The First Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, reserved orders on a plea seeking a CBI probe into the alleged attempt to poach a TVK MLA.

During the hearing, Senior Counsel N Jothi, appearing for the petitioner, argued that complaints made by five politicians alleging attempts to poach them had not been acted upon. He contended that the police could not adopt a “pick and choose” approach and must remain neutral.

Opposing the plea, Advocate General Vijay Narayan submitted that the petition was a proxy litigation and that a CBI probe was unwarranted since the local police was conducting the investigation properly. He further contended that any allegation of discrimination should be raised by the persons directly affected.

The Bench questioned the need for a CBI probe, observing that a complaint had been registered, an investigation was underway, and arrests had already been made. It asked what extraordinary circumstances warranted transferring the case to the CBI. The Court reserved its orders.

A Tiruppur-based advocate, J Balasubramani, has moved the Madras High Court seeking transfer of the investigation into the case registered by the Triplicane Police over the alleged attempt to poach a TVK MLA from Uthangarai to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The petitioner contended that the FIR ought to have been registered by the Uthangarai Police, as the alleged offence was said to have occurred there, and alleged that registering the case at the Triplicane Police Station in Chennai was driven by political convenience rather than territorial jurisdiction.

The petition further stated that, under the DVAC Manual, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) is responsible for investigating offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and for inquiring into complaints relating to bribery, corruption, and allied misconduct by public servants.

The petitioner further submitted that MDMK General Secretary Vaiko had publicly stated that Chief Minister Vijay had asked him to persuade two MDMK MLAs to resign and switch sides with an assurance of support for their re-election.

He also referred to DMK MLA PS Srinivasan’s allegation that he was offered more than Rs 50 crore and a ministerial berth on behalf of a serving Minister to join TVK. The petition further stated that six AIADMK MLAs later joined TVK and that DMK MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan had alleged he was pressured to quit the DMK and join TVK, failing which criminal cases would be foisted against him.

The petitioner sought transfer of the investigation from the Triplicane Police to the CBI for a fresh, comprehensive and independent probe. He contended that the case involves allegations affecting the integrity of the democratic process and therefore requires an independent investigation. The plea also sought an interim stay on the ongoing investigation into the alleged attempt to bribe the TVK MLA.

The deceased were identified as Thanga Mariappan (59) and his wife Latha (54), natives of Sivanthipuram near Kovilpatti. The couple had been living in Bengaluru, where they ran a snacks manufacturing business.

Police said the couple was travelling from Bengaluru to Kovilpatti to attend a temple festival. Latha's younger brother, Senthilkumar (47), was driving the car.

How did the fatal accident happen ?

The accident occurred near Kattamedu in the Thoppur Ghat section when the driver of the container truck carrying nylon ropes from Madhya Pradesh to Tirupur allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the couple's car before hitting two other trucks. The impact left the car wedged between two heavy vehicles, crushing it completely.

Latha died on the spot due to severe injuries. Thanga Mariappan and Senthilkumar, who were trapped inside the mangled car, were rescued by passers-by and rushed to the Dharmapuri Government Hospital. Thanga Mariappan later succumbed to his injuries, while Senthilkumar is undergoing treatment.

Case against truck driver

The Thoppur police have registered a case and arrested the container truck driver, Sasikumar (52), a native of Mambatti near Harur, in connection with the accident.

The mishap disrupted traffic on the Dharmapuri-Salem National Highway for more than three hours before police and toll plaza personnel cleared the damaged vehicles and restored normal traffic.

Case registered after contractor's complaint

According to a statement released by Tamil Nadu government, the action followed the circulation of a viral video on social media allegedly showing Veerasamy accepting a bribe. Based on a complaint lodged by contractor Naveen Kumar, a case was registered at Thalambur Police Station under Sections 308(5) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Veerasamy was subsequently arrested.

TVK expelled him before FIR

Earlier, the ruling TVK had expelled Veerasamy, who served as the Chengalpattu East district joint secretary, including from its primary membership, citing disciplinary reasons and alleging that his actions had brought disrepute to the party.

Veerasamy is accused of accepting Rs 1.30 lakh from a contractor to facilitate the release of pending payments for road construction work. The alleged transaction came to light after a video, reportedly recorded secretly by the contractor, went viral on social media just hours after the Tamil Nadu government launched the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption's WhatsApp helpline for reporting corruption in government offices.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after the Cabinet meeting, the Minister said the government would ensure a fair probe into the issue.

Responding to questions on the death of a remand prisoner in Nagercoil, Nirmalkumar said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had directed officials to take appropriate action.

“We have no intention of shielding anyone in this case. Appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the previous DMK government, the Minister alleged that several custodial and remand prisoner deaths had occurred during its tenure without the truth being brought to light.

