Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Erode Corporation bus stand, the Tamil Nadu minister for Handlooms, Textiles, and Khadi said yarn sourced from government mills had already been supplied to local cooperative societies to facilitate production.

"The tender process for the free dhoti and sari scheme is complete, and yarn procurement has begun. Yarn has been supplied to the societies to ensure continuous employment for weavers. Unlike last year, there will be no delay. The free dhotis and saris will be distributed on schedule, ensuring timely wages for weavers," Balaji said.

He added that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had released Rs 300 crore as the initial allocation for the scheme.

In July, a government order estimated the cost of implementing the scheme at Rs 642.88 crore. Of the Rs 606.94 crore allocated for the scheme in the 2026-27 Budget Estimates, financial sanction had been accorded for the first instalment of Rs 300 crore, it said.

Responding to queries about a possible increase in weavers' wages, the minister said departmental officials had been instructed to examine the matter and take appropriate action.

Earlier, Balaji inaugurated seven mothers' feeding rooms set up with CSR funds at the Erode municipal bus stand and inspected basic civic and transport infrastructure along with the Corporation commissioner.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had earlier witnessed debates over delays in procuring yarn for the Pongal Free Dhoti and Sari Scheme, with the Opposition alleging "procedural lapses" that had affected weavers.

The government, however, maintained that yarn procurement and distribution were proceeding smoothly to ensure timely delivery of the festival garments.

He said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was unlikely to participate in the consecration. "No decision has been taken regarding that so far. But it is unlikely, as there are other events scheduled around that time. Also, in a place where crowds are already heavy, the CM's visit will further increase the crowd," he said.

The minister for Energy Resources, Electricity, and Law was addressing a press conference here after an inter-departmental review meeting, which brought together officials from the district administration, city corporation, police department, electricity board and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department. The meeting focused on crowd management, security measures and basic civic amenities.

According to the minister, current plans envisage allowing 8,000 to 10,000 people onto the temple terrace during the rituals, while detailed zoning of surrounding streets and exit routes is being finalised.

Current plans envisage allowing 8,000 to 10,000 people onto the temple terrace during the rituals, while detailed zoning of surrounding streets and exit routes is being finalised

To streamline entry, holographic entry passes with QR codes will be issued to devotees, and the full schedule will be made public within a week, he added.

"Arrangements are being made to provide temporary toilets, drinking water facilities and extensive CCTV surveillance. Parking arrangements to accommodate at least 8,000 vehicles are also being made," he said, adding that multiple LED screens would be put up at key public locations for devotees unable to enter the main complex.

Structural stability audits of surrounding residential buildings are also being undertaken to ensure people do not gather on rooftops.

A designated section for around 200 to 300 dignitaries, including High Court judges, district collectors and temple administrators, will be accommodated alongside other permitted visitors.

During the investigation, ARP had sought the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Police and examined CCTV footage from Central station and other locations.

The footage showed a middle-aged man and a woman arriving at Central with a red suitcase and boarding the Tamil Nadu Express. Shortly before the train departed, they left the suitcase inside the train and got down. They then walked to Park station, boarded an EMU train, got down at Guduvanchery and travelled in an autorickshaw.

More than 200 cameras in and around Guduvanchery were analysed. Further investigation revealed that the duo had left a rented house on Masjid Street in Guduvanchery carrying the same suitcase. When police reached the house, it was locked. The ARP, with the assistance of Guduvanchery police, searched the premises.

Police have shown photographs of the couple to residents to establish their identities and trace their movements. Preliminary inquiries revealed that there were two women and a man from Odisha, who had been staying in the house for the past few days. Police are investigating whether the murdered woman was one of the two women.

Police have also found evidence suggesting that the woman may have been killed inside the house and her body dismembered before being packed into the suitcase. Police suspect that the body may have been suspended from a ceiling fan while it was being cut into pieces. They also found a large vessel containing maida flour and human body parts.

The identity of the deceased, whereabouts of the missing head and the motive for the murder remain unclear.

A special team of the Agra Railway Police has arrived in Chennai and is continuing the investigation with the assistance of the Tamil Nadu Police. As the suspected murder took place in Guduvanchery, which comes under the Tambaram Police Commissionerate, authorities are also examining whether the case should be transferred to the Tambaram Commissionerate.

The suitcase was found in a general compartment after the train reached Agra on August 6. Passengers noticed a foul smell emanating from it and alerted railway officials.

When the Agra Railway Police opened the suitcase, they found the dismembered headless body. The remains were sent to a GH for postmortem and a case was registered.

What happened?

The driver was driving along the national highway near Tiruttani when suddenly smoke rose from the engine bay of the lorry, which eventually erupted into flames.

A strong wind caused the fire to spread to the rest of the vehicle and the cargo compartment at the back.

What did the driver do?

As soon as he realised the flames were spreading, he immediately stopped the vehicle on the side of the road.

The driver understood that if the fire spread to the other parts, the entire vehicle would be completely destroyed, and the danger would be greater if the fire spread to the rear end of the vehicle, where the cargo was loaded.

He acted bravely and detached the cabin and engine section from the cargo section at the rear.

By doing so, he saved cargo worth several lakhs of rupees and a large part of the vehicle from being completely destroyed by the fire.

Driver lauded by the public and officials

The fire department rushed to the scene after receiving information and extinguished the fire in the engine compartment, preventing it from spreading further.

The driver’s actions were praised by the public and officials for his ability to not panic and act tactfully in a critical moment, preventing a major accident without any loss of life.

Police investigation

The police have registered a case regarding the fire and launched a probe to investigate whether the accident was caused by the truck’s electrical system.

The gang has been smuggling a huge quantity of ganja from Odisha and stocking it in Puducherry, from where they supplied ganja across Tamil Nadu.

Based on an input about ganja peddling across the State from Ramji Nagar in Tiruchy, SP Dongare Pravin Umesh ordered the formation of a special team.

They conducted a raid at a house in Ramji Nagar and seized 3.6 kg of ganja. The police also arrested Sangeetha (40), a resident of West Bengal, her 17-year-old son, Prabakaran (40) and Jagan (30), both from Ramji Nagar.

The subsequent investigation found that Sangeetha was smuggling a huge quantity of ganja from Odisha and stocking it in Puducherry, from where the gang has been distributing ganja across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Further inquiry with Sangeetha revealed that the gang had used Tiruchy as the major transit spot for peddling ganja. Subsequently, the police seized vehicles and mobile phones used for the offence.

The police found that there were other ganja peddling cases against three persons, except Sangeetha.

In a statement, Nainar Nagenthran referred to reports that C Ezhumalai, a TVK member from Thaiyur near Kelambakkam, had allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend. "The reports that Ezhumalai, a TVK functionary, allegedly hired a contract killer to murder his daughter's boyfriend are deeply shocking," Nainar said.

