishnagiri, Tiruvallur, Theni, Kanniyakumari, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Ranipet, Chennai, and Karur, seizing Rs 13,39,080 in unaccounted cash.

Simultaneous checks at six state border vehicle check posts yielded an additional Rs 9,87,890.

A massive statewide search of Taluk offices on July 17 led to the physical seizure of Rs 13,88,750 in unaccounted cash. During this operation, authorities also flagged Rs 94,69,887 in suspicious G-Pay transactions, bringing the single-day detection total to Rs 1,08,58,637.

On the judicial front, trial courts convicted five individuals in four corruption cases during July.

Special Courts for Prevention of Corruption Act cases, along with Sessions Courts in Tiruvallur and Ranipet, sentenced a Tahsildar, a Tahsildar's driver, a Headmistress, a Correspondent, and a Police Sub-Inspector to rigorous imprisonment ranging from two to four years. The courts also imposed fines ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000.

Edappadi K Palaniswami

In a post on 'X' after Udhayanidhi was escorted by the police to Thanjavur, where a case against him was registered, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised the "lame horse government" for timing this arrest just a day before the budget session.

He argued that conducting the assembly in the complete absence of the Leader of the Opposition is "highly condemnable" and raises widespread suspicions of a deeper political motive beyond the registered case.

The AIADMK leader simultaneously criticised Udhayanidhi's personal conduct.

Palaniswami stated that his party has long believed Udhayanidhi "needs a muzzle", condemning his habit of speaking out of turn and making degrading remarks about women without understanding the dignity of his position.

"Registering a case for his speech is one thing. But striving to arrest the LoP today raises suspicions," Palaniswami remarked.

DMDK chief Premalatha Vijayakanth

Condemning the police action, DMDK chief Premalatha Vijayakanth stated, "This act of stifling the opposition is condemnable."

Drawing a parallel to colonial times, she remarked, "There was a muzzle law during the British era; similarly, this action of stifling opposition parties is condemnable."

She emphasised that answering political arguments with counter-arguments maintains the dignity of democracy, adding that an arrest action should not be considered a solution.

Deputy General Secretary of the AIADMK, K P Munusamy

Adding to the chorus of criticism, Deputy General Secretary of the AIADMK, K P Munusamy, accused the state's leadership of "political vendetta".

He said the Chief Minister was "misusing power to the extent of arresting the opposition leader."

DMK leader Thangam Thenarasu

DMK leader Thangam Thenarasu echoed these sentiments, terming the arrest a "direct attack on democratic rights."

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan termed Udhayanidhi's comment "unacceptable" in civilised politics and urged him to abandon "thoughtless rhetoric" catered to crowds, noting the incident has drawn national condemnation.

However, he also asked the state government to avoid arresting Udhayanidhi ahead of August 5 Assembly session. Such restraint, Thirumavalavan stated, would boost the ruling party's goodwill and foster unity among all parties to collectively demand Tamil Nadu's Cauvery water rights from the Union government.

DMK MP Kanimozhi

Taking to X, DMK MP Kanimozhi said the government is "resorting to oppressive tactics that are against the law".

"Arresting the Leader of Opposition in this way, solely to prevent him from participating in the Assembly session starting tomorrow, is blatant cowardice," she wrote on her official X account.

DMK leaders

DMK leaders Anbil Mahesh, Thangam Thennarasu, Ma Subramanian and K N Nehru also condemned the police action.

The leader of the opposition was taken into custody from his residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, this morning by a police team from East Thanjavur. His arrest immediately triggered protests by DMK cadres, disrupting normal life in several parts of the state.

In Karur, DMK members staged a sit-in protest near the old bus stand.

Party workers also blocked roads in Tiruvannamalai to condemn the police action. Similar protests were held in Salem and Madurai. In Thanjavur, protesters burned an effigy of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in protest against the arrest.

The political friction led to the detention of other leaders, as well. In Theni, police arrested senior DMK leader O Panneerselvam while he was participating in a protest condemning Udhayanidhi's arrest.

Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education and Tamil Development Rajmohan alleged in a post on X that DMK members had attacked members of the public.

"The sight of DMK members brutally assaulting a two-wheeler rider who urged them not to block the road and inconvenience the public is shocking," he wrote.

