Police identified the deceased as Amsa, 35, wife of Saravanan, a construction worker from Thadangam village and their daughters, Jeevitha, 16, six year old Naveena, and three year old son Kumaran.

The villagers noticed the body of a woman floating in a farm well behind the Integrated Court Complex on Tuesday night and alerted the Adhiyamankottai police. Soon, police arrived and found three more bodies of children in the well and recovered them, with the assistance of fire and rescue service personnel. Police found stones tied to each of the bodies.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the woman had left the house with three children following a heated argument with her husband on 19 July. As Amsa's parents also lived in the same village, Saravanan initially believed she had gone to their house and would return later.

However, as her whereabouts remained unknown, Saravanan and other family members searched for them over the last two days. Their bodies were recovered from a well located in a farm belonging to Amsa’s parents. Further investigations are on.

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Police have arrested three youths in connection with the murder. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that they killed the victim after he made sexual advances toward one of them.

Man goes missing after leaving home

The victim, Mahendran (27), was a resident of Valasai village in Tenkasi district. He left home on July 6 and did not return. His wife, Bhuvaneswari, initially went to the Senthamaram police station to lodge a missing complaint. However, she received a phone call from some of Mahendran's friends, who claimed they had all gone on a trip to Ooty and asked her not to search for him. Believing them, she returned home without filing a complaint. After nearly 10 days without hearing from her husband, Bhuvaneswari became suspicious and lodged a missing complaint at the Senthamaram police station on July 14. Police registered a case and began an investigation.

Motorcycle leads police to suspects

During the investigation, police found Mahendran's motorcycle abandoned near a pond on the road between Mela Kadayanallur and Kasidharmam. The breakthrough led investigators to detain three youths, including Krishnan (24) of Mela Kadayanallur, for questioning.

Accused confess to murder

According to police, the accused confessed that Mahendran had taken one of them to consume alcohol and later allegedly made a sexual proposition to him. The youth reportedly informed his two friends about the incident. The trio then met Mahendran again and consumed alcohol together before attacking him with a wooden log and stones. Police said the accused later purchased a knife from a nearby supermarket, stabbed Mahendran to death and severed his head.

Body and head dumped at different locations

Investigators said the accused threw the headless body into a small well located inside a dense Seemai Karuvelam thicket near the Kadayanallur New Bus Stand along the Madurai-Tenkasi National Highway. The severed head was allegedly taken to Courtallam and buried in a pit near the Courtallam police station in an attempt to destroy evidence. Based on the confession, a police team led by Puliyangudi Deputy Superintendent of Police Namachivayam, along with Senthamaram Inspector Arul Samraj and Kadayanallur Inspector Christy, recovered the headless body with the assistance of Fire and Rescue Services personnel. Forensic experts examined the scene before the body was sent to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Police later recovered the severed head from Courtallam based on information provided by the accused.

So far eight prison inmates and three jail officials were arrested by the police.

The order comes amid scrutiny over the circumstances leading to Sabari Varman's death while in custody. With the transfer, the specialised investigating agency will take over the probe from the local police and examine the sequence of events surrounding the incident.

The CB-CID is expected to collect evidence, record statements from police personnel and other witnesses, and ascertain whether any procedural lapses or criminal misconduct led to the death.

Sabari Varman was initially arrested by South Thamarikulam police for the possesion of gutka on July 8 and died on July 8 and died on 13 in jail.

In a statement posted on his X account, Aadhav said Tamil Nadu was the first State to oppose the introduction of NEET for medical admissions and had consistently maintained its stand against the examination. He claimed that the opposition to NEET had now spread across the country, with students staging peaceful protests demanding its abolition.

Alleging that the Union government had failed to recognise the legitimacy of the students' democratic protest, Aadhav condemned the reported detention of protesters and the use of force against them.

He also criticised the detention of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, who had extended support to the students' protest in New Delhi, describing the action as an attack on democratic rights.

Aadhav urged the Union government to immediately abolish NEET and initiate steps to move education back to the State List. He said he would continue to support the demand for scrapping NEET and stand by the rights of students.

Notably, the statement was issued through Aadhav's personal X account and did not mention either the TVK or the State government, indicating that it was made in his individual capacity rather than as an official government statement.

Meanwhile, rap singer Arivu, who attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat in support of the anti-NEET agitation in Delhi, was detained by the police. After his release, he met Minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat. Following a brief meeting, the Minister saw Arivu off cordially. Neither Arivu nor the Minister disclosed the details of their discussion to the media.

The decision came after the daily quota of 10,000 time-slotted darshan tickets for Wednesday's darshan, issued at 5 am on Tuesday was sold within an hour.

As a result, devotees who arrived later, including those who had travelled from distant places, were unable to secure tickets.

The 2,000 darshan tokens issued at the Srivari Mettu footpath were also distributed.

Unaware of the cancellation, many devotees waited at ticket counters.