He alleged that incidents involving murder, robbery, sexual assault, rowdyism and extortion were increasingly being associated with TVK functionaries and claimed that an illegal network was emerging within the party.

"From the time Joseph Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, the lawlessness involving TVK functionaries has been increasing day by day. It is unfortunate that the party leadership appears unwilling to take note of it," he said.

Nainar also criticised the practice of expelling functionaries only after criminal incidents were reported, saying such action amounted to a mere eyewash. He urged Vijay to identify people with criminal records within the party and take firm preventive action to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, the ruling TVK on Saturday (August 22) expelled Ezhumalai and his son A Gautham from its primary membership.

In an order, TVK Chengalpattu East district secretary Thaiyur S Kumaravel said neither Ezhumalai nor Gautham had held any official position in the party and that both had joined as primary members through the TVK website.

"Both have acted against the law and violated the party's rules. Therefore, they have been officially removed from the primary membership of the TVK," Kumaravel said.

He directed party functionaries and cadres at all levels not to maintain any organisational contact with the duo or allow them to undertake activities in the party's name.

They are set to receive the awards from the President of India during the Teachers’ Day celebrations on September 5.

Thangaraj is a teacher at Puliyampatti Panchayat Union Primary School, while Amudha is a headmistress, and also teaches, at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya in Madurai.

Thangaraj, a secondary-grade teacher for 22 years, has been selected for his dedication to improving educational opportunities for rural and economically disadvantaged children, and has highlighted many initiatives undertaken to strengthen student learning, upgrade school infrastructure, and encourage greater community participation.

He has also given special attention to strengthening students’ foundational skills in Tamil, English and Mathematics.

“At the heart of the teacher’s efforts is the belief that a child’s economic or social background should never become a barrier to quality education,”said Thangaraj.

Amudha, who also has 22 years of experience, was a primary teacher for 10 years and promoted to HM 12 years ago. Strongly focused on foundational learning, she has taught Science, English and Hindi.

“The teacher’s initiatives underline how innovative teaching, improved infrastructure and strong community participation can work together to create better educational opportunities for children,”said Amudha.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has congratulated the two awardees on Saturday and said their achievement was a proud moment for the State and its teaching community. He credited their selection to their commitment to education, innovative approaches to teaching and emphasis on the overall welfare and development of students.

The National Teachers’ Awards, presented annually on Teachers’ Day, recognise teachers who have made significant contributions towards improving school education and positively influencing the lives of their students.

The move is an extension of the bid to charge UPI transactions, he added.

In a statement, Tagore said the basic banking account was introduced in 2005 during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure as a "no-frills account" to provide banking access to economically weaker sections. The BJP-led government later renamed the scheme the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, he said.

Tagore claimed that the State Bank of India had decided to levy a Rs 15 charge, plus 18% GST, on every cash withdrawal beyond four per month, effective October 1. This would take the total charge to Rs 17.70 per transaction, he said.

He alleged that other banks could follow SBI and impose similar charges on basic account holders. He also criticised the Centre over its reported move to impose charges on UPI transactions, saying such measures could push people back towards cash.

Referring to the rise in currency in circulation from around Rs 9 lakh crore in January 2017 to Rs 43 lakh crore now, Tagore said it showed that a significant section of the population continued to depend on cash.

Calling the proposed levy a "fee burden" on the poor, Tagore urged the Centre to withdraw the charges immediately.

She urged graduates to use technology to solve social problems and contribute to India’s development.

“Don’t just be users of AI, build India’s own AI,” she added, highlighting Union government investments under the India AI Mission in semiconductors, computing, defence, space, drones, robotics and biotechnology.

“Graduates should work with governments to address challenges such as pollution, traffic and waste management,” Gupta opined, citing Delhi’s collaboration with IIT institutions. “Treat failure as an opportunity to learn. Identify mistakes and work through them rather than give up.”

The convocation had a personal moment for Gupta as her son, Nikunj, was among the graduating students. She watched from below the stage when he received his degree. Earlier, Gupta had inaugurated VIT’s Centre for Advanced Research for Bacteriophage and Infectious Diseases.

VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan said that India’s GER in higher education was around 30% - well below South Korea’s 90%, Japan’s 60%, China’s over 60%, Malaysia’s 40% and Thailand’s 45%. “The National Education Policy aims to raise India’s ratio to 50%,” he said. “There’s a need for greater investment in medical education. Around 22 lakh students appear for NEET for just 1.3 lakh medical seats, forcing nearly 1 lakh Indians to study medicine abroad every year.”

He also urged the Union government to address vacancies in Vice-Chancellor posts caused by differences between governors and State governments, noting that 17 universities in Tamil Nadu and more than 13 in Kerala had vacant posts. He also called for higher production and exports to strengthen India’s economy.

TCS Vice-President and CTO Babu Unnikrishnan also addressed the convocation.

A total of 11,276 students received degrees, including 7,359 undergraduates and 3,917 postgraduates. Among them were 781 PhD graduates and three integrated PhD graduates. Academic distinction certificates were awarded to 248 students and 84 received gold medals.

The increase has been driven by rising demand amid the heat and falling arrivals after strong winds caused lemons to drop from plants, traders said.

For farmers in and around Puliyankudi, the price rise marks a turnaround after months of poor returns. Lemons had been selling for just Rs 20-Rs 30 a kg two to three months ago, leaving growers struggling to recover their costs.

Lemons are cultivated across thousands of acres in Puliyankudi, Vasudevanallur, Kadayanallur, Chokkampatti, Punnaiyapuram, Singilipatti and Kumanthapuram in Tenkasi district. The produce is brought to the Puliyankudi market and sent to Kerala and various districts in Tamil Nadu.

Around 15 to 20 tonnes of lemons are sent from the region for sale every day.

The current price of Rs 170-Rs 200 per kg has been welcomed by farmers and traders. However, the rise is also being felt by consumers, with individual lemons now costing Rs 10-12 depending on quality.

Traders expect demand to increase further with a series of auspicious occasions, Amman temple festivals and the upcoming Onam celebrations in Kerala. They said lemon prices could rise further in the coming days.

Farmers and traders have urged the government to establish industries in the region to manufacture value-added products from lemons. They said this could help protect growers from sharp price fluctuations and provide an alternative market when prices fall.

Anitha, a 17-year-old from Kuzhumur in Ariyalur district, had scored 1,176 out of 1,200 marks in her Class 12 State Board examinations in 2017, with a medical cut-off of 196.75. She had approached the Supreme Court seeking an exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu.

However, she could not secure a medical seat under the NEET-based admission system and died by suicide at her home on September 1, 2017. Her death triggered widespread protests across Tamil Nadu and turned her into a prominent symbol of the State’s anti-NEET movement.

