On Tuesday, sleuths the agency conducted joint surprise checks at government offices across Tamil Nadu and detected unaccounted cash and suspicious digital transactions totalling Rs 1.73 crore. Officials seized Rs 13.78 lakh in unaccounted cash, while suspicious transactions through UPI amounted to Rs 1.59 crore. That is, 92% of suspected bribes were paid via UPI using apps like Paytm and GPay

The trend has risen sharply. In the last week of August, DVAC found that 77% of the Rs 1.18 crore in suspected bribe transactions was paid through digital platforms. In the first week of July, only 32% of the Rs 84.7 lakh in suspected bribes was via UPI. The digital share thus rose from 32% in early July to 92% by the third week of September.

Tuesday’s checks covered 36 locations in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram.

The highest digital transaction amounts included Rs 43,42,563 at the Greater Chennai Corporation Office Zone 14 in Perungudi; Rs 19,66,500 at Kayalpattinam Municipality in Thoothukudi district; and Rs 19,16,280 at the Velankanni Town Panchayat Office in Nagapattinam district. Cash seizures included Rs 7,64,500 at the Arakkonam Municipality Office in Ranipet and Rs 5,53,767 at the Avinashi Municipality Office in Tirupur.

DVAC said the checks were part of its vigilance exercise across government offices.

Fake parking receipt book seized

In Ramanathapuram, officials received information about forged Rs 20 parking receipts being issued at the Municipal Bike Stand at the New Bus Stand. A joint surprise check at two bike stands led to the seizure of 59 fake receipt booklets, each containing 100 receipts, along with Rs 12,750 in unaccounted cash.

Radha has alleged that her sister, actress Ambika, and their brother, Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair, stole signed blank cheques from her residence to unlawfully encash nearly Rs 46 crore.

Addressing the media following the complaint, Ambika categorically denied the charges and said there was "no truth" in Radha’s complaint besides expressing distress over the family matter reaching the police.

She hit back at the allegations, saying, “Gold is Radha’s weakness,” and claimed that Radha has a lot of her gold.

She also said Radha had given her three cheques for the money she owed her, while questioning the allegations surrounding the signed cheques.

What did Ambika say about the Rs 46 crore allegation?

Ambika said the amount mentioned in Radha’s complaint had increased from Rs 43 crore to Rs 46 crore.

She said it was true that Radha had given her a cheque and that the cheque was later stopped, but questioned why Radha had not stated the reason for stopping it.

What did Radha allege against Ambika and her brother?

Radha, in her complaint, alleged that Ambika and her brother Mallikarjuna Kunjan Nair had taken signed blank cheques kept at her Valasaravakkam residence and presented them to the bank for encashment.

She said the cheques were kept for meeting expenses including workers’ salaries, electricity bills, property tax, water and sewage bills and garden maintenance.

Radha said she had received a message from her bank on September 17 informing her that the old cheques had been presented for encashment, after which she asked the bank to halt the payment.

What did Ambika say about the ARS Gardens dispute?

Ambika said ARS Gardens was like her child and that it had been named after former Chief Minister MGR. She said there had been a long-standing issue concerning the shares in the company. According to Ambika, she visited the property a few days ago and was shocked to find that it had a different name.

"There is a production company named ARS. I have a share in it. Radha is not ready to talk about it either," Ambika said.

What did Ambika say about Radha and the gold?

"Gold is Radha's weakness. Radha becomes a model when she sees gold. She has a lot of my gold. There is no answer for that either," said Ambika, as reported by Daily Thanthi.

Why did Ambika question Radha’s claim about the signed cheques?

Ambika questioned Radha's allegation that those signed blank cheques were kept at home. She said Radha was careful about securing her belongings, including locking her handbag and using a number lock when she slept at home.

"Is it acceptable for her to say that she kept the signed cheque at home in that case?" Ambika further asked.

Later, Ambika said it was painful that her sister was facing a cheque fraud case.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a renovated pond at the Government Museum campus in Egmore, Rajmohan said the TVK government had taken up the case within months of assuming office and was conducting a comprehensive investigation.

“Who kept this case under wraps for a year? Whom are DMK functionaries still trying to protect in this case? Despite so much evidence, why was no action taken by the previous government?” he asked.

The minister also questioned who had ordered that the Veeramani case be closed and criticised former minister S Regupathy over his remarks on the issue.

“The Veeramani case is under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister. No one can escape. Wherever cases have been kept under wraps, we will bring them to light,” Rajmohan said, adding that other cases allegedly suppressed in the past would also be brought to light.

On the proposed new Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex, Rajmohan said Pattinapakkam was not the finalised location and that Vijay would take the final decision. “Pattinapakkam is not the final decision. The Chief Minister will announce a good decision soon,” he said.

On Keezhadi, the Archaeology minister said the site was not merely a symbol of Tamil civilisation but an identity of civilisation as a whole. He urged the Centre to release the findings of studies relating to Keezhadi at the earliest.

Asked about the Dharapuram and Madurantakam Assembly by-elections, Rajmohan said the TVK’s chances of victory in both constituencies were favourable.

Under the revised procedure, a free certificate of title obtained online will be sufficient for registering house and land sale deeds, mortgage documents and other specified documents.

The department has been adjusting aspects of the scheme based on requests and practical issues arising from its implementation. It was earlier informed that a certificate of title obtained by paying a fee was required for registration without a physical visit.

Following requests from various parties, the department has now decided to change procedures related to the certificate of inheritance and other matters.

According to an order issued by Registration Department IG Arun Sundar Dayalan:

• A free certificate of occupancy obtained online will be sufficient for registering house and land sale deeds, mortgage documents and other documents under new projects.

• Mortgage deeds submitted through the Citizens’ Gateway will also be accepted for registration.

• The order states that proof of ownership need not be verified for registering receipt documents related to loan completion.

• No holiday fee will be required for non-attendance deed registration.

• Special public authority documents called ‘presentation power’ cannot be used for non-face-to-face registration, as the document holder can register the document from anywhere through the internet.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a newly constructed fair price shop at East Namachivayapuram in Choolaimedu here along with Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar, Venkataramanan said the government was identifying fair price shops that had been completed but remained unopened and taking steps to make them operational. Three newly constructed shops in the Chepauk area would be opened after inspection, he said.