Temple authorities said tickets for the day after tomorrow's darshan will be issued as scheduled on Thursday.

82,105 devotees had darshan on July 21, while 34,484 devotees offered their hair as part of the ritual.

The temple also received Rs 5.18 crore through the hundi, and 4.17 lakh laddus were sold.

The unidentified persons also wrote slogans on the station walls demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET issue. The incident triggered tension in the area.

Student organisations have staged similar protests in several parts of Tamil Nadu, including Madurai, against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Police said the unidentified persons allegedly entered the railway station during the night, erased the Hindi lettering on the railway name boards and wrote slogans protesting against the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and criticising the Union government.

The slogans included "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resign", "Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, resign", and "Stop Podhigai Express trains at Sholavandan."

Railway authorities removed the slogans from the station walls on Wednesday.

Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident.

M Vijayalakshmi, who was serving as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Armed Police, Tiruchy, has been posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Home Guards, Chennai. The appointment has been made by downgrading the vacant post of Additional Director General of Police/Director of Civil Defence and Additional Commandant General, Home Guards. The government has also revived the cadre post of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Armed Police, Chennai.

R Shiva Prasad, Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai district, has been transferred and posted as Superintendent of Police, Thoothukudi district, replacing Abhishek Gupta, who has been posted as Superintendent of Police, Sivagangai district.

D Shanmuga Priya, Superintendent of Police, Central Zone, Crime Branch-CID, Chennai, has been appointed Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Western Range, Chennai, against an existing vacancy.

P R Meera, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Rameswaram Sub-Division in Ramanathapuram district, has been posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police, Office Automation and Computerisation, in the office of the Director General of Police/Head of Police Force, Chennai.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the Thoothukudi II Additional Sessions Court found Murugavel guilty of causing the death of Sub-Inspector Balu while he was on night patrol. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict.

Drunken altercation led to police action

Murugavel, a mechanic from the Vazhavallan-Korkai Junction area near Eral in Thoothukudi district, had allegedly created a disturbance at a pushcart stall on Bharathiyar Road on the night of January 31, 2021, while under the influence of alcohol.

After receiving information, police constable Pon Subbiah reached the spot and seized Murugavel's motorcycle, as he was allegedly riding in an intoxicated condition. The vehicle was taken to the Eral police station. Sub-Inspector Balu later registered a motor vehicle case and instructed Murugavel to appear at the police station the following day to complete the formalities and reclaim the motorcycle.

Police patrol targeted

Police said that around 12.45 am on February 1, 2021, Sub-Inspector Balu and Constable Pon Subbiah were on motorcycle patrol along the Korkai-Nalumukku Road when they again noticed Murugavel standing near a load auto. The officers reportedly questioned and reprimanded him before continuing their patrol.

Investigators said Murugavel, enraged over the seizure of his motorcycle, allegedly stole the load auto and chased the police officers. Near the Vazhavallan Oorkatha Swami Temple, he allegedly drove the vehicle at high speed and rammed it into the police motorcycle. The impact left Sub-Inspector Balu with severe injuries. He succumbed to his injuries, while Constable Pon Subbiah sustained injuries in the collision.

Court awards life sentence

The Eral police registered a case and conducted an investigation into the incident, which triggered widespread shock in the district. Following the trial, Judge Preetha of the Thoothukudi II Additional Sessions Court convicted Murugavel and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. Public Prosecutor Xavier Gnanaprakasam appeared for the prosecution during the trial.

On Wednesday (July 22) moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and winds gusting at 40-50 kmph is likely at one or two places in the Western Ghats districts, while light rain with thunderstorms is expected in the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

• On July 23 moderate rain forecast over the Western Ghats districts, north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, and light to moderate rain over the remaining parts of the State.

• On July 24, moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds is likely at one or two places in north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, while the rest of Tamil Nadu may receive light to moderate rainfall.

• Moderate rain is also forecast over the Western Ghats districts, north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on July 25, with light to moderate rain expected elsewhere in the State.

• On July 26, moderate rain is likely at one or two places in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Pudukkottai districts, while the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall.

• Light to moderate rain is likely at one or two places across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on July 27.

Weather in Chennai

In Chennai, the sky is expected to remain partly cloudy on Wednesday (July 22) with light rain likely at a few places during the evening or night.

The maximum temperature is expected to be around 36-37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to be around 26-27 degrees Celsius.

Warning to fishermen

Meanwhile, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the coastal areas of south Tamil Nadu, the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Kanniyakumari sea areas from today till July 23, as winds are likely to blow at 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph.

In a series of statements posted on social media, Arivu said reports claiming that he had met the Chief Minister were incorrect. He said he met only Health Minister Aadhav Arjuna and urged the Tamil Nadu government to intensify its efforts to secure the complete abolition of NEET.