Protests planned on September 1

SFI and DYFI have urged students, youth and members of the public to observe September 1 as NEET Opposition Day and participate in programmes marking Anitha’s ninth death anniversary. The organisations have called for the anti-NEET campaign to be taken to the people and for the demand for equal and socially just access to education to be strengthened.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Tamil Nadu, has announced a protest in Madurai on September 1, demanding the abolition of NEET, along with an open-air discussion at the EB Office in Arasaradi.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Students Youth Federation (TSYF) has announced a remembrance programme for Anitha at Besant Nagar beach in Chennai at 5 pm on September 1. The organisation has appealed to the public to participate and pay tribute to Anitha.

SFI and DYFI have also announced a programme at Villupuram Signal as part of events being organised across Tamil Nadu. The organisations have appealed to the public to participate in the programmes, pay tribute to Anitha and reiterate the demands for the abolition of NEET, social justice and equal access to education.

Anitha’s struggle continues

Over the years, Anitha’s name has remained closely associated with Tamil Nadu’s demand for an alternative to NEET and greater State autonomy in education. Her family members and anti-NEET activists have continued to raise the issue, particularly highlighting the difficulties faced by rural, State Board and economically weaker students.

The issue has also remained active in Tamil Nadu in 2026. Anitha’s brother S Manirathnam participated in anti-NEET protests in Delhi and later joined a 12-day hunger strike in Chennai, demanding the abolition of NEET and the restoration of education to the State List.

Addressing the party executive committee meeting at Anna Arivalayam, Stalin said the DMK had witnessed both victories and defeats and that the recent defeat was only an electoral setback. "We have not been permanently defeated. Let us consider this as an opportunity to plan the party's future," he said.

Stalin said a comprehensive self-assessment was required, rather than merely identifying and replacing individuals constituency by constituency. He acknowledged that the functioning of party administrators was also among the reasons for the defeat and said the party must openly accept its mistakes.

He said a 38-member field study team had been constituted after the election to collect feedback from party functionaries constituency-wise. Thousands of additional suggestions were also received through a dedicated website and reviewed by him.

Based on the feedback, a restructuring committee headed by Thangam Thennarasu was formed, and its recommendations were discussed with senior party functionaries before being converted into resolutions, Stalin said.

As part of the revamp, age limits and tenure restrictions would be introduced for various party posts, while more responsibilities would be given to younger and new faces.

"We need to regain the confidence of young people and women. New membership enrolment should begin soon, and it must be genuine and transparent," Stalin said.

He said internal elections would be conducted at all levels after the membership drive, expressing confidence that capable new functionaries would emerge through elections rather than nominations.

Stalin also cautioned party functionaries against failing to nurture colleagues at the grassroots level. He took a dig at an unnamed functionary, saying that some are ready to greet opposition party leaders with a 'vanakkam' but not rivals from their own party. A district secretary or a single MLA alone could not strengthen the party, he said, stressing that every cadre should function as an organiser.

Stalin said the DMK would work for the welfare of even those who had not voted for the party and urged cadres to begin political outreach from their own homes, to relatives and in their neighbourhoods.

"Victory or defeat will not determine the life of our movement. As long as the Tamil identity, language and land exist, we must work with the determination that the black-and-red flag should continue to fly," he said.

Over one lakh gold rings are required to implement the scheme for four months and the welfare initiative is set to be launched on September 15, marking the birth anniversary of Dravidian icon CN Annadurai.

Children born in government hospitals from June 22, the birthday of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, will benefit under this scheme.

According to a ballpark estimate, Rs 220 crore would be the cost of the 1,28,499 rings (22-carat) weighing approximately 128.5 kg and the Tamil Nadu government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 755.83 crore for the supply of a total of 4,41,667 rings (for one year).

Though the final cost for the initial batch of rings may dynamically vary, the state government has undertaken to pay for the gold at the prevailing market rates.

Joyalukkas' 70 percent share will work out to 89,949 rings while Kalyan Jewellers' 30 percent share will comprise 38,550 rings.

According to sources at today's market rate in Tamil Nadu, a gold ring under this scheme will cost the government approximately Rs 14,850 per gram.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) has issued the work orders to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers on 70:30 ratio to supply 1,28,499 gold rings required for the beneficiaries from June to September, the government said late on Friday.

The scheme, announced by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the run-up to the April Assembly election, will cover the children born in state-run hospitals to encourage deliveries in government medical facilities.

"Following the government order to supply 4,41,667 gold rings weighing one gram each, 11 companies participated in the tender on July 14 by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation and submitted their price details through the TN Tenders portal," a government press release said.

Joyalukas submitted the lowest price of Rs 0.01 excluding the price of one gram of gold, including all additional charges such as processing fee, insurance, transportation, and BIS stamping.

When the winning price was disclosed, in accordance with the relevant laws, to 10 other bidders, Kalyan Jewellers submitted a matching price, it said.

"The Thaimaman Gold Ring Scheme is being implemented to strengthen the people's trust in the healthcare services of the Tamil Nadu government, commemorate the birth of a child born in government hospitals, and to celebrate the joy and importance of motherhood," it said.

The tender for the scheme became a subject of heated debate in the Assembly this week. Opposition DMK and AIADMK questioned the procurement mechanism and asked about "a highly unusual tender outcome," as the successful bidder had quoted Rs 0.01 (one paisa) towards additional charges.

Other competing firms had quoted additional charges ranging from Rs 410.97 to over Rs 15,000, according to the opposition parties.

In a statement, Joyalukkas said: "The tender is valued at approximately Rs 755 crore with the gold component forming the major part of the overall procurement value."

The firm said it quoted a "symbolic service charge of just 1 paisa above the prevailing gold rate."

The opposition questioned why the procurement was handled through the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation and argued that the TNMSC was established solely to procure medicines, medical equipment, and construct healthcare buildings.

Health Minister Arunraj defended the move by stating that the scheme is vital to strengthen the public trust in state healthcare services.

CWC member and Union Jal Shakti Ministry additional secretary Yogesh Paithankar visited Mettur dam on Friday (August 21) evening and inspected the reservoir from the Diamond Jubilee Tower on the right bank.

He later held discussions with Water Resources Department officials and enquired about the dam's water level, inflow and discharge. He also sought details on the dam's height, water storage and safety.

Paithankar then left for Biligundulu on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.

He is reportedly scheduled to visit the proposed Mekedatu dam site in Karnataka on Saturday morning. However, Public Works Department officials declined to confirm details of the proposed visit.

The visit comes after the Southern States Chief Ministers' Conference and Southern Zonal Council meeting held at Kovalam near Mahabalipuram, where the Cauvery water-sharing issue, the proposed Mekedatu dam and other inter-state issues involving Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were discussed.