Calling the incident unacceptable, the minister said the "law will do its duty."

The controversy stems from a demonstration led by Udhayanidhi in Thanjavur on August 3 over the Cauvery water dispute.

During the protest, the DMK demanded that the ruling TVK take decisive steps to stop Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu reservoir project, waive farmers' loans in full, and declare the delta districts drought-hit.

During his address, a section of the crowd chanted actor Trisha's name. Udhayanidhi responded with a remark that political opponents, including state BJP leaders and the TVK, condemned as an objectionable double entendre.

Following the speech, a TVK national spokesperson submitted a representation to the National Commission for Women, seeking its intervention, an unconditional public apology from Udhayanidhi, and the registration of a police case under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In a post on X, Thirumavalavan said that while alleging the Chief Minister was focused only on filing false cases against opposition leaders, members of the crowd shouted the name of a popular actress.

He said Udhayanidhi, in an attempt to respond sarcastically, made a remark that lent itself to an inappropriate interpretation.

He said the comment had escalated into a national issue, drawing criticism and debate in the English media.

"The Leader of the Opposition should have avoided speaking in a mocking style that conveyed a double meaning. Such an approach, which is perceived as insulting a woman, is not befitting his political stature and is inconsistent with civilised politics," Thirumavalavan said.

He further said political leaders should not allow themselves to be carried away by the mood of the crowd and make emotionally driven remarks that demean women. The perception created by the comment, he said, deserved condemnation.

At the same time, Thirumavalavan urged the ruling government not to keep Udhayanidhi in jail ahead of the Assembly session scheduled to begin on Wednesday (August 5). He said refraining from imprisoning the Leader of the Opposition would enhance public perception of the government.

He also said that, given the present situation, it was important for all political parties and the public to unite in raising their voice for Tamil Nadu's rights over Cauvery water and to draw the attention of the Union government to the issue.

In a statement, Dhinakaran said it was irresponsible for a person holding the constitutional position of Leader of the Opposition to make such remarks in public. At the same time, he criticised the Tamil Nadu government's decision to arrest Udhayanidhi, alleging that the police had acted in undue haste.

He said protests by TVK cadres against Udhayanidhi's speech and demonstrations by DMK cadres condemning his arrest had resulted in a law and order situation in the state.

Dhinakaran further alleged that both the ruling party and the Opposition were ignoring issues affecting the public, including the Cauvery water dispute, the proposed Mekedatu dam project, power cuts and electricity tariff hikes.

He urged the state government to release Udhayanidhi Stalin immediately and restore normalcy. Dhinakaran also alleged that the arrest, carried out ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly session, was intended to suppress the voice of the Opposition.

Appearing for the Thanjavur police, Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan that Udhayanidhi had been arrested and taken to Thanjavur, but that the police did not intend to remand him in judicial custody. The police only intended to question him and release him on station bail.

The Advocate General added that the State’s only intention was to protect the interests of women.

The court observed that since the petition was one for anticipatory bail, it would not be maintainable after the arrest. However, the court added, it could grant bail considering the materials placed before it.

Recording Advocate General Narayan’s submissions, the court directed the police to question Udhayanidhi and release him on station bail on the same day.

The FIR stems from an objectionable speech delivered by the Leader of the Opposition at a public meeting that the DMK conducted in Thanjavur on August 3 in connection with the Cauvery water-sharing dispute. During his speech, Udhayanidhi picked cue from a comment from one among the audience and made a comment loaded with double entendre against actor Trisha Krishnan and Chief Minister Vijay.

Following this, S Bairavi, the TVK's Central District Women's Wing Organiser for Thanjavur, filed a complaint at the Thanjavur East Police Station. Based on this, the police registered a case against Udhayanidhi under Sections 196, 192, 352, 79, 296(b), 61 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, and arrested him.

Meanwhile, Udhayanidhi filed an anticipatory bail petition before the High Court, claiming that his speech was a political one on the Cauvery water issue, protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, and that his remark referred only to the water dispute with Karnataka. He denied making any derogatory or indecent remarks against Trisha or Vijay, or using any word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Udhayanidhi alleges that his speech was taken out of context for political purposes.