Clarifies meeting after Tuesday's protest

Arivu was detained by police on Tuesday while staging a protest outside the Secretariat, demanding that the Tamil Nadu government strongly oppose NEET and extend support to students protesting against the examination in Delhi. He was later taken back to the Secretariat, where he met Minister Aadhav Arjuna.

Clarifying the sequence of events, Arivu said he never met the Chief Minister.

"On July 21, I met Hon'ble Minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat. During the meeting, I conveyed that violence against peacefully protesting students is against the spirit of democracy. I did not meet the Hon'ble Chief Minister. I wish to clarify this in view of media reports stating otherwise," he said.

Calls for abolition of NEET

Arivu said the NEET examination had created fear and uncertainty among students and urged the State government to continue pressing for its abolition.

He said several young lives had already been lost because of the pressures associated with the examination and warned that more students remained vulnerable unless the system was changed.

"The NEET examination has created fear and uncertainty among students. We have already lost many young lives, and the risk of losing more continues. This situation has the potential to seriously affect the mental well-being of students and the future of our nation," he said.

Appealing to the Tamil Nadu government, Arivu urged it to intensify efforts towards securing the complete abolition of NEET and continue supporting students opposing the examination.

Expresses solidarity with students

Arivu also expressed solidarity with students across India who have been protesting against NEET. He urged the Union government to immediately stop the alleged use of force against students demonstrating in Delhi and called on the Tamil Nadu government to extend support to the protesters.

His clarification came a day after his detention outside the Secretariat drew widespread attention and triggered political reactions, including criticism from Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, who condemned the police action and said voices demanding the abolition of NEET should not be suppressed.

Opposition condemns detention

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin condemned Arivu's detention, alleging that the rapper's voice reflected the sentiments of lakhs of students and parents opposed to NEET.

Udhayanidhi said protests against NEET were intensifying across the country and argued that voices demanding the abolition of the examination should not be suppressed.

Arivu's clarification comes amid widespread public attention over his protest and the subsequent reports surrounding his visit to the Secretariat.

In a representation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the Coimbatore Consumer Cause (CCC) welcomed the government's efforts to modernise public transport and improve passenger comfort. However, it stressed that the foremost responsibility of the state transport undertakings is to provide affordable, reliable and accessible transport to the largest section of the population.

Highlighting the wide disparity in fares, the organisation pointed out that the minimum fare in an ordinary town bus is around Rs 5, compared with about Rs 25 in an AC bus. In mofussil services, ordinary buses charge around 58 paise per kilometre, while AC buses cost nearly Rs 1.70 per kilometre.

"An AC bus costs at least Rs 6 lakh more than an ordinary bus, consumes about 40 per cent more fuel and entails nearly 15 per cent higher maintenance costs, placing an additional financial burden on the state transport corporations," K Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of CCC, said in the representation.

The consumer body noted that government buses are the primary mode of transport for students, daily wage earners, workers, senior citizens and low and middle-income families. It said the shortage of ordinary buses has already resulted in overcrowded services, forcing many passengers to travel on footboards despite paying the full fare.

"Most commuters are looking for safe, dependable and affordable transport rather than luxury travel. Expanding the fleet of ordinary buses would better serve the needs of the vast majority of passengers than replacing them with premium services," Kathirmathiyon said.

The CCC urged the government to adopt a balanced procurement policy by continuing to prioritise ordinary buses while introducing AC buses selectively on routes where there is demonstrable passenger demand.

The gate connects Athur with Vadapathi, Ambedkar Nagar and Kuppam, and serves as the primary access route to nearly 1,000 acres of farmland. The Railway officials closed the crossing on Monday night to facilitate the construction of a railway subway, and the residents have been asked to use another nearby subway as an alternative route.

However, villagers and farmers have strongly opposed the move, arguing that the alternative subway gets flooded with three to four feet of water during the monsoon, making it unusable. They also pointed out that tractors carrying agricultural produce, heavy vehicles, ambulances and fire engines would not be able to pass through the proposed subway.

Residents also said they repeatedly urged the Railways to build an ROB instead of a subway, at consultation meetings jointly held by the Railways and the Revenue department.

Officials, however, rejected the demand, citing space constraints. On Tuesday morning, police prevented villagers from staging a road blockade near the Athur bus stop while Railway officials held talks with them. As the discussions failed to resolve the issue, villagers insisted that the closure would force them to travel several kilometres to reach their farmlands, severely affecting agricultural activities.

Police later detained the protesters and shifted them to a private marriage hall. Security has also been tightened around the closed level crossing to prevent the villagers from protesting.

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Announcing the decisions after a meeting of the three parties' state-level coordination committee, CPM State Secretary P Shanmugam said the draft declaration had been prepared and would be finalised at the committee's next meeting, scheduled to be held at the CPM state office on August 4. District-level coordination committees would also be constituted across Tamil Nadu to expand the Left's organisational network, he said.