The government was also taking steps to resolve technical glitches related to Aadhaar authentication and fingerprint verification at fair price shops and upgrade the equipment. Prices of essential commodities were being continuously monitored, he said.

On paddy procurement, the Minister said arrangements were being made based on the number of farmers, area under cultivation, harvesting period and expected production. Accordingly, procurement centres, drying machines, lorries and storage facilities were being provided.

“If any deficiency is found in paddy procurement, immediate action will be taken through the concerned departments,” he said.

Prabhakar said residents of East Namachivayapuram had been seeking a ration shop in their locality for more than a decade, as they had to travel through congested roads to reach a distant outlet. Though a building constructed using the local councillor’s development fund had been completed more than a year ago, it had remained unopened, he said.

He said he had recently brought the issue to the Minister’s attention, following which arrangements were made to open the shop within two days.

During the inauguration, Venkataramanan inspected the quality of rice, pulses and other essential commodities stocked at the shop and checked the weighing machines.

The Minister also said steps were being taken to improve the functioning of fair price shops and ensure the smooth distribution of essential commodities across the State.

The high-level delegation from the NCST, which included NCST members Asha Lakra and Jatothu Hussain, along with joint secretary Amit Nirmal briefed the Chief Minister on core development initiatives and the effective implementation of safeguards for Scheduled Tribes across the state, an official said on Wednesday.

The meeting was slightly delayed due to Vijay's prior engagement of rolling out the expansion of the breakfast scheme for school students from Class 6 to 8 studying in government and aided schools across the state on Tuesday morning.

Following the meeting with the CM, the NCST delegation interacted with representatives of various ST associations and community members at the Tamil Nadu State Guest House here. During the session, tribal leaders raised critical concerns regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), tribal land rights, atrocities against ST communities, unemployment, bogus caste certificate issues, and educational challenges.

According to the statement from the Commission, the interactive session provided an opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the grievances raised by ST representatives and establish effective resolution mechanisms to address their long-standing concerns.

The Commission met the AIADMK legislator P Usharani representing Yercaud (ST) Assembly Constituency, and TVK MLA P Chandrasekar from Senthamangalam (ST) Constituency and discussed various issues concerning the welfare, development and constitutional safeguards of Scheduled Tribes in the respective constituencies.

The delegation later called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan and the meeting focused on matters concerning the Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu.

This major breakthrough for maritime archaeology came during the 18-day underwater exploration at Poompuhar about 260 km from here. This third phase of deep-sea underwater excavations off the Poompuhar coast wrapped up on Tuesday, unearthing critical physical evidence of the submerged Chola port city of Kaveripoompattinam.

Located at the mouth of the Cauvery river, Poompuhar is also known as Kaveripoompattinam and it once served as the maritime hub of early Chola kingdom. Catastrophic floods lashed the coast and swallowed major portions of the city around 4th to 5th century CE.

The expedition carried out by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University, spanned a two-square-kilometer underwater zone.

The findings offered compelling new insights into ancient Tamil Nadu’s global trade networks and changing coastal landscape. Among the most significant discoveries of the 2026 campaign is a fine-ceramic fragment of a West Asian "torpedo jar," with an estimated total diameter of 30 cm to 35 cm.

Historically utilised to transport liquid cargo such as wine and olive oil across oceanic trade routes, the vessel directly reinforces literary accounts of Poompuhar’s thriving maritime links with West Asia and the Mediterranean world, an official said.

Divers also discovered four massive terracotta ring wells, measuring 60 cm to 65 cm in diameter, resting on the sea floor.

Since the ring wells were traditionally constructed on dry land to access freshwater, researchers noted that their presence on the seabed strongly points to a buried palaeochannel - an ancient riverbed that was eventually swallowed by the sea due to coastal erosion and rising water levels.

The expedition yielded a massive pottery haul of over 250 ceramic pieces, including rare glazed ware fragments. Unlike earlier isolated underwater surveys conducted in the 1990s, the multi-phase 2025–26 project utilised state-of-the-art marine technology including side-scan sonars, sub-bottom profilers, multibeam scanners, and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to map the ocean floor.

Addressing historical challenges related to underwater visibility, a core priority of this latest phase was building comprehensive photographic and video documentation of the submerged antiquities in situ.

According to officials, the current deep-sea investigation represented roughly 10 percent of the overall planned exploration zone. The TNSDA is presently consolidating its data and artifact findings, and is scheduled to submit a detailed underwater exploration report to the Tamil Nadu government by February 2027.

The decision was taken at the association’s state executive committee meeting held through videoconference on Tuesday.

The association has demanded that the government withdraw the contractual appointment system and, as promised in its election manifesto, regularise all categories of employees working on a temporary or contractual basis in the medical department.

As part of the programme, the association will conduct a campaign on September 28 and 29 by meeting nurses, nursing students and students of the colleges and explaining its demands. Nurses will also wear black badges while on duty on both days.

The association has also urged its members to send emails to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, seeking implementation of their demands.

On September 30, the association will stage a one-day token hunger strike in Chennai, the statement said.

The association said that if the government failed to respond to its demands, the state executive committee would meet and decide on the next phase of intensified agitation.

In a social media post marking the Organ Donation day, observed annually in the state on September 23, Vijay paid tribute to the organ donors and recalled the legacy of young boy Hithendran, whose selfless contribution set a landmark precedent in the state.

"Organ donation is a noble humanitarian act that bestows a new lease on life upon many, even after one's passing," he said.

"For numerous patients anxiously waiting for transplants, every donated organ brings new hope and a fresh start."

Calling upon citizens to carry forward this spirit, he added, "on this day, let us proudly remember and honor all donors who hold high the flame of humanity and pave the way for the rebirth of lives.

The review was held at the TNEB headquarters on Anna Salai, with officials briefing the CM on the rising power demand, availability, distribution network, transformer failures, maintenance and monsoon preparedness.