He further contended that the case was politically motivated and intended to silence him as the Leader of the Opposition ahead of the Budget Session that is set to commence on August 5 (Wednesday). He sought anticipatory bail in connection with the case under investigation by the police.

Among the trains rescheduled on August 4 from the MGR Chennai Central railway station, Kanniyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express will leave at 9 pm instead of 5.25 pm, MGR Chennai Central-Howrah Superfast Mail will depart at 9.30 pm instead of 7 pm, and MGR Chennai Central-Shalimar Express, originally scheduled to leave at 6.45 pm, has been deferred to 7 am on Wednesday (August 5).

Southern Railway said the rescheduling was necessitated by the late running of the respective pairing trains.

Chennai Egmore-Tiruchy Cholan Superfast Express will be diverted via Cuddalore Port, Vriddhachalam, and Tiruchchirappalli on August 5, 12, 14, 21, and 26, and September 2 to facilitate fixed-time corridor blocks for safety and maintenance works in Tiruchchirappalli Division.

During the diversion, the train will skip stoppages at Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, Vaithisvarankoil, Mayiladuthurai, Aduturai, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Budalur and Tiruverumbur, while additional halts will be provided at Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur, Lalgudi, and Srirangam.

The Tiruchchirappalli-Chennai Egmore Cholan Superfast Express will also depart 35 minutes later, at 12.45 pm instead of 12.10 pm, on August 4, 11, and 18.

In addition, the Jodhpur-Mannargudi Express will be regulated by about one hour between Chennai Egmore and Mundiyampakkam on August 6, 20 and 27.

Southern Railway also said the Dr MGR Chennai Central-Bhagat Ki Kothi Superfast Express departing on August 11 will be regulated by about two hours in the Manmad-Jalgaon section owing to pre-non-interlocking and non-interlocking works being carried out by Central Railway between Igatpuri and Bhusaval.

In a post on X, Palaniswami said he had repeatedly maintained that Udhayanidhi Stalin should exercise caution while making public statements.

At the same time, he said the remarks allegedly made by Udhayanidhi against women were unacceptable and did not reflect the responsibility expected of a Leader of the Opposition.

However, Palaniswami questioned the decision to proceed with the arrest just a day before the Budget session is scheduled to commence. He said the timing had raised suspicions that the state government was acting with a political motive.

The AIADMK leader alleged that the government was attempting to prevent the Leader of the Opposition from participating in the Assembly proceedings and conduct the Budget session in his absence.

Palaniswami urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately withdraw the arrest action, stating that the Assembly Budget session is set to begin on Wednesday.

The Thanjavur Police registered the case against him under six sections of provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police have also invoked relevant sections from the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act and the Information Technology Act.

The case has triggered political controversy, with the DMK moving the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail after the registration of the FIR.

Here are the provisions invoked in the case and the punishments prescribed:

Section 61, BNS:

The BNS defines criminal conspiracy as an agreement between two or more persons to commit an illegal act or a legal act through illegal means. Section 61 deals with criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of 2 years or upwards. It can be bailable or non-bailable depending on the object of the conspiracy, and the trial will be done by a judicial officer based on the nature of the conspiracy.

If the conspiracy relates to serious offences punishable with death, life imprisonment, or rigorous imprisonment of two years or more, the punishment is the same as for abetment of that offence. For lesser offences, punishment may extend to six months' imprisonment, or a fine, or both.

Section 79, BNS:

Section 79 deals with uttering words or making any gesture or doing any acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman, etc. It is a bailable offence, and can be tried by any magistrate.

The prescribed punishment is simple imprisonment for up to three years along with a fine.

Section 192, BNS:

Section 192 relates to wantonly giving illegal provocation with the intent to cause a riot. The offence is bailable. Case to be tried by any magistrate.

If a riot is committed as a consequence of the provocation, the punishment is imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine, or both. If no riot takes place, the punishment may extend to six months, or a fine, or both.

Section 196, BNS:

Section 196 deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds such as religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, and acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony. Case to be tried by magistrate of the first class.

The offence is non-bailable, and is punishable with imprisonment for up to three years, or a fine, or both. If committed in a place of worship or during a religious ceremony, the punishment can extend up to five years along with a fine.