The September mobilisation would seek to press both the Union and State governments to address issues raised in the declaration, with the date and venue to be announced after the next meeting.

CPI(ML) state secretary Asaithambi said the meeting focused on restoring the political relevance of the Left, arguing that social transformation in India had historically been driven by mass movements rather than legislative interventions alone.

He said Parliament and State Assemblies remained important democratic institutions, but many pressing issues affecting ordinary people were not receiving adequate attention. He cited the agrarian distress in the Cauvery Delta, unemployment among youth, nutritional deficiencies among women and the condition of agricultural labourers as issues that required sustained public campaigns.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian sought relaxation of access restrictions at the Secretariat, contending that it was a symbol of people's authority and that members of the public should be able to meet ministers and officials without unnecessary procedural barriers.

Shanmugam condemned the police action against protesters in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations, and called upon the Union government to remove him from office.

The batch of petitions challenging the State government's decision to provide government employment to the legal heirs of those who died in the stampede came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and Sakthivel.

Appearing for the State, the Government Pleader submitted that the counter affidavit was not yet ready and sought time to file it. The judges observed that the case had to be heard before the beneficiaries received their first month's salary.

The Government Pleader further informed the court that appointment orders had been issued to 31 persons and that 29 of them had already joined service. The judges, however, observed that all the appointments would be subject to the final decision of the court.

The State again requested the court to adjourn the matter. The judges directed the State to file its counter affidavit by Friday and adjourned the matter to July 27.

The original Public Interest litigation was filed by Santosh Kumar of Vedasandur in Dindigul district, seeking a direction restraining the State Government from issuing appointment orders or taking any administrative action to provide government employment to the legal heirs of the 41 persons who died in the Karur district stampede. Another petition seeking the same relief was also filed on Tuesday.

The judges observed that petitions seeking the same relief had already been filed earlier. They noted that filing another petition seeking identical relief merely for publicity was not acceptable.

Accordingly, the Bench directed that the newly filed petition be tagged with the pending cases.

According to a Government Order issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, PwDs have been assigned two categories of work based on their abilities.

Under the special works category, PwD workers can supply drinking water to workers at worksites, take care of their children, remove leaves and small shrubs, and level sand on bunds.

Under the second category, they can undertake activities such as planting saplings, digging trenches and constructing earthen bunds for water conservation. These works may be assigned wherever adequate workers are available at a worksite.

The government has directed that PwD workers should be organised into groups of five to ten members. They will be required to complete only 50 per cent of the prescribed workload, work for four hours a day, and will still receive full wages.

The order also mandates that job cards be issued to all eligible PwD workers within 15 days, without imposing any conditions.

Further, separate e-Muster Rolls will be maintained for PwD workers by Block Development Officers. The government has also ordered the conduct of exclusive grievance redressal camps for PwD workers once every two months, on a Tuesday, to address issues relating to the implementation of the scheme.

The G Ram G scheme, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), has introduced special provisions to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce.

Under the partnership, the two institutional venture capital firms will jointly invest up to Rs 10 crore in promising home-grown startups, with each firm committing Rs 5 crore. The initiative is aimed at helping student entrepreneurs transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses through early-stage funding and strategic support.

Thinkuvate, which operates in both Singapore and India, focuses on investments in deep technology, fintech and health-tech ventures. The collaboration is expected to create opportunities for VIT startups to expand into markets across India and Southeast Asia.

ValleyNXT, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Indore, supports startups addressing real-world challenges in sectors such as healthcare, education, climate, employment and livelihoods.

The MoU was formally exchanged by Addison Appu, Managing Partner of Thinkuvate, Harshwardhan Saklecha, Vice President of ValleyNXT, and Sekar Viswanathan, Vice President of VIT.

The signing ceremony was attended by VIT Vice Chancellor Dr VS Kanchana Baskaran, Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Parthasarathy Mallick and Director of Innovations Dr Chidambaram Rameshkumar.

The meeting, to be chaired by Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister D Logesh Tamilselvan at Amma Maligai here, will feature a live demonstration of the digital registration process.

The department has announced that the contactless registration system will become mandatory for the first sale of flats and plots from August 17. It also plans to gradually extend the facility to other categories of document registrations.

According to the department, the initiative is aimed at improving transparency and public convenience. Representatives of the Builders’ Association of India (BAI), CREDAI, promoters, banks and financial institutions have been invited to participate and offer suggestions to facilitate the smooth implementation of the new system.

Party sources said Nainar Nagenthran has requested time to meet the Governor after his return to Chennai from Goa. During the meeting, the BJP is expected to submit a formal representation alleging that ministers Rajmohan and S Keerthana undertook official foreign visits using their personal passports without adhering to the prescribed procedure.

The move comes close on the heels of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking explanations from the two ministers and the officials concerned over the alleged violation of passport regulations.