On the political front, Nirmalkumar accused both the DMK and the AIADMK of attempting to forge an alliance with the BJP.

He further alleged that efforts were being made to lure TVK MLAs with offers of Rs 50 crore each in an attempt to destabilise the ruling government.

Commenting on reforms in the Registration Department, the Minister alleged that during the previous DMK regime, fixed percentages were collected in document registrations.

“The TVK government has not fixed any such percentage. We have restructured the Registration Department to ensure transparency and prevent corrupt practices,” Nirmalkumar said.

He accused the previous DMK government of inaction over the project, urging the TVK regime not to follow in those footsteps.

In a statement, Palaniswami said the AIADMK government launched the project in 2019 to rejuvenate the Cauvery river system, improve water quality, prevent pollution and ensure long-term water security for agriculture and drinking purposes.

He said a preliminary project report, estimated at Rs 11,250 crore, was prepared and submitted to the Prime Minister. According to him, the Centre accepted the proposal and included it in the President's Address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

Palaniswami said a detailed project report for the first phase was subsequently prepared and received technical approval from the Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute.

Claiming that the project continued to receive support from the Centre after the change of government in Tamil Nadu in 2021, he said the Union government approved about Rs 935 crore for the first phase in 2024 under a funding pattern of 60 per cent from the Centre and 40 per cent from the State.

The AIADMK leader alleged that the previous DMK government neither allocated the State's share of funds nor claimed the Centre's contribution, resulting in delays in implementing the project. He claimed that nearly 30 per cent of the first-phase works would have been completed by now had the project commenced immediately after the Centre's approval.

Palaniswami said there was no need to announce a fresh scheme and urged the Vijay government to implement the existing 'Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery' project with central assistance. He appealed to Chief Minister Vijay to prioritise the project in the interest of farmers and to strengthen the State's drinking water resources.

The deceased were identified as Chandrakumar (42) of Nallavanpalayam village and his wife Sindhu (38). The couple have a son studying in Class X.

According to railway police, the couple had arrived at Vadamathimangalam railway station around 4 am and were seen standing near the tracks before they were hit by a train travelling from Nazrathpet towards Tiruvannamalai.

Katpadi Railway Police recovered the bodies and sent them to the Government Medical College Hospital, Adukkamparai, Vellore, for post-mortem examination.

During the investigation, police recovered a letter from Chandrakumar's shirt pocket. Preliminary inquiries revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged lung ailment, but his condition had not improved. Police suspect the couple took the extreme step due to distress over his illness.

A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way.

Police said the couple had travelled to Vellore for medical treatment the previous day. When they did not return home, their relatives had lodged a missing person complaint at the Tiruvannamalai West Police Station.

The incident has left residents of Nallavanpalayam in shock.

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The 6.60-km project, which is 46 per cent complete, is expected to significantly improve safety, reduce travel time and ensure smoother traffic flow on one of the state’s busiest highway corridors connecting Bengaluru, Salem and Madurai.

"Almost 46 per cent of the work has been completed so far. Of the total 6.60-km stretch, 3.68 km comprises an elevated corridor supported by 83 piers, some of which are nearly 50 metres high," said K Srinivasulu, Project Director, NHAI's Salem Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

He said around 3.10 km of the alignment passes through forest areas in Dharmapuri district. Of the remaining 3.50 km, about 1.60 km falls within Salem district and 1.90 km in Dharmapuri district. One of the project's key objectives is to address the dangerous downhill gradient and sharp curves that have long made the Thoppur Ghat a major accident black spot.

"Vehicles often gather excessive speed while descending the steep slopes and negotiating multiple curves, leading to accidents. The existing downward gradient of about 5 per cent to 7 per cent is being reduced to around 3 per cent and the radius of the curves is being improved to enhance safety," Srinivasulu said.

The project also involves widening the existing four-lane highway into a six-lane carriageway. NHAI expects the redesigned alignment to improve traffic movement for the nearly 60,000 vehicles that use the corridor every day.

More than 630 accidents have been reported on the Thoppur Ghat stretch between 2018 and 2026, while nearly 80 people lost their lives on the section between 2018 and 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for the project on March 11, 2024 and it is scheduled for completion by March 2028.

Transport operators say the project will have a far-reaching impact on freight movement. "More than 5,000 trucks use this stretch every day in both directions as it is a vital corridor connecting Karnataka with several parts of Tamil Nadu. Even a minor accident can bring traffic to a standstill for several hours, sometimes up to five hours, disrupting the supply of goods," said C Dhanaraj, president of the State Lorry Owners Federation, Tamil Nadu.