Section 296(b), BNS:

Section 296(b) penalises singing, reciting, or uttering obscene songs, ballads, or words in or near a public place causing annoyance to others. It is a bailable offence, and can be tried by any magistrate.

The offence carries a maximum punishment of three months' imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both.

Section 351(2), BNS:

Section 351(2) deals with criminal intimidation by threatening injury to a person's body, reputation, or property, or that of someone they care about, with the intention of causing alarm or compelling an illegal act. It is a bailable offence and can be tried by any magistrate.

The punishment is imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both.

Section 352, BNS:

Section 352 deals with intentional insult intended to provoke breach of peace. It is a bailable offence. Case to be tried by any magistrate.

The offence is punishable with imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine, or both. It is a non-cognisable offence triable by any Magistrate.

Section 4, Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act, 2002:

Whoever commits or participates in or abets harassment of women in or within the precincts of any educational institution, temple or other place of worship, bus stop, road, railway station, cinema theatre, park, beach, place of festival, public service vehicle or vessel, or any other place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than Rs 10,000.

Section 67, Information Technology Act, 2000:

Whoever publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the electronic form, any material which is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest or if its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see, or hear the matter contained or embodied in it, shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to Rs 5 lakh, and in the event of second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine which may extend to Rs 10 lakh.

The criticism came amid mounting political backlash after videos of Udhayanidhi's speech surfaced on social media, prompting complaints from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) women's wing and the registration of a criminal case against him.

Vaiko calls for political unity

In a post on X, Vaiko said the Leader of the Opposition's remarks against the Chief Minister deserved strong condemnation.

He said Udhayanidhi Stalin, who holds the constitutional office of Leader of the Opposition, should remember the Thirukkural principle of exercising restraint in speech instead of resorting to derogatory language.

Vaiko further alleged that the speech delivered during the DMK protest, which focused on the Cauvery issue, reflected poor political standards and lowered the quality of public debate.

He also said the Cauvery issue should not be used for political posturing and maintained that Tamil Nadu's interests could be protected only if all political parties spoke in one voice, rising above political differences.

CPM seeks civil political discourse

CPM state secretary P Shanmugam also criticised the remarks made by Udhayanidhi Stalin, saying the language used in the public domain was obscene and unacceptable.

In a post on X, Shanmugam said the Leader of the Opposition's manner of speech deserved strong condemnation and stressed that politics should not descend into personal attacks or offensive language.

He further said speeches that demean women must come to an end and emphasised that political leaders have a responsibility to uphold civilised public discourse.

Khushbu demands apology

Actor and BJP state vice-president Khushbu also condemned Udhayanidhi Stalin's remarks, accusing him of insulting actor Trisha on a public platform.

She questioned whether Udhayanidhi had the courage and decency to admit his mistake and apologise to Trisha, saying public representatives should exercise responsibility while addressing public meetings.

Udhayanidhi's remarks spark controversy

Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and DMK Youth Wing secretary, addressed the DMK's Cauvery protest in Thanjavur on Tuesday. During his speech, he purportedly made remarks with double entendres targeting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and actor Trisha.

Videos of the speech soon surfaced on social media, triggering widespread criticism. TVK strongly condemned the remarks, while its women's wing lodged complaints with the Thanjavur East Police Station and the National Commission for Women.

Case registered; Udhayanidhi alleges political motive

Based on the complaints, the Thanjavur police registered a case against Udhayanidhi Stalin under six sections, under six BNS sections, along with provisions of the women’s harassment law and IT Act. A police team later reached his residence in Neelankarai and questioned him, and later took him away in a police vehicle for further questioning at an undisclosed location.

However, Udhayanidhi maintained that the case was an attempt to defame him, alleging that only edited portions of his speech had been circulated while the full context of his remarks had been deliberately ignored.

The TVK women's wing has also submitted a complaint to the National Commission for Women (NCW), seeking action against Udhayanidhi over his purportedly derogatory remarks.

Speaking to reporters while being taken to an undisclosed location in a police vehicle, Udhayanidhi said the government could not tolerate his criticism of its handling of the Cauvery issue during a protest in Thanjavur. "I am not anxious about my detention. I will face the case legally," he said.