According to government officials, ministers and government functionaries travelling abroad on official assignments are required to use diplomatic or official passports, depending on their eligibility. The use of ordinary passports for government-approved overseas visits is viewed as being contrary to the established rules governing official foreign travel.

Officials said diplomatic and official passports are intended to establish the official status of government representatives during bilateral engagements and ensure appropriate documentation, protocol and immigration treatment.

The MEA is learnt to have sought detailed explanations from those concerned, which will be examined before any further decision is taken in accordance with the applicable rules.

Sensing an opportunity to corner the ruling dispensation, the BJP is expected to project the issue as one involving accountability and adherence to constitutional and administrative norms, potentially lending a fresh political dimension to an issue that has so far remained an administrative controversy.

CHENNAI: Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, alleged tender notifications for 52 rural development works worth around Rs 2.18 crore floated by three panchayat unions in Tenkasi district had anomalies and called for cancellation of the process.

The organisation pointed out that the tender violated the State government's new contractor registration guidelines by imposing eligibility conditions that restrict participation. The organisation has sought revision of the eligibility conditions and issuance of fresh tender notifications.

In a representation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister N Anand, Principal Secretary Prashanth M Vadnere, IAS, and Tenkasi Collector Ranjit Singh, IAS, Arappor said the tender conditions contradict GO No115, issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department on June 30, 2026.

The tenders, floated by the Guruvikulam, Alangulam and Kadayanallur Panchayat Unions, cover 52 works including construction of community sanitation complexes, cement concrete roads and compound wall improvements.

According to Arappor, the eligibility conditions in the tender notifications are inconsistent with the revised contractor registration system introduced through GO No115 and effectively limit participation to contractors from a particular locality, contrary to the government's objective of widening competition.

Under the new order, contractors registered with a district's District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) are eligible to participate in tenders floated by any procuring entity within that district and are also permitted to bid for works in adjoining districts. Arappor questioned how the panchayat unions could impose conditions that allegedly narrowed the pool of eligible bidders despite the revised norms.

The organisation said such restrictive eligibility criteria undermine competition, reduce opportunities for new contractors and could create scope for favouritism in the award of contracts.

Some of the tenders were published on the State's e-procurement portal on July 1 and are scheduled to close on July 21.

Arappor has urged the government to halt the ongoing tender process, issue fresh tender notifications and ensure that all rural development tenders comply with the revised contractor registration guidelines.

As part of the scheme to encourage kuruvai cultivation, farmers undertaking machine transplantation or direct sowing are eligible for a subsidy of Rs 4,000 per acre, subject to a ceiling of two acres. They also receive a 50 per cent subsidy on seeds through agriculture extension centres, along with liquid biofertilisers and micronutrient mixtures.

Chandra Sekhar Sakhamuri, director of agricultural marketing and agri business and monitoring officer for Thiruvarur, visited Keezha Velli and Pathur villages in Koradacheri and inspected ongoing machine transplantation and direct sowing works.

He said machine transplantation would reduce labour dependence and cultivation costs, benefiting farmers. He interacted with farmers to understand the challenges they face and inspected nursery growth, transplantation methods and crop maintenance.

Sakhamuri urged farmers to apply nutrients and biofertilisers properly to improve yields, make effective use of the scheme and seek timely guidance and field visits from agriculture officials whenever required.

Meanwhile, J Vijaya Rani, director of Horticulture and Plantation Crops Department and monitoring officer for Nagapattinam, inspected machine transplantation and direct sowing at Thalanayar and interacted with farmers.

The committee, comprising 10 senior party functionaries, including former ministers Thangam Thennarasu, Geetha Jeevan, Chakrapani and SS Sivasankar, briefed Stalin on the consultations held so far.

The panel is expected to submit its report in the first week of August.

Sources said the committee has already held consultations with leaders of various party wings and functionaries from across the State.

It is also examining the reports submitted by the district-level consultative committees before finalising its recommendations.

The restructuring exercise is expected to include recommendations on the reorganisation of the party structure, district units, and various party wings, besides measures aimed at strengthening the DMK ahead of the ensuing elections.

Vellathurai, the second accused in the case registered by the Palani Adivaram police in the Temple land fraud case, contended that he had been falsely implicated due to political vendetta. Though it is a civil property dispute, it was given criminal colour.

The petitioner Vellathurai submitted that he had recently sold his own property for more than Rs 2 crore and was looking to reinvest the amount on the advice of his chartered accountant to claim capital gains tax benefits. Before purchasing the property, he said, he had verified the title and relied on civil court decrees recognising the vendor's title.

The petitioner further contended that the Sub-Registrar had initially refused registration of the sale deed and that it was eventually registered only after directions issued by the High Court. He has a comfortable source of income from agriculture, and hence he had no intention of grabbing temple property.

Apprehending arrest in the case, Vellathurai sought anticipatory bail from the High Court. The court asked him to include the CB-CID as a respondent and post the hearing tomorrow.