Electricity Minister R Nirmalkumar said the state’s power demand could increase by up to 4,000 MW and that power shortages were being witnessed in several parts of the country as well as in the Central generating pool. The meeting discussed measures to manage the demand and arrangements for procuring power to bridge any shortfall.

“The immediate challenge is strengthening the distribution infrastructure. Tamil Nadu requires more than 600 additional substations to meet the present demand,” Nirmalkumar said.

The government has already announced plans to establish around 600 substations in phases by 2031. The minister said the locations requiring new substations had been identified and work was being expedited.

He cited the recent incident at Perambur, where additional load was transferred from the Stanley substation following a problem. The Stanley substation subsequently came under excessive load and a fire broke out. “Such incidents show the need to increase the capacity of the distribution network,” he said.

Tamil Nadu has around 1,900 substations, of which nearly 600 are more than 20 years old. The government is examining their upgradation, the minister said.

A major concern is also the ageing transformer network. More than 40,000 transformers installed around 25 years ago are still in use, Nirmalkumar said. The department has identified around 1,500 transformers in Chennai and its surrounding areas and around 6,000 across the state for replacement or upgradation.

The minister said preventive maintenance had been affected during the election period and several works could not be carried out before the summer. The subsequent increase in demand had contributed to equipment failures in several locations.

Maintenance of thermal power plants has also been deferred because of the present demand. “We need to carry out maintenance of the thermal power plants, but it is difficult to shut them down when demand is high. We are planning the maintenance in the coming months,” he said.

The CM was also briefed on complaints received through Minnagam. Around 30,000 calls are being received every day, apart from complaints being posted on social media platforms.

Nirmalkumar said the government was working on a unified complaint-ticketing system that would bring complaints from different platforms onto a single system and clearly assign responsibility for resolving each complaint. The system is expected to be implemented within a month.

The government has also approved the engagement of 18,000 contract workers for six months to strengthen field operations, including at substations.

On the current power position, Nirmalkumar said the state’s daily demand was around 19,000 MW. Reduced wind generation had resulted in a shortfall of around 3000 MW, which was being met through power purchases, including from gas-based generation.

He said arrangements were being made to procure power for the coming months and longer-term power tie-ups were also being examined. Long-term contracts could take around two years to materialise, he said.

The state is also set to introduce a battery storage policy next week, subject to final approval. The policy will facilitate storage of surplus power generated from renewable sources during the day for use during evening and night peak hours, when solar generation falls.

The CM also reviewed monsoon preparedness. Nirmalkumar said works to raise the height of bill boxes would be completed by September 30 and steps were being taken to shift vulnerable high-tension and high-voltage lines underground.

The department has identified transformers requiring replacement and financial and administrative approvals are being processed, the minister said. Notifications relating to the recruitment and re-engagement of personnel are expected in the coming weeks.

In a statement, the party’s IT Wing alleged that no effective action was taken against Veeramani and questioned why a final report was filed without a proper investigation in a case that had caused widespread public concern.

“Why did MK Stalin, the Arangavalar (trustee) of Anna Arivalayam, fail to take action against Veeramani and allow the case to be buried?” the IT Wing asked.

It also questioned former Law Minister S Regupathy’s handling of the video evidence submitted in the case, particularly his contention that the footage was unclear.

“Under whose pressure did the then Law Minister Regupathy allow the investigation to be weakened? What was the reason?” the statement asked.

The IT Wing further sought an explanation from Stalin, saying the DMK leadership should clarify why the case was not pursued during its tenure.

“Who are you trying to protect through this silence? If there was no connection, should you not answer these questions openly?” it asked.

The transition to the new system is being carried out in coordination with the departments concerned, banks and other government agencies.

However, a few beneficiaries have faced difficulties in receiving their pension due to their Aadhaar number not being linked to their bank account, the linked account being inactive, or incorrect or incomplete bank and Aadhaar details.

The beneficiaries facing such issues have been identified and corrective measures are being taken. They have also been informed through SMS on their registered mobile numbers, the government said.

To provide immediate assistance, particularly to elderly pensioners, special camps and help desks have been set up at all taluk offices.

Beneficiaries who have not received their pension have been advised to approach the nearest special camp or the Social Security Scheme (SSS) help desk at the taluk office.

Officials at these centres will help beneficiaries check the status of their pension payment, verify Aadhaar-bank account linkage and identify the corrective measures required.

The government has put in place several mechanisms to address grievances, including SMS alerts, bank-level corrections, taluk-level special camps and dedicated help desks.

The government said the transition to SNA-SPARSH was being continuously monitored and steps were being taken to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive their pension without unnecessary difficulties.

As many as 301 fresh dengue cases were reported in a single day, taking the number of cases reported so far this year to 17,649. Nine people have died of the infection, according to the department.

The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in coordination with municipal authorities, has intensified field-level measures to prevent dengue and other fever-related illnesses. Field workers are conducting door-to-door inspections to identify and eliminate potential mosquito-breeding sources, with greater focus on areas reporting a higher incidence of cases.

While wearing masks is not mandatory, the department has recommended their use as a precaution by vulnerable groups and people suffering from fever. The advisory is also intended to reduce the risk of transmission of respiratory infections among people with fever and other symptoms.

The department has advised parents not to send children to school if they develop fever or other symptoms, as a precaution against the spread of infections.

The authorities have also urged residents to ensure that water does not stagnate in and around their homes, as stagnant water can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

People who develop fever, cough or other symptoms have been advised to seek medical attention promptly and undergo appropriate medical evaluation.

“If we start entertaining petitions of societies in a dispute between two states, which are already contesting the matter, then there will be no end to it,” a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed.

The bench refused to entertain the petition, which, among other prayers, sought the reallocation of 70 TMC of Cauvery River water from Tamil Nadu’s share to Karnataka.

The Karnataka government had told the apex court that it had released excess water to Tamil Nadu as of August 31 and the state was complying with the direction of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs.

On August 25, the CWMA upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

The Tamil Nadu government told the top court that it had informed the authority about the water backlog, but no direction was issued in this regard.

The apex court was then hearing the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking directions to the Karnataka government for immediate release of water to it.