He said delays are particularly costly for consignments of perishable commodities, including vegetables transported from Bengaluru to various parts of Tamil Nadu.

Describing the Thoppur Ghat as one of the most feared stretches for truck drivers, Dhanaraj said the steep gradients and blind curves often force drivers to apply brakes repeatedly, increasing the risk of brake failure while descending.

"Once these engineering deficiencies are corrected, drivers will have a much safer and smoother journey. This has been a long-pending demand of the transport sector for several decades, and we are pleased that the work is progressing steadily," he said.

AT A GLANCE

Rs 905 crore: Total project cost

NH-44: Dharmapuri to Salem highway

6.60km: Total project length

46%: Work completed

March 2028: Work completion target

60,000 plus: Approximate volume of vehicles using the stretch daily

5,000 plus: Number of trucks using the corridor every day

3.68km: Elevated corridor with 83 piers

4 to 6 lanes: Road upgrade

3%: Gradient reduced from 5 to 7 per cent on the downhill stretch

630 plus: Total accident record between 2018 and 2026

80: Number of deaths reported during the period

Key objective: Eliminate sharp curves and steep gradients to improve safety

In a representation to the Chief Minister, K Kathirmathiyon, secretary of CCC, claimed that roads in several parts of the state continue to be re-laid without proper milling or scraping of the existing surface, resulting in a gradual increase in the Finished Road Level (FRL).

After the issue was raised earlier through a public interest litigation, the government informed the Madras High Court that all local bodies had been instructed not to increase road levels while relaying roads. Subsequently, the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Municipal Administration issued directions requiring civic bodies to maintain the existing road level after relaying.

However, these instructions are not implemented by local bodies, creating difficulties for residents, as houses that were originally above road level gradually ended up below the road surface after successive relaying works. It also increased the risk of rainwater entering residential properties, obstructing access to buildings and causing long term damage to infrastructure.

Seeking corrective action, Kathirmathiyon urged the Chief Minister to direct all local bodies to remove excess road layers wherever relaying had been carried out in violation of the prescribed norms and restore the FRL to its original level. The forum also sought recovery of the rectification cost from officials responsible for permitting such violations, as penalising contractors alone would not address the hardship faced by residents.

Further, the consumer forum stated that a legal notice issued in September 2025 to the then Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, the Director of Municipal Administration and the Commissioner of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation proposing contempt proceedings for alleged non-compliance has evoked no response.

The development comes a little over two years after Armstrong was hacked to death in Chennai, a case that sparked widespread attention amid allegations of the involvement of influential persons and political figures.

High Court order paves way for CBI probe

Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu BSP president, was hacked to death by a group of assailants near his residence in Perambur, Chennai, on July 5, 2024. Following the killing, the Sembium police registered a case and arrested 27 persons in connection with the murder.

During the course of the investigation, petitions were filed before the Madras High Court seeking a CBI inquiry into the case, citing allegations that the investigation required an independent agency. The High Court subsequently ordered that the investigation be transferred to the CBI.

Supreme Court appeal delayed transfer

The transfer, however, did not take place immediately after an appeal challenging the High Court's order was filed before the Supreme Court during the previous DMK government. The appeal resulted in a stay, delaying the proposed CBI investigation.

According to the report, following the change in government, the present administration withdrew the appeal filed before the Supreme Court, removing the legal hurdle for the central agency to proceed with the investigation. With the appeal withdrawn, the CBI is now expected to formally assume charge of the case.

Fresh investigation to begin

CBI officials are expected to collect all case records and investigation documents from the Sembium police before commencing a fresh probe into the murder.

The agency is also expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the killing and verify the various allegations that had surfaced during the earlier stages of the investigation.

One of the accused in the case, north Chennai history-sheeter Nagendran, died in prison due to ill health after his arrest. Proceedings against the remaining accused are continuing before the trial court.

The CBI's entry into the case has generated renewed attention because of allegations regarding the possible involvement of certain political figures. Officials are expected to carry out a detailed investigation into every aspect of the case, and further developments are anticipated as the probe gathers pace.

The Chief Minister's remarks come amid recent criticism a reel showing Industries Minister S Keerthana, whose interaction with a government school student during an inspection in Virudhunagar drew objections from child rights activists.

School inspection row

In the viral video, Minister Keerthana asks a student, “What’s your father?”, and the child remains silent. Keerthana turns to the teacher and says the child is unable to answer even a simple question. When the question is repeated, the student responds by stating her father's name. The teacher then rephrases the question as what is her “father’s profession”, following which the student answers correctly.

The video drew widespread criticism, with DMK MP Rajathi (Salma) writing to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking action against Keerthana, alleging that her government school “inspection” publicly humiliated a minor student and disclosed the child’s identity without authorisation.