Paithankar was accompanied by Mettur dam Executive Engineer Venkatajalapathy, Assistant Executive Engineer Selvaraj and Assistant Engineer Satheesh Kumar.

The resolutions were adopted at the executive committee meeting held at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam at Chennai.

Under the new structure, one party district will be formed for every two Assembly constituencies based on revenue districts. If a single constituency remains after the reorganisation, it will be attached as a third constituency to a suitable party district within the same revenue district.

The maximum age for district secretaries has been fixed at 70 years, with a maximum of two terms. The post of city secretary will be abolished.

At the grassroots level, the maximum age for branch secretaries has been fixed at 45 years, with a two-term limit. Ward secretaries in corporations, municipalities and town panchayats will have a maximum age of 50 years and can serve for two terms.

The maximum age for area, town and union-level secretaries has been fixed at 60 years, also with a two-term limit.

The party has decided to strengthen its branch-level structure in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchy, Salem and, depending on local requirements, other corporations.

The resolutions provide for an average of 10,000 voters per ward in Chennai and 5,000 voters in other corporations. Area committees will comprise an average of 40,000 voters in Chennai and 30,000 in other corporations, while town committees will have an average of 40,000 voters. One union committee will be formed for every average of 30,000 voters.

Once the party president announces the 110 districts, district executive committee meetings will be held and the union, town, area and ward-level units will be reorganised within 15 days as per the guidelines issued by the party headquarters.

A second district executive committee meeting will subsequently be held in the presence of a representative deputed by the headquarters to approve the restructured units before the details are sent to the party headquarters.

The issue came up during a heated exchange in the Legislative Assembly on Friday over the live broadcast of House proceedings and the continued circulation of remarks removed from the official records, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

Udhayanidhi flags circulation of expunged remarks

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Speaker was conducting the proceedings effectively and giving members opportunities to raise questions. However, he alleged that ministers and ruling party members were being given more opportunities to speak.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar said the time allotted to members was based on the numerical strength of their respective parties. Udhayanidhi said he was not objecting to the allocation of time but pointed out that ministers and ruling party members often made allegations while responding to questions. He said some of these remarks were subsequently expunged from the official records.

He also highlighted the issue of live broadcasting, saying that remarks later removed from the records had already been broadcast and could continue to circulate through edited videos on YouTube and other social media platforms. Udhayanidhi said this made the process of expunging remarks ineffective, as the statements could continue to be viewed and shared online even after being removed from the official records. Referring to the manner in which some ministers and members responded in the House, he remarked that the proceedings at times appeared like a “Super Singer” show.

Ministers question delay in live broadcast

Responding to the Opposition, Minister Aadhav Arjuna questioned why the previous government had not introduced live broadcasting of Assembly proceedings during its tenure. Minister Anand also referred to the popularity of the live proceedings, saying people were now able to watch the Assembly directly rather than depending only on television programmes.

Udhayanidhi, meanwhile, maintained that the DMK government was the first to introduce live broadcasting of the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly. He said the present system of broadcasting the entire proceedings had taken the initiative further but stressed that the concern was about the circulation of remarks that had been expunged from the official records.

JCD warns against sharing expunged remarks

Speaker JCD Prabhakar said remarks made without evidence could be expunged from the official records as per convention. He said a letter had been submitted on behalf of the DMK seeking action through the Committee of Privileges over the publication of remarks that had been removed from the House records.

The Speaker asked members to provide details of media outlets carrying such remarks, stating that the matter could be taken up by the Committee of Privileges. Minister Rajmohan said the live broadcast was intended to allow the public to see what was happening inside the Assembly. He also claimed that the live broadcast had been initiated during the DMK regime under MK Stalin.

Udhayanidhi reiterated that the Opposition was not against the live broadcast but was concerned about what happened to remarks after they were expunged. He pointed out that such statements could continue to trend on social media after being broadcast during the proceedings. The Speaker said it was a convention to remove statements made without evidence from the official records. However, he noted that such remarks were later being taken from the proceedings and published by various media platforms.

Action warned against Reels

Speaking to reporters after attending an event in Chennai, JCD Prabhakar reiterated his warning that action would be taken if expunged remarks were released as reels or other short videos on social media.

He said using remarks removed from the Assembly records in any form undermined the dignity of the House and amounted to a violation of the rules.The Speaker added that letters seeking action for breach of privilege had been submitted to him and were under consideration.JCD Prabhakar said action would be taken against the circulation of expunged remarks as reels, while urging members to make statements backed by evidence and maintain the dignity of the Legislative Assembly.

The temple received a total of Rs 1,05,54,389 in cash, 293 grams of gold, and 7,153 grams of silver through the shrine’s donation boxes. The Aadi Krithigai and float festival were the primary drivers, an official said.

The unprecedented rise in collections is attributed to a heavy influx of thousands of pilgrims arriving from various districts across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.

The footfall spiked dramatically due to the auspicious Aadi Krithigai festival - a revered annual event dedicated to Lord Murugan and the Theppa Thiruvizha (float festival). The festival is observed when the Krithika star aligns with the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August).

According to Hindu tradition, the day honours the divine origin of Lord Murugan, who was nurtured by the six Krithika maidens upon his birth.

Devotees believe that worshipping at hill shrines like Tiruttani during this period amplifies spiritual benefits, drawing vast crowds seeking blessings for courage and prosperity.

Located around 93 km from Chennai in Tiruvallur district, the Tiruttani temple serves as a major pilgrimage destination in the state, frequently visited by pilgrims travelling towards Tirupati. This ancient temple is the 5th abode of Lord Muruga.

The counting process was carried out under strict supervision by officials from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, temple administrators, and security staff.

Following official protocols, the cash was sorted, inventoried, and deposited directly into the temple's official bank account, while the gold and silver items were weighed and logged into secure vaults.

High-footfall attracting temples across Tamil Nadu routinely schedule such frequent counts after major festivals to manage capacity and maintain financial transparency.

Water release from KRS and Kabini dams

The KRS Dam, situated across the River Cauvery near Kannambadi in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, had a water level of 108.95 feet as of 8 pm on Friday. The dam has a maximum capacity of 124.80 feet.

Water was flowing into the KRS Dam at 1,551 cusecs, while 2,000 cusecs was being released from the dam into the River Cauvery.

Meanwhile, the Kabini Dam, located across the Kapila River near Beechanahalli village in H D Kote taluk of Mysuru district, has also been releasing water to Tamil Nadu.

As of 8 am on Friday, the water level in the Kabini Dam stood at 2,275.56 feet against its maximum elevation capacity of 2,284 feet. The water level was 2,282 feet on August 13.