Earlier today, the Thanjavur police registered a case against the DMK Youth Wing Secretary under six BNS sections, along with provisions of the women’s harassment law and IT Act, over the controversial remarks he made during a public meeting in Thanjavur on Monday (August 3). Soon after, the DMK moved the Madras High Court seeking protection from his arrest.

As news of the police action spread, DMK workers gathered outside the Chepauk MLA's Neelankarai residence, raising slogans against the ruling government, prompting heavy police deployment and heightened security. Senior DMK leaders KN Nehru, Ma Subramanian, members of the party's legal wing and Udhayanidhi's brother-in-law V Sabareesan were also present when the LoP was briefed on the case at his residence before being taken away for further questioning.

Several DMK cadres were detained during the protest, while one cadre was seen with a bloodied nose during the scuffle.

Why was Udhayanidhi booked by the Thanjavur police?

The case stems from a DMK protest held outside the Panagal Building in Thanjavur on Monday (August 3), where Udhayanidhi criticised the TVK government over Cauvery water rights, the proposed Mekedatu dam and the waiver of farm loans.

Calling Vijay a "dummy Chief Minister", the LoP alleged that the state's administrative failures had resulted in the current situation faced by farmers. He also launched a strong attack on the state Cabinet, referring to the ministers as a "joker group" while making several allegations against the ruling establishment.

He later made purportedly derogatory comments about actor Trisha after the crowd chanted her name, drawing widespread flak.

What action has TVK taken against Udhayanidhi?

A police complaint was lodged at the Thanjavur East Police Station by S Bairavi, the TVK's Central District Women's Wing Organiser for Thanjavur.

TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar also submitted a petition to the National Commission for Women (NCW), alleging that Udhayanidhi made defamatory, objectifying and sexually suggestive remarks against Chief Minister Vijay and a woman actor.

The petition urged the Commission to take cognisance of the speech, seek an explanation and an unconditional public apology from Udhayanidhi, and recommend legal action.

(With Bureau inputs)

The proposals, presented at the CII Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Summit 2026 on Monday (August 3), are aimed at improving industrial connectivity, strengthening links to ports and airports, easing congestion in Chennai and supporting the growth of Tier-II cities.

I Jeyakumar, Member Secretary and Special Officer, Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), said the Vision 2035 plan, jointly prepared by NHAI and the State Highways Department, comprises 144 corridors spanning 4,543.5 km.

Of the total investment, NHAI projects account for Rs 84,891 crore, while the State Highways Department will execute projects worth Rs 52,105 crore.

The proposed network includes 20 spine corridors, 21 link roads, industrial and coastal connectivity projects, nine airport connectivity projects, dedicated road improvements in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and master plans for Tier-II cities.

Chennai alone will see 13 new road projects covering 164 km at an estimated cost of Rs 2,947 crore, while master plans for Coimbatore, Madurai and Hosur have already been approved. The Tuticorin master plan is awaiting approval.

Airport connectivity has also been prioritised, with eight corridors proposed by the State Highways Department and one by NHAI. Two of the proposed state road links have already been taken up under spur road projects.

NHAI Regional Officer Virender Sambyal said the authority already has 855 km of national highway projects worth more than Rs 33,000 crore under construction in Tamil Nadu. In addition, another 2,500 km of highways requiring investments exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore are in the pipeline.

Among the marquee projects are the Chennai-Trichy-Madurai greenfield access-controlled corridor, the Maduravoyal-Sriperumbudur elevated corridor, six-laning of the Chengalpattu-Tindivanam stretch of NH-32, four-laning of the Nagapattinam-Thoothukudi-Kanyakumari section of NH-32, improved connectivity to Cuddalore Port, and bypass projects in Coimbatore, Salem and Trichy.

The proposed investments are expected to strengthen freight movement, improve connectivity to industrial clusters, ports and airports, and support Tamil Nadu's manufacturing and export-driven economy.

The meeting comes as the House is set to reconvene on Wednesday (August 5) for the presentation of the 2026-27 General Budget, the first full-fledged budget of the TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

The inaugural session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly began on June 18 with the Governor's address. Discussions on the motion of thanks were held on June 19, 22 and 23, with the Chief Minister replying to the debate before the House was adjourned sine die.

General budget

The Assembly will reconvene on Wednesday for the presentation of the 2026-27 General Budget by Finance Minister N Marie Wilson.