Responding to the criticism, the minister later said on X that she herself had studied in a Tamil-medium government school. "Those who mock my English today are not just mocking me - they are mocking government school students like me and the lakhs of children studying in the Tamil medium."

The department said brightly coloured papads, often sold in markets, tourist destinations and exhibition grounds to attract children, could pose serious risks to public health. It has directed food safety officials to intensify inspections and ensure that such products are removed from sale across the State.

Issuing a public advisory, the department warned that regular consumption of artificially coloured papads could lead to digestive disorders, kidney damage and an increased risk of cancer over time.

It also cautioned that children consuming these products could develop allergic reactions and attention-related disorders owing to the presence of synthetic colouring agents.

“Artificially coloured papads can endanger public health. Parents should avoid buying such products for children and instead choose traditionally prepared varieties,” the department said.

As part of the enforcement drive, vendors have been instructed not to sell coloured papads in markets, tourist spots, fairs, exhibitions or other public places.

Officials have also been directed to take appropriate action against violations under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The department urged consumers to opt for conventional papads prepared using ingredients such as black gram, rice and other traditional food grains, noting that such products are safer and free from unnecessary artificial additives.

The action was announced by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami following the confrontation between supporters of newly appointed Villupuram district secretary Pasupathi and those backing Shanmugam.

The rivalry dates back to the period after the Assembly elections, when the AIADMK was pushed to the third position, leading to internal differences within the party.

Though the party later reunited under Palaniswami's leadership, Shanmugam is yet to publicly spell out his stand, and friction between the two camps has continued in Villupuram.

Tensions escalated during an AIADMK cadre meeting held in Villupuram on July 9, when members of the rival factions allegedly clashed. The incident reportedly involved stone-pelting at a vehicle and a road blockade by party workers.

Following the unrest, Palaniswami ordered disciplinary action, resulting in the removal of 11 supporters of Shanmugam from their organisational posts in the district. The AIADMK leadership is yet to announce any further disciplinary measures, while Shanmugam has not reacted publicly to the development.

Postmortem confirms fatal assault

The arrests came after the post-mortem examination at the Government Medical College Hospital in Asaripallam confirmed that Sabarivarman had 19 injuries on his body, establishing that he had been brutally assaulted inside the prison.

Following the report, police registered a murder case and earlier arrested the jail's chief warder Thirumalainambi and warders Jegan and Sivakumar. All three have now been suspended by prison authorities.

Eight inmates booked for murder

According to the Daily Thanthi report, during the investigation, police identified the inmates allegedly involved in the attack as Vishnu (21), Sarathi (19), Jegan (40), Sarath (20), Veriyaperumal (36), Sethuram (30), Ajith (29) and Aravind (27). All eight have been arrested and booked for murder.

Police said the assault took place on the night of July 12 after an argument broke out between Sabarivarman and a few fellow inmates.

Warders, inmates allegedly assaulted victim together

Investigators said Sabarivarman's hands and legs were allegedly tied before he was beaten by the inmates along with the jail warders. He suffered multiple injuries and lost consciousness.

Prison staff later took him to the Government Medical College Hospital in Asaripallam for treatment, but he is believed to have died on the way.

Police are continuing to question both the arrested warders and inmates to to determine whether others were involved in the fatal assault.Family demands justice

Family demands justice

Sabarivarman's relatives have refused to receive his body for the third consecutive day. They have demanded justice, government compensation and a government job for one of his family members. Supporters and members of several political parties gathered outside the Asaripallam Government Hospital in support of the family's demands.

Retired district judge A Nazir Ahamed and retired IAS officer Reeta Harish Thakkar have been appointed members.

This follows the recent resignations of the authority’s chairperson and members.

The State government said that an interim panel is serving for six months with immediate effect, or until its reconstitution, whichever is earlier.

Over 500 calls flood DVAC control room

According to DVAC sources, the control room handled more than 500 calls on the first day. While many callers sought to report alleged instances of bribery that they faced, officials also received a large number of general enquiries and even unrelated calls.

To manage the torrent of response from the public, the DVAC was forced to modify its system and began asking complainants to submit details through WhatsApp text messages or voice notes instead of lengthy phone conversations. Officials said each complaint would be examined and acted upon based on its nature and priority.

Government orders anti-bribery boards across offices

The surge in complaints came after the State government directed all government offices to prominently display DVAC's contact details along with anti-bribery awareness boards carrying the slogan, "Bribe giving and receiving is an offence".

Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar instructed all government departments, district Collectors, local bodies, and public sector undertakings to install bilingual (Tamil and English) notice boards at prominent locations. Departments have also been asked to display the same anti-corruption message on their official websites with a link to the DVAC portal.