Following an order from the Cauvery Water Management Authority to release water to Tamil Nadu, water was continuously released from the Kabini Dam for nine days, from August 13 to Friday. During this period, around 4.95 TMC of water was released into the River Cauvery for Tamil Nadu from the dam.

Kabini water level drops by 7 feet

The continuous release has resulted in the water level in the Kabini Dam falling by around 7 feet over the last nine days. The dam has a total storage capacity of 19.52 TMC and held around 14.57 TMC of water as of Friday.

At 8 am on Friday, the inflow into the Kabini Dam stood at 7,184 cusecs, while 12,940 cusecs was being released into the River Cauvery.

Together, the KRS and Kabini dams were releasing a total of 14,940 cusecs of water into the River Cauvery for Tamil Nadu.

Hogenakkal inflow reaches 12,000 cusecs

Meanwhile, officials from the Central Water Commission are closely monitoring the water flow in the River Cauvery at Biligundlu, located along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.

The increased inflow has also prompted the Dharmapuri district administration to continue the ban on coracle operations at Hogenakkal as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of tourists.

The water inflow at Hogenakkal was recorded at 10,000 cusecs at 6 am on Saturday. The inflow subsequently increased to 12,000 cusecs, according to the report.

With the River Cauvery witnessing increased inflow, authorities continue to monitor the situation at Hogenakkal and other points along the river, while restrictions on coracle operations remain in place for the safety of visitors.

During Zero Hour, the issue was raised by AIADMK member CVe Shanmugam, who demanded proper maintenance of the statue of Jayalalithaa located at the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education on Kamarajar Salai.

Replying to him, Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan said the demand was an important one and assured that the government would always accord due importance to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Shanmugam went on to fight for the party's stance and bat for chief Edappadi Palaniswami, with whom he has been waging battles. He said the AIADMK government under Palaniswami had resisted pressure to implement the quota and stood by Tamil Nadu's 69 per cent reservation policy. "We firmly stood by the 69 per cent reservation and refused to implement the 10 per cent EWS quota. We still oppose it. Thalavai Sundaram's demand is not the AIADMK's stance," Shanmugam said.

The exchange assumes significance as Shanmugam, who has been openly critical of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in recent weeks, asserted that Sundaram's demand was a personal view, not the party's position. Shanmugam has repeatedly questioned Palaniswami's leadership and sought accountability for the party's electoral setbacks.

Participating in the debate on the Law department's grant demands, Sundaram urged the government to implement the Supreme Court's verdict on the EWS quota, saying it would benefit a large section of people in Kanniyakumari. "At least, the government should consider providing a five per cent EWS quota for economically weaker sections," he said.

Shanmugam said, "I hope this was his own opinion and demand. The AIADMK does not agree with this. The party strongly opposes the 10 per cent EWS quota."

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Tagore welcomed Chief Minister Vijay's announcement that the government would provide cars to all MLAs. He said it should also be extended to panchayat presidents, who are elected representatives working at the grassroots level. "Such a move would help to eradicate the corruption at the grassroots level," Tagore said.

Tagore also said that the Union government provides loans to MPs without cars to purchase vehicles, and suggested that similar consideration could be given to panchayat presidents, if giving them cars outright doesn't work out.

On the INDIA bloc, Tagore said the Congress had planned to organise town hall programmes in every major city in the State to demonstrate that the alliance remained intact.

He said the exit of three parties from the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu would not make any difference, as 23 parties continued to be part of the alliance across the country.

Taking a swipe at the DMK, Tagore said ideology could not be changed, but some parties had repeatedly changed their stance on delimitation.

Police said Loganathan (49) from Chamundipuram had approached the Anna Cooperative Housing Society at Ganga Nagar to obtain a loan of Rs 22 lakh by mortgaging his house.

The society’s secretary, Jothimani (52), demanded Rs 60,000 as a bribe and, after negotiation, agreed to reduce it by Rs 5,000. Police said Loganathan paid Rs 10,000 as the initial amount. After the loan was credited to his bank account, Jothimani, however, demanded the remaining amount.

Acting on a tip, the DVAC sleuths laid a trap and directed the complainant to give Rs 45,000 in cash laced with chemicals. On the instructions of Jothimani, Thirunavukkarasu (64), a broker and office assistant, Dakshan (21) took Loganathan to a tea shop and received the money.

A DVAC team then caught the duo, who confessed to having received the money on the directions of Jothimani. The police registered a case and arrested the trio. Further investigation is under way.

CPM MP Su Venkatesan condemned the notice to the Joint Director, saying the government should instead seek an explanation from the Chief Secretary on how such a sensitive circular was issued without the Chief Minister’s approval.

Sindhiya Selvi has been asked to explain within a week why the August 17 communication was issued without obtaining prior permission from the Commissioner.

The notice questioned her authority to issue such a sensitive communication without the Commissioner’s knowledge and approval.

The Joint Director had instructed principals to keep a watch on students and ensure that they did not participate in the proposed protest. The circular triggered protests by SFI and AISF and criticism from Left parties, following which the communication was withdrawn on August 19.

The controversy deepened after official records showed that the circular was based on a directive issued at a law-and-order meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary on July 27.

A Higher Education Department communication had directed departments and district administrations to work together to prevent students and youth from participating in protests.

The man who consumed poison was identified as Ramesh Kumar (32), son of Subramanian of Kavalkinaru. His condition is stable, and he is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital, Nagercoil.

Head Constable Sivakumar and Constable Veldurai found Ramesh Kumar under the influence of alcohol during a vehicle check and brought him to the police station for examination.

A police source said that Ramesh Kumar reportedly informed the Judicial Magistrate that he consumed the poison following a love failure

While the two policemen went inside the station to fetch the breathalyser, Ramesh Kumar allegedly took around 10 ml of pesticide from his bag and consumed it. The police immediately rushed him to the Kudankulam Government Hospital and later shifted him to the Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment.

A police source said that the two personnel were suspended for failing to check Ramesh Kumar when he was brought to the station, and pointed out that at least one police personnel should have remained with him.

The source further said that Ramesh Kumar reportedly informed the Judicial Magistrate that he consumed the poison following a love failure.

The police will take further action based on the report submitted by the Judicial Magistrate.

A 23-year-old man from the Kottar area of Nagercoil, pursuing an MSc, stated that he has been working part-time for more than a year at the hospital and a senior colleague has been forcing him to engage in a same-sex relationship. The senior had sexually harassed the survivor on the bus, sent obscene messages and issued threats too.

Following the incident, it is also reported that the private company concerned suspended the employee facing the allegations.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Energy Resources Minister R Nirmalkumar said single-phase domestic connections that did not require extension or improvement works would be sanctioned based on self-declaration, without a field inspection.