As it is the TVK government's maiden budget, it is expected to feature several new welfare schemes and policy announcements.

The budget session is likely to continue for around one-and-a-half months, including discussions on the budget and department-wise demands for grants.

Presentation of agriculture budget

The Agriculture Budget for 2026-27 will be presented on Thursday (August 6) by Agriculture Minister R Vinoth. This will be followed by discussions in the Assembly and replies from the ministers concerned.

Ahead of the session, all TVK MLAs are expected to participate in Tuesday's meeting to deliberate on key aspects of both the General and Agriculture Budgets and review the government's priorities.

TVK's election manifesto

The maiden budget is expected to reflect several promises made in the TVK election manifesto.

Major assurances include a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 for women heads of families, six free LPG cylinders annually, one sovereign of gold and a silk saree for weddings, education loans up to Rs 20 lakh, health insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh per family, annual free full-body health check-ups, and a monthly allowance of Rs 4,000 for unemployed graduates.

Gold ring scheme

The government has already implemented 200 units of free electricity every month and announced the waiver of crop loans up to Rs 75,000.

Chief Minister Vijay has also said the Gold Ring Scheme (Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam) for newborns will be launched on September 15 to mark former Chief Minister CN Annadurai's birth anniversary. The remaining key manifesto promises are expected to find place in the upcoming budget, which will also be discussed in detail during the MLAs' meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Thanjavur police registered a case against the DMK Youth Wing Secretary under six Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections, along with provisions of the women’s harassment law and IT Act, over the controversial remarks he made during a public meeting in Thanjavur yesterday, according to a Daily Thanthi report. Soon after, the DMK moved the Madras High Court seeking protection from his arrest.

A police team from Thanjavur, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alagesan, had arrived at Udhayanidhi's residence in Neelankarai, Chennai, to brief him about the case.

As news of the police visit spread, DMK workers gathered outside the Chepauk MLA's residence and raised slogans against the ruling government, prompting heavy police deployment and heightened security. Senior DMK leaders K N Nehru, Ma Subramanian, members of the party's legal wing and Udhayanidhi's brother-in-law V Sabareesan also reached the spot.

After Greater Chennai Police (GCP) Commissioner A Amalraj arrived, the protesters were dispersed. Udhayanidhi was then briefed on the case and taken from his residence in a police vehicle.

What led to the case against Udhayanidhi?

The case stems from a DMK protest held outside the Panagal Building in Thanjavur on Monday (August 3), where Udhayanidhi criticised Chief Minister Vijay and TVK government over Cauvery water rights, the proposed Mekedatu dam, and the waiver of farm loans.

He later made purportedly derogatory comments about actor Trisha after the crowd chanted her name, drawing widespread flak.

Who filed the complaint against Udhayanidhi?

A police complaint was lodged at the Thanjavur East Police Station by S Bairavi, the TVK's Central District Women's Wing Organiser for Thanjavur, following which the police registered a case against Udhayanidhi under six BNS sections, along with provisions of the women’s harassment law and IT Act.

The TVK women's wing is also reportedly organising protests across several districts, including Erode, on Tuesday condemning Udhayanidhi's remarks and demanding appropriate legal action against him.

What action has TVK taken against Udhayanidhi?

TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar has also submitted a petition to the National Commission for Women (NCW), alleging that Udhayanidhi made defamatory, objectifying and sexually suggestive remarks against Chief Minister Vijay and a woman actor.

The petition urged the Commission to take cognisance of the speech, direct the police to initiate legal action, and seek an explanation and an unconditional public apology from Udhayanidhi.

(With inputs from Bureau)

The inflow at Biligundlu rose from 500 cusecs on Monday (August 3) evening to 1,000 cusecs in the early hours of Tuesday (August 4). It climbed further to 8,000 cusecs by 7 a.m. before surging to 18,000 cusecs by 10 a.m.

Officials said the flow is expected to increase further as Karnataka continues to discharge more than 27,000 cusecs from the Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dams following heavy rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas.

The fresh inflow is likely to reach the Mettur Dam by Tuesday evening or night.

The reservoir's water level stood at 73.18 feet against its full reservoir level of 120 feet. It was receiving a meagre inflow of just 68 cusecs while 1,500 cusecs was being released for downstream requirements.