Anti-corruption drive a key poll promise

The notice boards will include the DVAC's address, telephone numbers, WhatsApp number, fax number, and email ID to enable the public to lodge complaints. Inspection wings and district inspection cells have been directed to verify compliance during inspections, reinforcing a series of Government Orders issued since 2006 to strengthen vigilance and public awareness against corruption.

Beyond Chief Minister and TVK president C Joseph Vijay’s star power, war on corruption has been the most important plank for the party during its Assembly election campaign.

Reacting to the development, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) said no drawings, data or information related to nuclear safety or nuclear security systems had been compromised.

The leaked documents allegedly include blueprints and suppliers, said leading news agency Reuters which first reported the matter, adding that the ransomware group, World Leaks, claimed that the information was part of the more than 8.50 lakh documents that it obtained through hacking the Reliance Anil Ambani group.

The company, which is one of the contractors of the plant, told the news agency that there was a partial data breach from a third-party service provider that it has engaged, and added that the Indian government has been kept in the loop.

According to media reports, the documents that World Leaks leaked and published include information about the ventilation and cooling systems used in Units 3 and 4 of the nuclear power plant, which are being built by the Anil Ambani Group firm, Reliance Infrastructure.

While details like the extent, threat, and the players involved in the leak is not yet clear, the information about nuclear power plants being leaked itself is a serious enough threat for the Computer Emergency Response Team India (CERT-In), the country’s premier cybersecurity agency, to step in to investigate.

Meanwhile, the NPCIL clarified that the alleged leak of drawings and data related to Units 3 and 4 do not involve any nuclear safety or nuclear security systems.

In a statement, NPCIL said the engineering, procurement and construction works done by Reliance Infrastructure covers only the commissioning of common service facilities, which are conventional in nature and similar to those used in thermal power plants and other process industries.

These facilities are not connected to nuclear safety or nuclear security systems, it said.

In a statement, Chengalpattu East District Secretary CV Dhinakaran announced the removal of Veera alias Veerasamy, who was serving as the district joint secretary.

He said the disciplinary action was taken as Veerasamy had acted against the party's principles and brought disrepute to the organisation.

Veerasamy is also the president of the Mambakkam Village Panchayat. According to the allegations, he accepted Rs 1.30 lakh from a contractor to facilitate the clearance of pending payments for road construction work.

Viral video that appeared to be covertly recorded by the contractor while speaking to Veera went viral on Wednesday, hours after the TVK government launched a WhatsApp helpline, 94981 80936, to enable the public to report incidents of corruption in government offices.

Speaking at the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Tamil scholar Maraimalai Adigal in Chennai, Viswanathan said the language issue, which has continued for nearly 90 years, should be settled through discussions rather than prolonged confrontation.

School Education Minister Rajmohan and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko were among those who attended the event. Viswanathan said Tamil Nadu should strive to achieve higher education standards comparable to those in Europe and the United States. He urged governments to increase funding for higher education to improve its quality and global competitiveness.

Arguing that English has become an integral part of India's administrative and educational framework, he said more states use English as an official language than Hindi, making it unacceptable to describe English as a foreign language. He also alleged that the CBSE had created confusion over the implementation of compulsory Hindi in schools.

School Education Minister Rajmohan paid tribute to Maraimalai Adigal, saying the Tamil scholar's contributions to the development of the language would continue to inspire future generations.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko reiterated his opposition to any attempt to impose Hindi, saying such a move would threaten the country's unity. He warned that any effort by the Centre to force Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states would have serious consequences for India's federal structure.

During the function, a book titled Maraimalai Adigal and His Works was released.

On Wednesday (July 15), the Madurai HC Bench declared the registration of a 1.40-acre property worth Rs 100 crore belonging to the Palani mutt to private individuals at a much lesser rate invalid.

According to officials, persons claiming to be trust administrators, identified as Murugadas and Thirupugazh, illegally sold the land to two individuals and registered the documents. A sub-registrar, Justin Manikandan, who registered the property, was suspended by the government.

Complaints also alleged that the land was undervalued by Rs 2 crore during registration to facilitate the fraud.

A police case has been registered against the sub-registrar and others. Officials said the CB-CID will take custody of the case documents and begin the investigation soon.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Police's cyber crime wing has booked three persons for defamatory remarks on social media against Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister S Ramesh, linking him to the land registration.

Also, the high maximum temperature, combined with high humidity, is likely to cause discomfort with hot and humid weather prevailing over the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till July 17.

According to RMC, on Wednesday, the maximum temperatures increased, hovering around 2-6 degrees Celsius above normal at most places in the State. It warned that heatwave conditions are likely to prevail today in Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Salem, Namakkal, Karur, Erode, Tiruchy, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, and Madurai districts.