The new procedure is intended to facilitate quicker processing of applications for new household connections. The Minister said 50,000 new agricultural electricity connections would be provided during 2026-27.

On strengthening the workforce, he announced that 2,558 vacancies would be filled through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission. In addition, 10,000 workers, including 5,000 skilled and 5,000 unskilled personnel, would be engaged on a contract basis for five years.

The department would also introduce an e-Mandate facility through eNACH for Low Tension consumers, enabling electricity bill payments to be made automatically from their bank accounts.

To improve consumer grievance redressal, a WhatsApp chatbot would be introduced to enable consumers to register complaints and track their status. The chatbot would be integrated with the Consumer Complaint Management System.

For employees, online counselling for transfers and promotions would be introduced through an in-house application integrated with the Human Resource Management System, the Minister said.

The government would also introduce a Compressed Bio-Gas policy for Tamil Nadu, aimed at reducing waste, creating employment opportunities and promoting the production of renewable energy.

The analysis shows that 183 of the 226 MLAs, or 80.9%, have access to a car within their immediate family, while 43 have no car declared either in their own name or in the name of their spouse or dependants.

The figures are significant as the government has proposed a monthly vehicle support package for all legislators, ostensibly to enable them to undertake constituency visits, attend to public grievances and monitor government schemes and projects.

Under the proposal announced by the Chief Minister in the Assembly, the government will provide Rs 75,000 per month towards a driver’s salary, fuel, and maintenance, and Rs 25,000 for an assistant. The total monthly support works out to Rs 1 lakh per MLA.

The affidavit data shows that 163 MLAs have cars in their own names. But the number rises to 183 when cars declared by spouses and dependants are included. This means 19 legislators who do not own a car themselves have a car registered in the name of a spouse or dependent.

The ruling TVK has 81 of its 107 MLAs, or nearly 76%, with a car declared either by the legislator or a family member. Thirty MLAs have no cars in their own names, but the broader family-ownership figure suggests that some of these legislators have access to vehicles within their households.

The DMK has one of the highest levels of family car ownership. Fifty-one of its 59 MLAs, or 86.4%, have a car declared either in their own name or that of a spouse or dependent. Forty-six DMK legislators themselves own cars.

Among the AIADMK’s 41 MLAs, 36 have a car in the family, while 27 have cars in their own names. The Congress has the highest possible proportion among the larger parties, with all five of its MLAs having a car declared by themselves or a family member.

The data also show that family ownership is not confined to the major parties. Both IUML MLAs have a family car, and three of the four PMK MLAs do as well. One of each among the two VCK, CPI and CPM MLAs has a family car.

Interestingly, the affidavit analysis also shows that several former chief ministers and ministers of the AIADMK and DMK have declared that neither they nor their family members own a car.

Former AIADMK chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, along with former ministers SP Velumani and Agri SS Krishnamurthi, has not declared a car either in their own names or those of their family members.

TVK MLA Prabhu has declared seven cars, while TVK MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh has also declared seven. AIADMK MLA Leemarose Martin has declared nine cars

Similarly, senior DMK leaders and former ministers, including MRK Pannerselvam, KKSSR Ramachandran, R S Rajakannappan, and PK Sekar Babu, have declared that no cars are in their names or those of their family members.

The Chief Minister announced the vehicle package in the Assembly as part of measures to provide logistical support to legislators for constituency visits, grievance redressal and monitoring government schemes and projects. What the government has proposed is clearly seen in conflict with the ground realities. The announcement was made after TVK member claimed in the Assembly that he comes to the House by an auto, demanding government’s support. On the same day the said MLA was questioned by media personnel on owning a car worth more than Rs 1 crore, but claiming otherwise inside the Assembly. The MLA left the place without answering media’s questions.

Under the proposal, the government will provide Rs 75,000 per month towards the driver’s salary, fuel, and maintenance, as well as Rs 25,000 for an assistant. The total support would therefore be Rs 1 lakh per MLA every month. PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna clarified that it is up to the MLAs to claim by filling out the form.

The political response has reflected the divide in the affidavit data. DMK and CPI have opposed the blanket proposal, while TVK and PMK have favoured providing the facility to legislators without cars.

Meanwhile, the ruling TVK and ally PMK backed the move for legislators who do not own vehicles.

Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said the DMK decided against taking the facility, pointing to the Chief Minister’s earlier admission that the state faced severe financial constraints.

“Considering this, our 59 DMK MLAs do not need cars. The government should provide them only to legislators from economically weaker sections based on their election affidavits,” Udhayanidhi said.

Countering him, Public Works and Highways Minister Aadhav Arjuna said TVK MLAs who already owned vehicles would not apply for the government scheme. He defended the proposal as part of the standard protocol extended to lawmakers.

“A car is not a luxury, but a necessity for MLAs to travel and meet voters in their constituencies. It is essential for legislators who are free from corruption,” Aadhav said, assuring the Assembly that ruling party members with personal cars would opt out.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition KN Nehru noted that Udhayanidhi, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister as LOP, was required to use the official residence. “If there is anything wrong in any election affidavit, you can file a case against it,” Nehru added.

Aadhav alleged that Udhayanidhi’s objection was politically motivated. “We cannot travel in a Range Rover that wasn’t declared in an affidavit reporting a balance of Rs 10,000,” he charged, in a veiled swipe at former CM and DMK chief MK Stalin.

Intervening in the debate, PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar pointed out that two of his party’s MLAs were from economically weaker backgrounds, suggesting that vehicles be given strictly to those in need. Udhayanidhi reiterated that the DMK was not politicising the issue and supported providing cars to needy MLAs.

Outside the House, the CPM and BJP also demanded the withdrawal of the proposal. In Salem, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam suggested vehicle loans instead.

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned spending public money on those who already owned cars, asking the government to exercise fiscal responsibility.

The high-yield, vitamin-rich varieties with a unique aroma were distributed to as many as 126 farmers from Tamil Nadu and other major banana-growing states.

In the foundation day and Kisan mela events held at ICAR-NRCB in Tiruchy, the Director of the institution, R Selvarajan, said that the institute has played a remarkable role in the growth of banana production, recording an increase of 38.32 million tonnes per year over the previous production of 11 million tonnes. The banana has been positioned as one of the most important fruit crops in the country with a remarkable export position, he noted.

He stated that the centre has developed eight climate-resilient banana varieties over the years through sustained and focused research efforts. “During the Pongal season, we released Kaveri Poovan banana, a high-yielding variety resilient to banana streak disease and Fusarium wilt. The Kaveri and more than 1 lakh tissue culture plants of the variety were produced and supplied to the farmers through the State Variety Release Committee," he said.

“Kaveri Thangam is rich in provitamin A, which requires only five fruits to meet the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A for an adult, while Kaveri Nadan is an updated variety of the Pacha Nadan type and the variety delivers nearly double the yield," Selvarajan said.