The protesters said procured paddy had not been moved from the centres since the procurement season began, leading to a shortage of storage space and affecting smooth procurement. They urged the authorities to shift paddy once a DPC accumulates 5,000 bags.

Seeking a wage revision, the workers demanded a minimum monthly salary of Rs 30,000.

Referring to the Food Minister's recent visit to the Delta region, the workers said he had contacted farmers from DPCs over the phone to inquire about alleged bribe collection. "This indirectly targets us. The money collected for various reasons is distributed to several sources, but we alone are being held responsible. The government should conduct a fair investigation and take steps to curb bribe collection," they said.

The protest disrupted paddy procurement for some time. Following talks with officials and their assurance, the workers withdrew their protest.

Releasing the draft syllabus, he said the revised curriculum marked a shift from a teacher-centric approach to child-centric education, with the focus on making learning engaging, inclusive and activity-based.

Referring to his recent visit to the US to study global education practices, Rajmohan said the government had drawn inspiration from international models while framing the new curriculum. He said that while many countries had adopted Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, Tamil Nadu would go a step further by adopting the STEAM approach, integrating arts with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As part of the changes, mathematics will be taught through storytelling to help children grasp concepts in a more enjoyable manner instead of relying on rote learning. Science education will also be delivered through interdisciplinary methods that combine scientific concepts with arts and creativity.

Rajmohan said textbooks would contain fewer text-heavy pages and more illustrations, with QR codes enabling students to access audio and video lessons using mobile phones at home. The curriculum would also place emphasis on competency-based learning rather than merely completing the syllabus.

The minister said students would be introduced to AI tools and prompt engineering, while the curriculum would also nurture natural intelligence by promoting compassion, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He stressed that AI would not replace human jobs but that students should be equipped to use emerging technologies effectively.

Rajmohan said the revised curriculum for Classes I to III had already been finalised, teachers had completed training under the "training of trainers" model, and the required learning materials had been printed and dispatched to schools. He added that draft syllabi for Classes IV to XII had also been prepared, with some of them already uploaded online to invite suggestions from the public and educationists.

Urging teachers and other stakeholders to embrace the reforms, the Minister said the curriculum had been redesigned with the future of children at its core. "The only thing we need to do now is adapt ourselves to child-centric education," he said, adding that the success of the reforms depended on collective support for the new approach to teaching and learning.

The revised curriculum will also include lessons on respecting parents, gender equality, sharing and humanitarian values, besides giving greater prominence to India's scientific achievements, archaeology and cultural heritage.

Rajmohan said dedicated newspaper reading sessions would be introduced in schools to improve reading habits among students.

Highlighting the government's focus on scientific learning, he said efforts were under way in collaboration with ISRO to encourage government school students to design small satellites.

He expressed confidence that student-built satellites from government schools could one day be launched into space with ISRO's guidance.

On school administration, he said school recognition and approval processes would be fully digitised to eliminate corruption and ensure that approvals are granted only to institutions meeting prescribed safety and infrastructure standards.

Recalling the Kumbakonam school fire tragedy, Raj Mohan said digitising approvals would help prevent lapses in safety compliance and ensure greater accountability.

He said draft syllabi for higher classes had also been prepared and uploaded online for public feedback. Teacher training for the initial phase of implementation had been completed and learning materials were ready for rollout. He urged teachers to embrace the new curriculum, saying the reforms were aimed at creating classrooms where children learn through stories, activities and exploration rather than fear and rote memorisation.

In the 2026 Assembly election, Vijay contested from the Perambur constituency and defeated DMK candidate RD Shekar with 1,20,365 votes. RD Shekar had secured 66,650 votes and the margin was 53,715 votes. Vijay had also contested from Tiruchy East and won. He retained the Perambur seat.

Aggrieved by the result, RD Shekar filed an election petition challenging Vijay's election. Separate petitions were also filed by two voters from the Perambur constituency, S Dinesh and TN Lakshmi Narasimhan.

In his election petition, RD Shekar alleged that Vijay had furnished contradictory information in his election affidavit and had failed to properly disclose his assets and pending criminal cases. He sought a declaration that Vijay's election be declared void.

When the matter came up for hearing before Justice V Lakshminarayanan, counsel Richardson Wilson, appearing for RD Shekar, submitted that notices had not been served on Chief Minister Vijay and the Returning Officer, who have been arrayed as respondents in the case.

Recording the submission, Justice V Lakshminarayanan directed that fresh notices be issued to Chief Minister Vijay, the Returning Officer and the other respondents, and adjourned the matter by two weeks.

The deceased was identified as Prema, wife of Rajaram, a daily wage labourer from Keelathoppu in Sellur. Rajaram alleged that Prema had borrowed Rs 2 lakh at 4 per cent monthly interest from her friend Selva Kalaiyarasi of Sikkandarchavadi in 2021 to meet the marriage expenses of their elder daughter.