On August 17, the apex court had asked Karnataka to ensure compliance of the

CWMA direction on the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier said the State was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year. The Joseph Vijay-led government, on August 3, approached the apex court seeking directions to the Karnataka government to immediately release water. The state government, in its plea, claimed that the quantum allocated to it by the CWRC, as well as that released by its neighbour, Karnataka, was very little.

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Eligibility: Students studying in Classes 9 to 12 from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are eligible to apply

Prizes & Rewards: Selected students will receive scholarship up to Rs 12,000 (based on actual expenses) and mentorship support (Session on Road Safety)

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The committee, headed by Dr Sivananda Pai, head, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, India Meteorological Department, submitted its preliminary report to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay recently, calling for advance preparedness to deal with multiple and contrasting weather risks during 2026 and 2027.

The committee's assessment indicates excess rainfall over the southern peninsular region this October-December, and it has advised the government to prepare for heavy rainfall, urban flooding and riverine flooding during the northeast monsoon.

At the same time, the committee has cautioned that rainfall may not be uniform across the State. Areas experiencing deficient or uneven rainfall could face water scarcity, reduced reservoir inflows and drought stress. The committee has consequently recommended that preparedness should not focus only on either floods or drought, but it should address both possibilities.

The panel has also identified heatwave and heat stress during next year’s summer as a major area requiring preparedness. Its recommendations cover agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, coastal and marine systems, public health, energy and electricity demand, critical infrastructure and essential services.

The committee has proposed a three-stage preparedness framework short-term measures to be completed before the northeast monsoon, medium term measures before next summer and long-term measures to be implemented progressively over the next three to five years.

The committee has pointed out that historical rainfall records do not support treating El Nino solely as a drought-related phenomenon for Tamil Nadu. Historical evidence shows that El Nino years over the southeastern peninsula can be associated with normal as well as above normal northeast monsoon. Khole and De (2003) reported an 11% positive composite rainfall anomaly over the core southeastern peninsular region during El Nino years.

An IMD assessment covering 1940-2021 also found that northeast monsoon rainfall during El Nino years was excess in 28% of the years, above normal rainfall of 57% and only deficient in 15%.

Tamil Nadu must have multi-hazard system to tackle Super El Nino: Panel

The committee has cited 2005 as an example of how warm El Nino like conditions could coexist with extreme rainfall and flooding when accompanied by favourable synoptic conditions.

Tamil Nadu recorded 79% excess rainfall during October to December 2005, with repeated depressions and cyclonic systems over the Bay of Bengal triggering episodes of heavy rainfall.

The ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) Seasonal Forecast System 5, issued in August 2026 for the October-December period, has indicated projects above normal precipitation over Tamil Nadu and neighbouring southern regions, with forecast anomalies broadly in the range of 50-200 mm in parts of the region.

The committee has said the model signal suggests an increased likelihood of normal to above normal northeast monsoon rainfall over Tamil Nadu, while also pointing to considerable spatial and temporal variability.

However, the report has cautioned that seasonal model forecasts should not be interpreted as predictions of individual rainfall events. Short duration extreme rainfall, cyclones and dry spells will continue to depend on evolving synoptic and regional-scale conditions.

The committee has recommended that the State adopt a multi-hazard, scenario-based and forecast-informed preparedness approach rather than preparing for only one possible outcome of the Super El Nino system.

The Disaster Management department has been advised to establish a TNDRRA-owned multi-hazard monitoring, early warning and early action system.

The proposed system should include hazard indicators, thresholds, predefined actions, nodal officers, data quality checks, Tamil first dashboards, SACHET dissemination and escalation and de-escalation protocols.

The committee has also recommended the use of drones for surveillance, search and rescue operations and rapid damage assessment.

District and block specific impact based warnings should be disseminated through SMS, radio, WhatsApp and social media, besides accessible formats.

Water scarcity, drought preparedness

While the immediate focus is on the possibility of excess rainfall and flooding during the 2026 northeast monsoon, the committee has also asked the government to prepare for water scarcity and reduced reservoir inflows in areas where rainfall remains deficient or uneven.

The committee's recommendations indicate that rainfall distribution will be as important as the seasonal rainfall total. Even if the State as a whole receives normal or above normal rainfall, areas receiving deficient rainfall could experience water stress.

The preparedness framework therefore includes measures for drought stress, reservoir management and water availability, particularly in regions where rainfall does not meet seasonal requirements.

The committee has also extended its preparedness framework into summer 2027, when heatwave and heat stress conditions could add pressure on water resources, agriculture, public health and electricity demand.

Schools asked to prepare for heat

The School Education department has been advised to conduct awareness campaigns among schools, colleges and the public on weather-related risks and appropriate safety measures.

Schools have also been asked to include weather awareness and basic safety drills in their activities.

Before summer 2027, the committee has recommended seasonal uniforms or relaxed dress codes during periods of extreme heat, including light coloured fabrics and caps or hats.

School opening and related activities should be planned considering the possibility of an extended heat season and heat events. Outdoor sports activities and school timings should also be adjusted based on heat warnings.

The committee has further recommended introducing cool roofs and reflective paints or coatings in government and government-aided schools, with priority given to heat prone districts and urban heat island locations.

Over the long term, periodic maintenance of heat resistance measures in government schools, sustained heat risk awareness programmes and school based weather data collection have been recommended.

Wider climate risks

The committee has said preparedness should extend beyond rainfall and temperature. It has identified possible impacts on agriculture, horticulture and livestock, fisheries, coastal and marine systems, public health, energy and electricity demand, critical infrastructure and essential services.

It has also recommended that the government continuously monitor changing ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) conditions, seasonal forecasts and actual weather impacts and periodically review its preparedness measures.

The committee's long term recommendations are to be progressively implemented over the next three to five years, with the objective of strengthening Tamil Nadu's climate and disaster resilience.

The expert committee comprises Prof Dr S Kanmani, Director, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management (CCCDM), Dr Balaji Narasimhan, Professor, Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering Laboratory IIT Madras, Prof Dr Ramesh Ramachandran, Dr R Venkatesan, Member, Marine Technology Society, Dr JK Patterson Edward, Director, Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SMRI) and R Pradeep John popularly known on social media as Tamilnadu weatherman, besides chairman Dr Sivananda Pai.