On Wednesday, Vellore recorded the highest temperature with 41.6 degrees Celsius (106.9 degrees Fahrenheit), followed by Madurai Airport with 41.0 degrees Celsius (105.8 degrees Fahrenheit). In Chennai, Meenambakkam recorded 40.1degrees Celsius (104.2 degrees Fahrenheit) with Nungambakkam at 39.4 degrees Celsius (102.9 degrees Fahrenheit).

The intense heat is expected to persist in seven of these districts, including Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Madurai, Dindigul, Karur, Namakkal and Erode on Friday (July 17). Meanwhile, coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal will experience highly uncomfortable, hot, and humid weather due to a combination of high temperatures and humidity levels till Friday.

In Chennai, the sky will remain partly cloudy, and the maximum temperature will rise to 39 degrees Celsius, while minimum will dip to 28 degrees Celsius today.

Relief from the dry spell is anticipated from July 17 as the RMC forecasts moderate rain alongside thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places over the Western Ghats districts, North Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, driven by prevailing lower tropospheric westerlies

-- Also, senior officer P Umanath, who was recently transferred from the post of chairman and managing director of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, was given posting as the Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce.

According to the order issued by Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, V Arun Roy, Secretary to the Higher Education Department, has been appointed as the new chairman and managing director of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board in place of J Radhakrishnan, who has been appointed Director General of the Anna Institute of Management.

-- Kakarla Usha, who was recently appointed Secretary to the Public Department, has been transferred as the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department Secretary in place of Supriya Sahu. The latter has been posted as Commissioner of Entrepreneurship Development.

-- E Sundaravalli, Special Secretary to the Public Department, has been elevated as Secretary to the Public Department.

-- Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Yadav has been transferred from IT and Digital Services Department to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department.

-- MSME Secretary Atul Anand has been posted as Information Technology Department Secretary, while Entrepreneurship Development Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar has been appointed as the new Higher Education Secretary.

-- Nirmal Raj, Director of Industries and Commerce, has been posted as Secretary to the Transport Department.

-- Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, Commissioner of Disaster Management, has been appointed Transport Commissioner, while M Vallalar has been posted as Labour Commissioner.

--Commissioner of Land Administration R Gajalakshmi has been appointed Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise. D Baskara Pandian, Director of Transport, has been transferred as Director of Museums.

Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to former Chief Minister K Kamaraj on his birth anniversary, DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi said the party would primarily focus its political attacks on the TVK.

Appealing to the media, Bharathi said reporters should direct their questions only to the ruling party.

"Our principal political opponent is now the TVK. Please ask us questions only about the TVK and not about other political parties," he said.

Recalling the party's strategy during the recently concluded Assembly elections, Bharathi said the DMK had focused its campaign on the AIADMK, while a stronger political challenger had emerged elsewhere.

"During the Assembly election, we were attacking a dead snake. Meanwhile, a poisonous snake entered the field, " he remarked.

Bharathi described the AIADMK as the "dead snake" and the ruling TVK as the "poisonous snake, " indicating that the DMK would now concentrate its political campaign against the ruling party.

"The situation should not be repeated. Our only principal political opponent is the TVK. Please ask questions only about that party," he added.

During the Assembly election campaign, several DMK leaders, including Bharathi, largely downplayed the TVK and often declined to respond to questions about the party. However, after the TVK emerged as the ruling party following the election, the DMK has shifted its political focus and begun targeting the government more aggressively, with Bharathi now declaring the TVK as the party's principal political opponent.

The deceased, Kavitha (36), was admitted to a private hospital after her husband, Sathosh Kumar alias Moorthy (40), a resident of Theeran Nagar and a worker at a shop at Milaguparai, attacked her with a sharp weapon following a quarrel on Tuesday evening. It is said that the couple quarrelled over lunch preparation earlier in the day.

Kavitha is said to have sustained serious injuries in the attack. After attacking her, Moorthy informed Kavitha's mother, who admitted her to a private hospital in Woraiyur, where she was undergoing treatment for cut injuries in her abdomen.

In such a backdrop, on Tuesday late hours when Kavitha's mother was away, Moorthy went to the hospital, picked up a quarrel with his wife again and stabbed her multiple times with a knife. She died on the spot.

The hospital staff passed on the information to the Woraiyur police, who retrieved the body and sent it to the GH. The police also registered a case and conducted an inquiry with the hospital staff. Late in the night, the police arrested Moorthy.

In a statement, NPCIL said the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the Common Services – Balance of Plant (BoP) package was awarded to Reliance Infrastructure Ltd in 2018 through a public tender process.