"My wife paid Rs 1.5 lakh as interest. However, Kalaiyarasi did not reduce even a single rupee from the principal amount," Rajaram told reporters.

Rajaram alleged that Kalaiyarasi later borrowed Rs 2 lakh from Thiruppathi on behalf of Prema, telling her that she need not repay Kalaiyarasi and should instead repay Thiruppathi with 4 per cent monthly interest. Thiruppathi was known to both of them. "My wife had no other option but to agree to Kalaiyarasi's proposal," he said.

Prema, who worked at a flower shop, began paying interest to Thiruppathi. However, he later demanded 10 per cent monthly interest on the principal amount. "My wife borrowed money from friends and relatives and paid Rs 20,000 every month as interest to him," Rajaram claimed.

However, due to ill health, Prema was unable to pay the interest for the past three months.

Rajaram alleged that on July 13, Thiruppathi, Selva Kalaiyarasi and two others came to their house and threatened the family while demanding payment. He further alleged that they later confronted Prema at the flower shop where she worked in Nelpettai, verbally abused and humiliated her, and that Thiruppathi attempted to pull her sari in full public view.

Unable to bear the alleged harassment, Prema consumed pesticide at her workplace on July 13 and collapsed. She was rescued by neighbours and admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment.

Rajaram alleged that although he immediately lodged a complaint with the local police, no action was taken. He claimed that the Vilakkuthoon police registered a case only after he approached the Madurai City Commissioner of Police. A police source said investigators had examined CCTV footage from an ATM near the area, which proved that the usurers harassed Prema.

Following her death, Prema's family members and relatives gathered outside the hospital mortuary and staged a road blockade, demanding the arrest of all those allegedly responsible for her death. The protest disrupted traffic for about 30 minutes before police diverted vehicles.

Police officials assured the protesters that the investigation was progressing and informed them that Selva Kalaiyarasi had been arrested and that the remaining accused would also be apprehended. Following the assurance, the relatives withdrew the protest and received the body for the last rites.

The demand was raised during Palaniswami's district-wise review meeting on the party's electoral performance and organisational activities. Functionaries said bringing back Sasikala and Dinakaran would be in the interest of the party's growth.

Similar demands have been raised by functionaries from other districts during Palaniswami's review meetings. However, he did not give any indication on the proposal or announce a decision during Tuesday's meeting.

Earlier, when asked about the possibility of a merger between the AMMK and the AIADMK, Dinakaran had said such a decision would depend on the prevailing political situation.

Sasikala and Dhinakaran were expelled from the AIADMK following the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Dhinakaran subsequently floated the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) in 2018, while Sasikala recently launched the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK) ahead of the Assembly elections.

With the party's support declining in the southern districts, several functionaries have repeatedly argued that the return of Sasikala and Dhinakaran could help revive its organisational strength in the region.

The intensified drive was being carried out in coordination with the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, School Education Department, and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department to curb the spread of the vector-borne disease.

“Our surveillance has been strengthened across the State. Field workers inspect around 200 houses every day in their respective areas to identify mosquito breeding sources, assess the local dengue situation and detect suspected cases at the earliest,” Dr A Somasundaram, director of DPH, told DT Next.

The department was also closely tracking patients admitted to hospitals with dengue-like symptoms to monitor the severity of infections and ensure timely treatment. “We’ve also intensified entomological surveillance by studying mosquito larvae and adult Aedes mosquitoes to understand the prevailing pattern of transmission and examine whether there are any changes in circulating dengue viruses. For now, the existing treatment protocol remains; TN’s healthcare infrastructure is fully equipped to manage dengue cases,” he added.

Responding to reports on the recently approved dengue vaccine, the DPH chief said that Tamil Nadu was yet to receive any official communication from the Union government regarding its introduction. “The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has granted marketing authorisation for Qdenga, the first dengue vaccine approved in India. However, we’ve not received any official communication on procurement, allocation or distribution. Until such directions are issued by the Centre, there is no question of introducing the vaccine in the State,” he said. “Our immediate priority continues to be surveillance, source reduction and prompt clinical management.”

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The illness typically presents with high fever, severe headache, body and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes.

While there is no specific antiviral treatment, officials stress that early diagnosis, adequate hydration, timely medical care and sustained mosquito control remain the most effective measures to prevent severe disease and fatalities.

The data from January 1 to June 30, 2026, was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 21). Maharashtra topped the list with 58 deaths, followed by Haryana with 47, while Uttar Pradesh reported 37 deaths.

The figures were furnished by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, in response to an unstarred question raised by MP D Ravi Kumar on the eradication of manual scavenging.

The data showed that 332 cleanliness workers lost their lives across 18 states and union territories during the period. Besides the leading states, 29 deaths were reported in Delhi, 27 in Gujarat, 23 in Rajasthan, 13 each in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, 12 each in Karnataka and Punjab, nine in Telangana and five in Andhra Pradesh.