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Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Nirmalkumar said the DMK's over-reaction to the issue raised questions. He also sought an explanation from former minister S Regupathy, who had claimed that the video in question was unclear, asking whether he had personally seen it or was speaking based on what others had told him.

Nirmalkumar alleged that R Veeramani, whom he described as a businessman with assets worth hundreds of crores, could have approached a power centre to evade action. He further alleged that only a party such as the DMK could have enabled him to escape the consequences.

Drawing a parallel with the Anna University sexual assault case, the minister alleged that the FIR in that case was released, exposing and intimidating the survivor, and that an attempt was subsequently made to suppress the investigation. He alleged that the DMK was now attempting to suppress the Veeramani case in a similar manner.

Nirmalkumar said the Chief Minister was personally monitoring the case to ensure that no one involved escaped action, and asserted that strict and impartial action would be taken against all those found to be connected with it.

The programme addresses the challenges faced by Tamil-medium and Tamil-first learners who may find competitive exam concepts difficult to navigate when taught predominantly in English.

Class 11 covers several key concepts that form the foundation for JEE and NEET preparation, including mechanics, thermodynamics, organic chemistry, algebra, coordinate geometry, and human physiology. Vidiyal XI is designed to help students understand these concepts in a familiar language before progressing to higher levels of competitive exam preparation.

The programme combines live classes with instant doubt-solving support, live quizzes, more than 500 assignments and over 100 practice tests. It also includes part and full-length exams, performance analysis based on test scores, handwritten study notes and a dedicated Telegram group for interaction with teachers.

According to Vedantu, the programme is aimed at helping students avoid the accumulation of backlogs during class 11, when they begin transitioning from school-level studies to competitive examination preparation. Regular assessments are intended to help students identify areas of weakness and work on them before entering class 12.

The company said that the Tamil-first approach was intended to reduce language-related barriers and enable students to focus more closely on conceptual learning and application. As part of its academic pathway, Vedantu also provides high-performing JEE students with an opportunity to progress to its merit-based Eklavya batch, which focuses on JEE Advanced preparation.

Velu alleged that the government did not examine alternative sites or conducted traffic, environmental, or social impact studies before selecting the coastal site adjoining Loop Road and the Pattinapakkam and Srinivasapuram beaches.

He submitted that the project would affect road safety for schoolchildren and residents, the livelihood of more than 1,500 fishing families from nine coastal villages, and an Olive Ridley turtle nesting ground classified as CRZ-I (A). He also alleged that the required recommendation of the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority had not been obtained.

According to Velu, the GO did not refer to clearances or recommendations from various competent authorities, including the Environment and Climate Change Department, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, Greater Chennai Traffic Police, and CMDA.

The petitioner also contended that the State had spent Rs 14.93 crore on a fish market to decongest the Loop Road, and alleged that the proposed government complex would defeat that purpose. He has sought an interim stay on the GO and its quashing. The case is expected to come up for hearing soon.

The proposed complex is to come up on 25.55 acres with a built-up area of around 20 lakh sq.ft.

Addressing reporters at Kamalalayam, Narayanan alleged that details of the investigation were being selectively leaked to the media by police personnel and claimed that divisions within the force reflected administrative failure.

He alleged that several Pocso cases, including the case involving self-styled godman Sivashankar Baba, had been delayed and said the Veeramani case should be transferred to the CBI to prevent evidence from being destroyed.

On Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, Thirupathy urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to comply with the Supreme Court's direction to identify land in every district within three months. The court has also urged the Centre and State to resolve their differences over the schools through dialogue.

The BJP leader alleged shortages of surfactant, used in treating pre-term babies, at government hospitals and demanded immediate action. He also criticised traffic violations, alleged child abductions and power cuts, accusing the government of failing to address them effectively.

He alleged that Congress, the Left parties, and the VCK were criticising the government while continuing to support it.

A Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthive issued this direction on a petition filed by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Teachers' and Warden's Federation, along with Kalaichelvan and Vijayakanth.

The petitioners contended that though there were 108 high schools, 98 higher secondary schools and 99 middle schools under the control of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department in Tamil Nadu, there is shortage of graduate teachers for Classes VI to X, which affected the quality of education provided to students.

They also claimed that several schools did not have office staff, forcing teachers to perform administrative duties as well.

The petitioners contended that in June, the Director of Adi Dravidar Welfare fixed the number of graduate teachers at five in each school without taking student strength into consideration.

The government informed the court that steps were being taken to appoint permanent teachers to address the shortage.

Taking note of the submission, the Court directed that the response and adjourned the case to October 12.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the fishermen councils said the protest would bring together fishing villages across Chennai district. They also demanded that the proposed site be declared a traditional residential area of the fisherfolk community.

The decision was taken at an emergency joint consultation meeting held at Mullikuppam community hall on September 21. The fishermen alleged that the government order was issued without prior notice to the fishing community, which had been living in the area for generations.

They also claimed that the land had earlier been acquired and earmarked by the Madras City Improvement Trust for providing housing to fishermen. Instead of using the land for the Secretariat complex, the government should declare it a "long-term housing plan" area for fisherfolk and issue a separate GO to this effect, the councils demanded.

Representatives of fishermen panchayats from Ennore Kuppam to Nainar Kuppam had given the government time until September 21 to withdraw the order, they said. With no announcement forthcoming by the deadline, the councils decided to hold the protest on September 29.

Inaugurating training for professors of government colleges in the Thanjavur region, Viswanathan said the first phase of recruitment had already been conducted in 2025, with 2,708 candidates to be appointed from among 42,000 applicants. The second and third phases would each see 3,000 appointments, he said. “All the existing 9,000 vacancies would be filled within two years,” the minister said.

Viswanathan said there were around 8,000 guest lecturers who had cleared NET or SLET, many of whom held PhDs. Soon after the TVK government was formed, their honorarium was increased by Rs 5,000, he said. The government was also planning to restructure the higher education system, he said.