The corporation said the contract covers the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of common service facilities, which are conventional in nature and similar to those used in thermal power plants and other process industries. These facilities are not connected to nuclear safety or nuclear security systems, it said.

NPCIL explained that, as part of the public tendering process, it had provided indicative drawings and technical specifications to bidders. Based on these documents and project requirements, Reliance Infrastructure prepared detailed engineering drawings in consultation with the respective Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The designs were reviewed by NPCIL and accepted after ensuring compliance with technical specifications.

Responding to reports circulating in the media, NPCIL reiterated that the information allegedly available in the public domain pertains only to conventional Balance of Plant common service facilities. It stressed that no drawings, data or information related to nuclear safety or nuclear security systems had been compromised.

The issue pertains to a 1.4 acre land belonging to the Palani temple mutt registered to private individuals. While the market value of the land is said to be over Rs 100 crore, the land was registered for about Rs 2 crore.

On Wednesday, the Madurai Bench declared the registration of a 1.40-acre property worth Rs 100 crore belonging to the Palani mutt invalid to private individuals at a much lesser rate as invalid.

The accused, Vinoth Suryakumar had posted in social media that the land was registered to relatives of the minister. In a press meet earlier, the Minister said that he would initiate legal action against those who spread misinformation.

Police sources said that two others have also been booked for spreading misinformation.

The earthquake occurred at 7.52 pm IST at a depth of 10 km. According to the available data, the epicentre was located at coordinates 12.346°N and 77.936°E.

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake is classified as a minor seismic event. Tremors may have been felt by residents in and around Krishnagiri, Hosur and adjoining parts of Karnataka. Such earthquakes generally do not cause structural damage, though they can be noticed by people living close to the epicentre.

Exporters, however, say rising fish prices and supply shortages are making it difficult to meet the growing demand.

A thriving industry

Thoothukudi, known for its port and fishing industry, has emerged as one of the state's major dried fish production centres. The city's port, airport, railway station and road connectivity have supported the growth of the industry.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, with hot and dry weather prevailing for most months of the year, the region provides ideal conditions for drying fish, allowing production to continue on a large scale.

Production process

After the annual fishing ban ends, mechanised boats return to sea, bringing in large quantities of fish. Popular varieties such as anchovy (nethili), sardine (saalai), seer fish (seela) and trevally (paarai) are selected for dried fish production.

The fish are cleaned, salted and left to soak for several hours or up to a day. They are then spread out on clean drying yards and left under the sun for several days until the moisture is completely removed. The finished products are quality checked before being packed for sale and export.

Fishermen said the industry provides employment to thousands of people involved in processing, drying, packing and marketing.

Exports to several countries

Workers are currently busy sorting, cleaning, salting and sun-drying fish to meet export demand.

Dried fish from Tuticorin is exported mainly to Sri Lanka. It is also shipped in large quantities to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain, where it is popular among consumers.

Fish shortage drives concerns for exporters

Joseph Cascarino, a dried fish exporter from Thoothukudi, said dried anchovy and maasi karuvadu account for a major share of exports.

He said overseas demand remains high, but producers are unable to increase output because of limited availability of fish.

According to him, after the fishing ban ended, fresh fish demand within Tamil Nadu increased sharply, while traders from Kerala continue to buy large quantities of bigger fish for export. This has reduced the supply of fish needed for dried fish production.

Prices climb sharply

The shortage has pushed up production costs and market prices. A kilogram of dried anchovy, which earlier sold for Rs 150 to Rs 230, is now priced at around Rs 410.

Similarly, maasi karuvadu is currently sold at Rs 450 to Rs 550 per kilogram.

Exporters said around four to five containers of dried fish are shipped from Tuticorin every month.

The instructions, issued following the recommendations of the State Disaster Management Authority and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), are to be followed by all government and aided schools.

The circular advised schools to avoid conducting outdoor activities, including morning assemblies, physical education classes, sports events, and other programmes, during periods of intense heat; instead, shift such activities indoors or reschedule them to cooler hours of the day whenever possible.

Principals and teachers have been asked to educate students on the symptoms of heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Schools should ensure that students have uninterrupted access to safe drinking water and encourage them to drink water frequently.

Parents are also to be informed through WhatsApp groups and other communication channels about the need to provide adequate drinking water bottles and ensure that children wear light, comfortable clothing.

The department has further directed schools to closely monitor weather advisories issued by the IMD. In the event of an official declaration of an extreme heat wave, school authorities must strictly adhere to government instructions and implement all prescribed safety measures without delay. Also, with the guidance of the district administration, decisions on declaring leaves can be taken, added the circular.