The Union government informed Parliament that 193 FIRs had been registered against agencies or officials responsible for employing persons for hazardous manual cleaning over the last five years. However, it said no evaluation had been carried out on the implementation of mechanised sewer cleaning across states.

Reiterating that manual scavenging is prohibited under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, the Centre said anyone employing a person for manual scavenging could face imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.

It also said no instances of manual scavenging had been reported in the recent survey conducted across all districts.

The farmers belonging to Cauvery Delta Farmers Protection Association led by the president D Swaminathan who staged a protest at Budalur in Thanjavur charged that the Karnataka government failed to release the due share of water to Tamil Nadu despite the court direction but the Chief Minister Shivakumar has been going ahead with the construction of the Mekedatu dam.

The farmers urged the Union Government to stop the construction of a dam which would turn the Delta region a desert.

They also demanded the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to initiate legal proceedings against the Karnataka government and prevent the dam construction.

They also demanded a kuruvai loss compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre and ensure proper desilt of the water bodies across the state particularly in the delta region.

While they were raising slogans, a section of protesting farmers brought the effigy of Karnataka Chief Minister Shivakumar and burnt it amidst raising slogans against Karnataka.

Meanwhile in Tiruchy the farmers led by P Ayyakannu, state president of Desiya Thennidhiya Nadhigal Inaippu Sangam entered into the Kollidam river near Upper Anicut and staged a protest amidst water.

They demanded the Karnataka government to release the due share of water to Tamil Nadu and condemned the construction of the Mekedatu dam. On information, the Jeeyapuram police rushed to the spot and removed them from the river.

In a message posted on social media, Vijay wished Kharge good health and a long life. He also lauded the veteran Congress leader's public service and expressed hope that he would continue his dedicated service to the people.

"I sincerely wish you good health and a long life. May you continue your dedicated public service with the same commitment," the Chief Minister said.

While leaders from across the country, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended their greetings to Kharge, former ally DMK did not join the list of leaders extending the courtesy.

Neither DMK president MK Stalin nor the party released a statement wishing the Congress leader on his birthday, even though the former Chief Minister wished Kharge on his birthday in the past.

The absence of a greeting comes in the backdrop of the strained relationship between the DMK and the Congress following the collapse of their alliance.

The two parties have also been maintaining separate seating arrangements in Parliament since the split.

In the first incident, Bala Rakshana (15) was staying in a private school's hostel near Orikkai in Kancheepuram.

On Tuesday (July 21) morning, the fellow students found Rakshana was unresponsive in the hostel. She was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police noted that she hails from Tirunelveli. Her parents told the police that Bala Rakshana had mentioned facing certain issues in school, but they told her to focus on her studies. The Kancheepuram Taluk police have registered a case, and further investigation is ongoing.

In another incident, Sabiya (16), who studied in a private school in Egattur near Kelambakkam, ended her life.

Police said the girl's parents had recently scolded her over excessive use of social media.

On Monday (July 20) night, after an argument with her parents, she went to the eighth floor of their apartment and jumped to the ground, and she died on the spot.

The Kelambakkam police visited the spot and sent the body for post-mortem to the Chengalpattu GH. The police have registered a case, and further probe is under way.

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Speaking to reporters at the CPI (ML) office in Ambattur, Shanmugam said information that has emerged so far indicated that officials of the Registration Department and influential persons were involved in the alleged fraud.

He alleged that those behind the registration had even misled the courts by failing to disclose pending cases related to the property during the registration process. "This can be described as one of the biggest frauds to have taken place in Tamil Nadu," he said.

Shanmugam said the case has been transferred to the CB-CID and stressed that the investigation should be conducted fairly and impartially. He demanded that everyone involved, irrespective of their position or influence, be arrested, prosecuted and punished under the law.

Responding to a question on whether the incident should be termed "corruption" or "fraud", Shanmugam said there was no evidence so far to directly link the present government or its ministers to the alleged irregularities.

He, however, alleged that the fraud appeared to have been carried out by Registration Department officials, who, he claimed, manipulated the registration process by deploying officials of their choosing. "What has emerged so far points to a coordinated fraud by officials. Appropriate action should be taken against all those responsible," he said.

Police said Annamalai (55), a differently abled employee of a private firm was driving a two wheeler with his wife Baby (47) in pillion on Dharapuram Road, when a lorry hit them from behind near the roundana in the morning.

In the impact, the couple was thrown onto the road and eventually, the lorry ran over them. The public immediately rushed them to a Government Hospital in Kangeyam, however they died by then.

The couple from Kalimedu in Kangeyam is survived by a 16-year-old daughter, studying first year diploma at a private polytechnic college in Erode and an eight year old son studying class four at a private school in Kangeyam.

The Kangeyam police have registered a case and further investigations are on.