“Both the new varieties have already been distributed to as many as 126 farmers across the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu and other major banana-producing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka," the Director said.

Meanwhile, Selvarajan said that an NRCB–APEDA team had inspected facilities in Jalgaon for exporting bananas to Russia, while opportunities will also be explored to export bananas from Tamil Nadu to Russia through Cochin Port.

In a major development in mechanisation, the centre has been in the process of developing a central-core stem juice extraction machine, similar to a sugarcane juice extraction machine. This technology could create entrepreneurial opportunities for self-help groups and street vendors by enabling them to extract and sell banana stem juice, Selvarajan added.

Tamil Nadu has 418 engineering colleges, with Anna University approving 2,53,806 seats for admission this year. Of these, 1,95,513 seats are to be filled through the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) counselling process. A total of 2,36,017 students had applied for engineering admissions this year.

The tentative allotment results for the third round of BE and BTech counselling were released on Friday. Of the 1,02,719 eligible candidates, 68,640 students received tentative seat allotments. This included 66,159 allotments under the academic stream and 2,481 allotments to government school students under the 7.5% quota.

As many as 24 colleges have recorded zero admissions, while another 64 colleges have admitted fewer than 10 students

Students who have received tentative allotments must confirm their seats through the online confirmation option by 5 pm on Saturday. TNEA authorities have said that failure to confirm the allotted seat within the deadline could result in cancellation of the allotment.

The third round covered candidates with cut-off marks ranging from 135.50 to 77.50, including general category students and eligible government school students under the 7.5% quota.

The large number of vacant seats has raised concerns over admissions in several engineering colleges. As many as 24 colleges have recorded zero admissions, while another 64 colleges have admitted fewer than 10 students.

Meanwhile, registration for supplementary counselling has begun. Students who cleared Class 12 through supplementary examinations, as well as those who missed the regular counselling process, can apply until August 31. The supplementary round is expected to provide another opportunity for students to secure engineering seats.

Traders said that TVK functionaries have been approaching them for the past 10 days, asking them to remove their roadside shops and goods before the programme. They said they have been told that cleaning, painting and beautification works would be carried out on Saturday, followed by the Minister’s visit on Sunday.

“Take it away, take it away and go.” This is what traders were repeatedly told, according to T S Jamal, a vendor in the area. The affected stretch, according to traders, runs from the NSC Bose Road Flower Market police station through Sowcarpet and up to the end of the commercial area, covering streets including Kasi Chettiar Lane, Perumal Mudali Street, Narayana Mudali Street, Devaraja Mudali Street, Nainiappa Naicken Street and Govindappa Naicken Street.

Sreekumar, treasurer of the Federation of Chennai City Small Traders Association, said that traders had offered to cooperate with the cleanliness work rather than shut their shops. “We told them that if there is garbage, we traders will pick it up ourselves. If you want to put up banners, put them in front of the shops. We’ll not object. We asked them to cooperate with us,” he said.

Instead, traders stated that the pressure to clear the shops continued. According to Sreekumar, around 20 people approached the traders’ association on Friday and asked the members to comply with the demand. “We’re not opposed to the cleanliness drive itself. Out objection is to being asked to give up our businesses on a weekend to facilitate it,” Jamal added. “Saturday and Sunday are the business days when people come to our shope to purchase goods.”

CPI (M) Central Chennai district secretary G Selva condemned the act saying, “A political party should not be using its event to put pressure on vendors who have been doing business in the area.” He also questioned the description of Sowcarpet in the event invitation as ‘Little North India’, particularly as the invitation has been circulated only in Hindi and English.

The terminal has been developed on a 10.20 acre parcel and has around 41 bus bays and 46,339 sq ft of retail space. The O-M concession covers the 5.52-acre terminal, not the depot.

The private concessionaire will have rights to revenue from the terminal's bus entry fees, retail space, advertising, parking and cloak room. It will also pay CMDA an annual concession fee, with the tender fixing Rs 10 lakh a year as the reserve price.

The tender proposes Rs 15 entry fee per bus/day, including GST. The CMDA estimates that around 1,050 buses will enter the terminal every day, including TNSTC, MTC, local and private buses. For other revenue sources, the concessionaire can determine rates for retail space, advertising and four-wheeler parking based on prevailing market rates. CMDA will retain control over bus entry fees, two-wheeler parking and cloak-room charges.

The operator will be responsible for the terminal’s day-to-day upkeep with a minimum of 70-person workforce. The commercial component includes 32 shops, besides a government canteen, supermarket, restaurant and cloak room.

The terminal also has additional retail space and about 29,170 sq ft of office space on the first floor. Parking has been provided for 368 two wheelers and 63 four wheelers. The private operator has pricing freedom for four-wheeler parking, but not for two-wheeler parking.

Speaking to the DT Next, Superintendent engineer Balamurugan said that the works and inauguration had been stalled due to the elections. “The final leg of work is happening and we can expect the terminus to be opened in two months,” he said.

Chengalpattu currently has both old and new bus stands, located in the heart of the town, leading to severe traffic congestion that has affected the district for nearly 50 years. Once operational, the new suburban bus terminus is expected to significantly reduce it.

Authorities have also planning to operate direct bus services from the facility to destinations including Tirupati, Bengaluru, Puducherry, Chittoor, Vellore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Mamallapuram, Kalpakkam, Tambaram, Kilambakkam and various parts of Chennai.

The tender for TMTM has become a political flashpoint after Joyalukkas emerged as the lowest bidder, reportedly quoting just one paisa towards making charges and wastage, as well as hallmarking, packing, insurance and transportation, excluding the prevailing gold price. Other bidders reportedly quoted additional charges ranging from Rs 410.97 to Rs 15,356.27.

The AIADMK questioned the unusually low quote and asked whether the government had sought a matching offer from Titan, in which the State is a major shareholder.

DMK MLA PH Manoj Pandian questioned the decision to entrust gold procurement to the TNMSC, which primarily handles medicines, medical equipment and other healthcare supplies.

Health Minister KG Arunraj defended the move. "TNMSC has been procuring baby kits given to mothers who deliver at government hospitals. The sole aim is to increase the number of deliveries in government hospitals. The TMTM scheme will also help increase deliveries in government hospitals," Arunraj said.

He said the gold would be procured through the TNMSC in accordance with existing norms and that the government would consult all stakeholders, including officials and experts, before taking a final decision. "There will be no irregularities in the procurement and distribution of gold rings. The government will ensure transparency," he said.

The scheme was a key promise in the TVK's election manifesto and envisages providing a one-gram gold ring to babies born to permanent residents of Tamil Nadu at government hospitals and health centres.