On the appointment of Vice-Chancellors to five universities, the minister declined to comment, saying the matter was before the court. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was taking steps to appoint the Vice-Chancellors through proper negotiations, he said.

Viswanathan also assured that a Government Order on seniority in government colleges would be issued. “These works were not initiated for the past six years, but now the Chief Minister has started the works for the benefit of the teachers,” he said.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Augustine George Masih and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while hearing a plea filed by the man challenging a verdict in June this year of the Madras High Court's Madurai bench, which confirmed his conviction and death sentence given in the case.

The high court had said that three minors were subjected to aggravated penetrative sexual assault repeatedly over a period of one year and they were aged six, seven and eight respectively. It had said the convict did not deserve any leniency.

"The execution of the death sentence shall remain pending the hearing and final disposal of the present appeal(s)," the apex court said in its September 21 order.

The bench said the original record of the case be summoned from the trial court and the high court.

It directed the state of Tamil Nadu to place before the apex court the report of all probation officers relating to the appellant within 16 weeks.

The bench said the superintendent of jail of the Central Prison, Palayamkottai, would submit a report with regard to the nature of work which has been performed by the appellant while in jail and also with regard to his conduct and behaviour there.
"The head of the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital shall constitute a suitable team for the purpose of carrying out a psychological evaluation of the appellant," it said.

The top court said the report of evaluation be submitted before it within 16 weeks.

"VS Varunanvelu, who is associated with the Square Circle Clinic, NALSAR University of Law, is permitted to have access to the appellant, who is presently lodged in central prison... to conduct multiple in-person interviews for the purpose of collecting information relevant to sentencing and to submit a mitigation investigation report on behalf of the appellant...," it said.

The bench posted the matter for hearing after 20 weeks.

In March this year, a trial court had convicted the appellant and handed him death penalty in the case.

The high court had upheld the trial court order and dismissed the appeal filed by the man challenging his conviction.

According to the prosecution, he was a neighbour to the three minor victims, whose parents were daily wage labourers.

It was alleged that he used to take these three children inside a house and commit aggravated penetrative sexual assault on them. These incidents took place over a period of nearly a year, it was further alleged.

After the incident came to light, an FIR was registered in February 2023 for the offences under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

On February 27, 2023, the accused was arrested in the case.

The counsel appearing for the accused before the High Court had contended that the statements of the victims were "unnatural, suffer with contradictions" and they had improved their version at every stage since they were "tutored".

The High Court had said, "The accused person, who has destroyed the soul and dignity of three children, is not fit to live in society and for the heinous crime committed by him, he has to necessarily lose his life."

It was said that he does not deserve any leniency, and any punishment less than a death sentence would fall short of the societal expectation that children's safety was paramount.

The admission process, which began on May 7, is being conducted across 181 government arts and science colleges in the State. The process is still under way, and the number of admissions is expected to increase further. For UG courses, 1,30,154 seats are available, including 3,195 additional seats allotted this year. Of these, 96,477 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 74.13% of the available seats. Of the students admitted to UG courses, 40,887 are male, and 55,566 are female. Meanwhile, PG admissions have recorded a comparatively lower enrolment. Of the 24,812 seats available, 13,700 students have secured admission so far, accounting for 55.22%. Among the PG students admitted, 4,061 are men, and 9,627 are women.

Officials said the admission process is continuing and the number of students admitted to both UG and PG courses is expected to rise further.

The sincerity of the initial probe, contained in a ‘further action dropped’ report filed by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) before the Special Pocso Court, have now come under scrutiny after the court refused to accept the closure report and ordered further investigation.

The report dated February 18, 2026, was filed in a case registered under Sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act based on a complaint filed by an activist on October 6, 2025, after an unidentified man handed over a pen drive containing a video of a minor girl with a man.

The CCB registered the case on October 7 and questioned Veeramani. However, the investigation subsequently focused on the inability to establish the identity of the girl in the video and the absence of corroborative evidence. The forensic examination of the pen drive and a digital video recorder did not yield identifiable data establishing the identities of those seen in the footage, the police claimed in the report. Investigators also noted that the video carried a 2019 timestamp.

The police said they inspected the alleged scene in the presence of the local Village Administrative Officer and residents. The report stated that there were no CCTV cameras at the premises and that cameras in the surrounding area were not functioning.

Veeramani denied knowing the man in the video and disputed the location shown in the footage. Domestic workers and neighbours questioned by the police also said they could not identify the persons seen in the video.

However, after the special court rejected the attempt to drop further action, the revived probe led the police to identify the girl in the video. She identified herself and Veeramani, and her statement was recorded before a magistrate, said police sources.

According to the complaint, a note accompanying the pen drive claimed that the man in the video was Veeramani and that the footage had been recorded at a house associated with his acquaintance Shanthi in Chennai.

The renewed investigation has also resulted in the identification of several other survivors, some of whom were minors when the alleged offences took place. The police are now examining whether the abuse extended over several years.

Ex-aide arrested as cops widen probe, summon another tycoon for grilling

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Chennai Police have arrested a former employee at granite baron “Gem” Veeramani’s firm in connection with the investigation into the Pocso case against the businessman.

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time. Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025.

Addressing a review meeting with engineers of the Public Works and Highways departments here, Aadhav stressed the need for modern administrative infrastructure with adequate facilities like the ones in neighbouring Karnataka and Telangana. "Government buildings should have infrastructure comparable to private establishments," he said, adding that public facilities should be designed keeping people's needs in mind.

The minister's remarks come in the backdrop of his earlier statements that the site for the proposed complex had not been finalised and that concerns of the fishing community of Pattinapakkam would be considered before a decision was taken. He had said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would take the final call after examining the detailed project report.

Aadhav directed officials to ensure that government buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities. If departmental manpower is inadequate for the proposed inspection, private personnel may be engaged, he said.

He said 45,139 km of district roads would be taken up for immediate repairs and announced plans for a sea link between Chennai and Mamallapuram. Roads transferred from the Greater Chennai Corporation to the Highways Department would be upgraded within a year after the monsoon, he added.