The arrival of the Cauvery waters is expected to significantly improve inflows into the Mettur reservoir offering relief for farmers in the parched delta region.

It has been 13 years since fares were fixed for the 3.46 lakh autorickshaws operating across the State.

What were the demands made by auto unions and passenger organisations during the fare revision talks?

A tripartite meeting on the proposed revision was held in Chennai on July 9.

More than 30 trade union representatives and 90 members of passenger organisations participated in the discussions. During the meeting, auto trade unions demanded that minimum fare be increased to Rs 70, while passenger organisations insisted that it should be fixed at Rs 50.

What did the Transport Commissionerate submit on the auto fare revision?

According to officials of the Transport Commissionerate, the report has been prepared after examining the key points raised during the tripartite talks, along with factors such as the current fuel prices and auto fares in other cities.

The report has been submitted to the Tamil Nadu Home Department. Officials said they expect the State government to announce the revised auto fares after examining the report.

During a speech at a DMK-led agitation yesterday, the LoP made purportedly derogatory remarks against actor Trisha while attacking Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, after the crowd chanted her name, drawing widespread criticism.

TVK national spokesperson Pazha Selvakumar submitted a representation to the NCW alleging that Udhayanidhi made objectifying and sexually suggestive remarks against Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and a woman actor. The petition sought the Commission’s intervention, urging it to take cognisance of the speech, seek an explanation and unconditional public apology, and recommend legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for alleged obscenity and outraging the modesty of women.

Aadhav, Anand, Rajmohan condemn Udhayanidhi

Leading the political offensive, Minister Aadhav Arjuna accused Udhayanidhi of disgracing the legacy of DMK founder C N Annadurai through obscene language and double entendres.

“He has neither upheld the dignity expected of the Leader of the Opposition nor displayed basic human decency. His speech reflected a distorted attitude towards women and is unacceptable in public life. Women of Tamil Nadu will reject such politics,” Aadhav said in a statement.

Minister N Anand said Udhayanidhi had failed to appreciate the dignity attached to constitutional offices despite belonging to a family that had produced two Chief Ministers.

“The people are watching those who have crossed the limits of decency. Public life demands restraint, responsibility and respect for institutions,” he said.

Minister Rajmohan said public representatives must recognise the influence of their words on society.

“Women today excel in every field, from education and science to governance and sports. Any remark that demeans their dignity is unacceptable and deserves strong condemnation,” he said.

Siva sought the suspension of Rules 15, 23, and 51, along with any other listed business, to facilitate a discussion on the matter. The notice stated that the discussion was being sought on “the concerns over the proposed Mekedatu dam on the river Cauvery, its impact on Tamil Nadu and the need for constitution of a tribunal in this regard.”

Addressing party cadres during a protest in Thanjavur against the Mekedatu project, Udayanidhi said the failure to secure Cauvery water had led to the loss of kuruvai cultivation across the Delta and cast doubt over the samba crop as well. He alleged that the State government had failed to respond to the crisis.

Claiming that Tamil Nadu should have received 42 tmc ft of Cauvery water over the past two months but had received only 4 tmc ft, Udayanidhi said the government neither cared about nor understood the suffering of farmers. “While farmers were crying over crop losses, ministers were in tears after watching a movie,” he remarked.

He alleged that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was focused only on retaining power and had failed to support farmers. He further claimed that farmers who attempted to meet the Chief Minister were arrested.

Udayanidhi also criticised the State Cabinet, describing it as a “gang of jokers”. He alleged that the Water Resources Minister avoided the media, that the Agriculture Minister offered prayers with the Budget at the Tirupati temple, and that he referred to the past activities of several ministers, including selling lottery tickets, pirated CDs, and movie tickets at exorbitant prices. He also alleged that one minister was alleged to be a drug user and another was “wandering with a wooden log.”

He further accused the Chief Minister, ministers and their family members of prioritising making social media reels over governance.

Reiterating the DMK’s stand against the Mekedatu project, Udayanidhi said the party would oppose its construction “at any cost” and continue to stand by farmers. He also contrasted Karnataka Chief Minister’s decision to convene an all-party meeting on the issue with the Tamil Nadu government’s reported reluctance to do so.