The TNMSC floated a tender in July for 4,41,667 one-gram, 22-carat gold rings, with 916 hallmarking mandatory. The government has earmarked Rs 755.83 crore annually for the scheme, which is scheduled to be launched by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. Children born at government hospitals from June 22, 2026, are eligible.

In a statement, Veerapandian said the amendment would give the Centre greater control over states' tax, cess and other revenue powers from mineral resources, weakening their financial autonomy and constitutional rights.

He said the move came despite the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment upholding states' taxing powers over mineral rights. The Centre's attempt to override these powers was a deliberate effort to centralise control over natural resources, he alleged.

The amendment would have a major impact on mineral-rich Tamil Nadu by curbing its policy-making powers and revenue from natural resources, he said.

Veerapandian also warned that the legislation could threaten the land, livelihoods and traditional rights of tribal and forest-dependent communities by prioritising mining projects over the community and individual forest rights guaranteed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Mineral resources were public assets and should be used for public welfare, environmental protection and social justice, not corporate profits, he said.

The Tamil Nadu government should strongly oppose the amendment and press the Centre to withdraw it immediately, Veerapandian said.

On August 10, a police team headed by Thanjavur West Inspector Shanmugam (45) conducted a vehicle check at Ammapettai. On suspicion, they intercepted two persons who were identified as Arumugam (45) and Murugan (48), both from Ammapettai.

The police found that they were smuggling 83 kgs of banned gutka. Subsequently, Inspector Shanmugam, along with policemen Gowthaman (35) and Alagarsamy (37), secured the duo, seized the gutka stock and took them to the police station.

After reaching the police station, Shanmugam failed to register a case and released Arumugam and Murugan along with the gutka bundles. After being informed, SP E Sundaravathanam ordered a departmental inquiry in which the complaint was proved.

On August 11, the Thanjavur West police registered a case and arrested the duo. Meanwhile, the inspector was placed on the ‘waiting list’ from August 13.

On Friday, based on the recommendation of the SP, the DIG (Thanjavur Range) Ziaul Haque suspended Shanmugam and the policemen Gowthaman and Alagarsamy.

The camp, intended to provide care and rejuvenation for elephants belonging to temples and mutts, will be conducted with an allocation of Rs 3 crore from the government, the HR&CE Minister S Ramesh announced in the Assembly.

The minister also announced that the department will constitute a Temple Employees Recruitment Board to fill vacancies in temples and educational institutions it runs, bringing recruitment under a dedicated mechanism to ensure transparency and select eligible candidates through direct appointments.

Replying to the debate over demands for grants for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, the minister said the board would conduct recruitment in accordance with the prescribed rules and ensure that eligible candidates are selected through a transparent process. The move is among a series of measures announced by the department to strengthen temple administration and improve the welfare of its employees.

The government has also proposed improving service benefits for temple employees. The maximum encashment of earned leave at retirement will be increased from 210 to 240 days, while maternity leave will be extended from nine to 12 months. Marriage assistance will also be enhanced substantially, with eligible senior temple employees receiving Rs 2 lakh and other temple employees Rs 1 lakh.

Children of temple employees will receive priority for admission to temple-run colleges, along with a 50 per cent concession on tuition fees, according to the announcements.

Alongside administrative measures, the government plans to expand its cultural and religious outreach.

Special worship and a public feast will be held annually at major temples on July 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj.

Special Alwar and Siddhar festivals will be organised to promote Tamil and Vaishnavite traditions and commemorate the contributions of Siddhars to philosophy, medicine, yoga, science and spirituality. Annual village deity art festivals will also be held in every mandal, featuring folk arts, traditional performances and plays.

'Arulalar' festivals will honour Appar and Pattinathar through lectures and cultural programmes, further broadening the department's focus beyond temple administration to the preservation and promotion of Tamil spiritual heritage.

The incident is the second suspected tiger attack death reported in the area this month. According to the Forest Department, Ravichandran, a resident of Larston No. 4 area under O’ Valley Town Panchayat, was working in his coffee plantation, about 20 metres from his house, when he was attacked.

When he failed to return home for lunch, his family members went looking for him. They were shocked to find a tiger feeding on his body amid the coffee plants. The animal fled after villagers gathered at the spot.

Forest Department personnel later arrived and attempted to recover the body for post-mortem. However, villagers staged a protest, insisting that the tiger be captured before the body was removed. They also accused the forest department of failing to prevent the second fatal attack in the area.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after another farmer, Balakrishnan, was killed and his body partially consumed by a suspected tiger in the same O’ Valley locality on August 8. Officials held talks with the protesters, who continued their agitation until night.

Meanwhile, a veterinary team led by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) veterinarian K Rajesh Kumar, along with Forest Department personnel armed with tranquilliser guns, launched a search for the tiger. Three cages were also installed in the locality to trap the animal and enhance monitoring efforts.

On Thursday (August 20), while a 16-year-old ITI student from Ammandivilai was waiting at the Anna Bus stop, two juveniles a 16-year-old from Idalakkudi and a 17-year-old from Kottar approached him and picked a quarrel with him.

They suddenly attempted to attack him with sickles. The college student escaped from them and ran away. As the public gathered, the juveniles fled from the scene.

On receiving information, Kottar police registered a case and arrested the two juveniles. A probe revealed that the duo had a previous dispute with the student over teasing young women.

The police identified the deceased as Saji Krishnan, who was reportedly suffering from psychological issues. He had boarded the bus in the late evening.

He allegedly took the extreme step when the bus was nearing Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district. He had reportedly hanged himself with a towel on the horizontal rail inside the sleeper section of the bus.

On receiving information, police reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is under way.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call --- Sneha, Chennai: 91-44-2464 0050, 91-44-2464 0060; Maithri, Cochin: +91 239 6272; Sumaitri, New Delhi: 2338 9090; Aasra, Mumbai: 9820466726; Fortis MentalHealth: 8376804102.

In a statement, Anbumani said the government had announced assistance worth Rs 4,000 per acre for kuruvai farmers across the State, including those in the Cauvery Delta districts, through fertilisers, seeds and direct financial assistance. However, the package had still not reached farmers, he alleged.

"Assistance to farmers must be provided with the same urgency as oxygen is administered to a patient in an emergency ward," Anbumani said, urging the government to act immediately.

He added that the package was meant to support farmers during transplantation and the period immediately afterwards. Since transplantation has already been completed and harvesting is expected to begin shortly, the delay was unjustified, he said.

Anbumani pointed out that the kuruvai procurement season is scheduled to begin on September 1, leaving the government only 10 days to provide the assistance.

He recalled that the PMK had repeatedly urged the government to provide the package, particularly as the Mettur Dam had not been opened for irrigation this year. Following these demands, the government issued the order on June 12, he said.