Colour coding to indicate building safety

The government will introduce a colour-coded system to publicly indicate the condition of government buildings. Red stickers will identify buildings in poor condition, yellow those requiring repairs, and green those in good condition. The exercise will begin with schools and them cover colleges and hospitals. Details of the buildings and their maintenance status will also be made available online.

AI cameras to curb accidents

Noting that more than 88,500 people had died and over 1.2 lakh suffered serious injuries in road accidents during the past five years, Aadhav said AI-enabled cameras will be installed across more than 76,000 km of roads within three months, with surveillance planned at 100-metre intervals. "If private buses travel at 120 kmph with loud music, it is not merely the operator's fault; it is also the administration's failure to establish proper controls," he said.

Venkatesan alleged that the BJP was unable to accept the Keezhadi findings because the excavations indicated the existence of a civilisation predating that of the Gangetic plains.

“The evidence unearthed at Keezhadi points to the existence of a prosperous urban culture in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, before the emergence of urban civilisation in the Gangetic plains. This is the historical significance of Keezhadi. If this conclusion cannot be accepted, it should be scientifically challenged, and not through political allegations,” Venkatesan told reporters on Tuesday.

The Keezhadi study was not based merely on stratigraphy. It incorporated the findings of various scientific studies, including dating, stratigraphy, metallurgy and archaeobotany, he pointed out, the Left MP said.

It has been three years since archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna submitted his report to the Archaeological Survey of India, but it has not yet been released, he charged.

The central government had informed the court that it would release the report within nine months, but failed to do so. Later, before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, it stated that the report was being examined. Subsequently, the government said that an expert committee had been constituted, he said.

Amarnath Ramakrishna had also responded to the questions raised by the expert committee, Venkatesan said. “Now it is the responsibility of the Union government to release the report,” he said.

He further stated that if the report was incorrect, the central government should clearly state which parts were wrong and provide scientific evidence to substantiate its objections.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel also directed the district Collector to coordinate the inspection and to include in the status report an assessment of the feasibility of providing compensation to the elderly woman. The court directed the Collector to file the status report and adjourned the case to October 15.

The directions followed advocate Jayashree’s narration of the alleged poor sanitation conditions at the hospital in her PIL. Petitioner’s counsel, advocate R Alagumani, told the court that R Tamilkodi (68) was bitten by a rat on her left toe on the night of July 21 while recovering in the general ward after undergoing surgery for a leg fracture a day earlier. She also suffers from diabetes, the counsel said.

The incident allegedly occurred despite Tamilkodi’s family alerting hospital authorities about severe rat infestation in the ward three days earlier.

Following the incident, an advocate team, including the petitioner and her counsel, inspected the hospital and allegedly found poorly maintained toilets, broken or missing toilet doors, inadequate cleaning and water facilities, sewage leakage, stagnant drainage water, open drains near the wards, rodent access and stray dogs roaming the hospital premises.

The counsel contended that stagnant water could facilitate the breeding of vectors such as mosquitoes and other insects, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, as well as secondary bacterial infections among patients.

In a memo issued on September 16, the utility said several maintenance works were progressing at a slower pace and needed to be expedited. The works include replacement of aged conductors, strengthening of conductors, rectification of damaged pillars, and replacement of damaged high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) poles.

The directive follows a review meeting on northeast monsoon preparedness and flood mitigation works chaired by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar at the Secretariat on September 1.

The corporation has also directed officials to expedite pillar-heightening works identified by the utility and immediately prune trees near substations and distribution transformers. Tree branches near substations, distribution transformers, and power lines have to be cleared as part of the monsoon preparedness measures.

The utility has asked chief engineers and superintending engineers to take urgent measures to ensure completion of all pending works by September 30. The objective is to maintain uninterrupted power supply and prevent electrical accidents during the monsoon, it stressed.

The memo also warned that the executive engineer and assistant executive engineer concerned would be held responsible in case of electrocution accidents. Chief engineers and superintending engineers have been instructed to ensure compliance and put in place necessary safety measures.

Highlighting that senior citizens, particularly those managing co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension, are highly vulnerable to severe complications from infectious diseases, FESCATN outlined a charter of key demands.

V Rama Rao, president, FESCATN, emphasised the need for a structured elderly protection plan prioritising citizens aged 70 and above, followed by those in the 60–69 age bracket. “We recommend introducing pneumococcal vaccination under medical supervision for high-risk seniors to guard against pneumonia as part of broader geriatric care during this period,” Rao said.

The federation urged the government to direct the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to conduct bi-monthly special health camps across all 200 wards in the city, with similar camps extended to all districts across TN. These camps should offer fever screenings, BP and sugar checks, early dengue diagnosis, and guidance on mosquito prevention, alongside the distribution of Kabasura Kudineer and approved Siddha medicines.

FESCATN also requested a dedicated budgetary allocation managed by a special monitoring committee to fund these medical camps, supplies, vector control, and transport for vulnerable seniors.

While civic body workers have been conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns and clearing water-stagnating items from residential premises, FESCATN leadership pointed out lingering gaps in municipal sanitation. TN Srinivasan, treasurer, FESCATN, pointed out, “Stagnant rainwater pools on low-lying roads often take up to 4 days to evaporate, creating ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.”

Additionally, the federation raised concerns regarding contaminated drinking water supply. “Residents in southern localities like Nanganallur, Adambakkam, Pazhavanthangal, and Alandur have recently received foul-smelling tap water containing worms,” Rao highlighted, urging Metro Water to immediately ensure the supply of clean drinking water.

The clarification follows the State government’s gazetting of an amendment providing for an Environmental and Social Welfare Cess of up to Rs 20 on each unit container of alcoholic liquor.

The provision was introduced through the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026. Under this, the government can prescribe the cess based on the type and quantity of liquor and the nature of the container, subject to a maximum of Rs 20 per unit container. The levy is in addition to the existing VAT.

Vignesh, however, said the government would levy only Rs 10 as cess and adjust the amount against the Rs 10 already collected under the bottle buy-back scheme. “We’re collecting Rs 10 extra under the bottle buy-back scheme. The cess will be Rs 10 only, and not more than that. It will be adjusted against the Rs 10 already being collected. There won’t be any retail price hike in the near future just because of this,” the Minister told this correspondent.

Officials said that the existing Rs 10 collected separately for the bottle buy-back scheme would be incorporated into the MRP of the liquor. The government has also decided to hand over the responsibility of collecting, transporting and recycling empty bottles to the respective liquor manufacturers.

The new cess is intended to support recycling, safe disposal and reuse of liquor containers, rehabilitation and de-addiction programmes, welfare and livelihood support for families affected by alcohol addiction, awareness campaigns and ecological protection and restoration.

The Act defines a unit container as a bottle, jar, flask, pot, tin, can, tetra pack or similar receptacle designed to hold a specified quantity of liquor. The cess will not form part of taxable turnover and will come into force on a date to be notified by the government.

The SPV, which is still at the planning stage, is being considered as the structure through which the platform and related driver welfare measures can be operated.

The development comes as CUMTA begins the groundwork for the app announced by Housing and Urban Development Minister B Rajkumar in the Assembly in August. A GO authorising CUMTA to undertake the project is expected in the coming weeks.

“The tender document for selecting a technical partner has already been prepared and submitted to the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for vetting, as the project is proposed under a public-private partnership model,” said an official from the authority. CUMTA is targeting June-July 2027 for launching the platform.

The proposed SPV could make the initiative more than another government-backed alternative to existing aggregators such as Ola and Uber. CUMTA plans to retain a small portion of the per-ride charge collected through the platform, with the money potentially being used to fund driver welfare measures, including health insurance. It is also exploring whether autorickshaw drivers using the platform can become shareholders in the SPV, giving them a formal stake in the system.

Officials said the broader idea is to gradually move autorickshaw drivers, who largely operate in an unorganised environment, towards a semi-organised structure.

The proposal combines elements of models of Kerala and the Union Government's initiative. Kerala’s Savaari, launched as a government-backed auto-taxi platform, uses a service charge collected from passengers, with a portion of the proceeds earmarked for project implementation, incentives and promotional offers for drivers and passengers.

At the national level, Bharat Taxi, operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, has taken the driver-ownership route, with drivers becoming members and stakeholders in the cooperative. Unlike this, CUMTA is not proposing a driver-owned cooperative. At the same time, the proposed SPV would allow CUMTA to retain a portion of the platform’s per-ride revenue for possible welfare measures, while the proposed shareholding model could give drivers a stake in the entity running the platform.

The platform will also use a digital meter. Officials said that this would also make future fare revisions easier. When fares are revised, the tariff can be changed centrally on the server and reflected across the digital meters. A committee involving the Transport Commissionerate officials has now been constituted to examine how the fare revision should be carried out.

The app and the fare revision are part of a longer-pending demand from autorickshaw drivers. Drivers have sought a minimum fare of Rs. 60 for the first 1.5 km, Rs. 30 for every subsequent kilometre, a waiting charge of Re. 1 per minute and a night-time fare of 1.5 times the normal tariff.

TIMELINE

• 2022: Auto drivers demand with fare revision, government-backed app

• October 2023: State Transport Dept explores auto ride-hailing app called TATO

• March 2024: Unions reject private ownership, suggest using funds from welfare board to fund software

• May-July 2024: CUMTA’s Common Mobility App to eventually integrate private aggregators such as Ola, Uber

• February 2025: CUMTA moves towards auto-booking app, begins survey among commuters, auto drivers for reasonable fare

• August 2026: Minister announces CUMTA auto/cab app integrated with digital meters

• September 2026: SPV model takes shap;, launch around June-July 2027 while long-pending fare revision measures still under way

The arrested person was identified as Ganesan, who had worked with Veeramani for 23 years and is now employed at another export-import company.

Ganesan allegedly had a video of Veeramani engaging in an inappropriate act with a minor girl and hid the information from the police. Ganesan was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to determine how Ganesan came into possession of the video and why he did not alert the police.

The investigation net has widened further, and police have summoned another businessman for questioning. The number of persons arrested in the case has now risen to four, with police now casting a wider net and summoning more persons.

So far, Police have reached out to multiple victims who were sexually abused by the businessman over a period of time.

Veeramani (84) and his two associates were arrested by the Greater Chennai Police (GCP) on August 29 for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.

A pen drive with the video of an elderly man sexually abusing a minor girl was sent to the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Unit (ITPU) in October 2025, and a case was registered, but action was delayed for several months. The police had earlier sought to close the case after they were reportedly unable to identify or locate the girl. A special Pocso court rejected the closure report on August 19 and ordered further investigation. The fresh probe led to Veeramani's arrest.

Recently, Police identified the elderly man in the video as prominent industrialist R Veeramani and began a probe. Investigations revealed that he had rented a house in Teynampet where he sexually exploited several minor girls and women, while video evidence is available for one act of sexual abuse.

Police found that Veeramani had entrusted the management of the rented property to his associates, Mahendra Simhan (64) and his wife, Shanthi (60).

City police have also identified the survivor in the sole video evidence and have found over 9 additional survivors.

Viswanathan said 39,049 participants had registered for the festival, which featured 227 events, with 100 participants from foreign countries.

“Science and technology knowledge is essential for any developing country. Nations that have excelled in these fields have emerged as leading countries,” he said.

He said India has more than 15 crore people aged between 18 and 23, but only around 30 per cent have access to higher education.

“If India has to become a developed nation, higher education should be made available to all children. Poor and middle-class students should also have access to higher education,” he said.

Viswanathan said the All for Higher Education Foundation was providing scholarships to eligible students in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupattur and Ranipet districts. He called for similar initiatives across India involving private organisations and the Central and state governments.

Cognizant Senior Vice-President of Global Talent Acquisition Atul Sahal said the “AI tsunami” had already arrived and urged students to adapt to the technology.

“People who use AI will move ahead of those who do not,” he said, advising students to develop their skills, reputation and professional networks.

Prizes were presented to winners of various Gravitas competitions. A special session by boAt co-founder Aman Gupta was also held.