The Directorate has emphasised that protecting students from heat-related health risks is the responsibility of every school administration and has instructed district education officials to ensure strict compliance with these guidelines across all schools in the state.

The development is being seen as a significant shift within the party, as MLAs aligned with the Velumani and CVe Shanmugam faction had largely stayed away from the consultation meetings being held by Palaniswami after the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Palaniswami held review meetings with district office-bearers from Erode Suburban East, Erode Suburban West, Tiruvallur East and Tiruvallur West to assess the party's performance in the Assembly elections and discuss measures to strengthen the organisation.

The meeting in Erode was attended by MLA Hari Baskar, while Tiruttani MLA K Hari participated in the Tiruvallur review meeting. Both legislators were earlier considered close to the Velumani camp, making their presence noteworthy.

Party insiders said the participation of the two MLAs was being viewed as a positive signal for Palaniswami, suggesting that leaders previously aligned with the Velumani and CVe Shanmugam group have begun extending support to his leadership.

The latest development follows the participation of Pappireddipatti MLA Maragatham Vetrivel, who was also considered close to Velumani and CVe Shanmugam faction, in a similar district consultation meeting chaired by Palaniswami last week. Her attendance had also been interpreted as a sign of growing support for the AIADMK chief.

During Wednesday's meetings, Palaniswami directed district office-bearers to intensify preparations for the upcoming local body elections and work towards securing the party's victory. He urged functionaries to recommend only loyal and committed party workers for organisational responsibilities.

He also asked cadres not to be distracted by leaders who had left the party for personal interests and stressed the need to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level.

According to party sources, Palaniswami told functionaries that AIADMK must win the upcoming by-election whenever it is announced to reaffirm Erode as one of the party's strongholds.

The Government Higher Secondary School in Mallal village is run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, and the injured student, Sanjay Prasad (17), is differently abled and the son of Rajangam (45), a mason from Niranjan village near Kalaiyarkoil.

According to the police, Sanjay had just entered his classroom when two students allegedly attacked him with a knife. Sanjay sustained stab injuries and collapsed in a pool of blood. The incident caused panic among other students, who rushed out of the classroom.

Teachers immediately shifted Sanjay to the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

According to Rajangam, around 10 days ago, there was a squabble between students at the school, and Sanjay was accused of assaulting another student during the quarrel. Following the incident, he had kept his son away from school for about a week. Sanjay has started going to the class only on Monday, he said.

Rajangam noted that he would drop his son off at the school every morning and pick him up in the evening.

On Wednesday morning, shortly after leaving for work, he received a call from the school watchman informing him that his son had been stabbed by some fellow students.

Asking how the attack could have taken place inside a classroom, Rajangam sought action against those responsible and demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident.

The SIPCOT police in Manamadurai have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances leading to the attack. The incident has raised concerns about student safety and security inside school premises.

More than 10,000 tonnes of rice meant for distribution to the PDS outlets were stocked at the agriculture-regulated market godown owned by the Department of Agriculture Market and Agri Business at Budalur. Lack of proper maintenance has led to infestation in the stocks. The impact also posed health-related risks to the people residing close to the godown. in the past several days, many residents were injured and had undergone treatment.

“District administration and the officials concerned have already been alerted about the issue. We have also submitted petitions, but no action has so far been initiated," said Kannan, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association Secretary who led the protest in the presence of the CPM executive member Tamil Selvi.

The protesting resident raised slogans and urged the government to immediately remove the damaged rice and not to distribute it to the PDS outlets.

On information, the TNCSC officials visited the spot and held talks with the protesting residents and assured them of removing the damaged stocks from the godown.

Acting on specific intelligence about the presence of immigrants, police conducted coordinated searches in Onnalvadi, Gokul Nagar and Nallur Agraharam.

Those apprehended include 22 men, 23 women and 28 children. Police have launched an inquiry to verify their identities, establish the circumstances of their entry into Tamil Nadu, and trace the network that facilitated their arrival and stay in the state.

The Bangladeshi nationals are expected to be shifted to the transit camp in Salem for further legal and administrative proceedings.

Based on his complaint, the Singanallur police registered a case. A special team recently arrested Vairaperumal (26) from Karur and Punniyamoorthy (27) from Tiruchy. Police also arrested the prime accused, Karthik (43) of Kalapatti in Coimbatore, from a private lodge in Goa.

Police said Karthik has several criminal cases pending against him. Efforts are on to arrest three more suspects, including two from Tirunelveli and one from Tiruchi, who remain at large.

Saravanakumar (30) from Karumandapam in Tiruchy, his friends Vinoth (30) from Samathuvapuram and Ramesh (25) from Valanadu Kaikatti, working in a mess in Karumandapam, were proceeding to Dindigul on a bike on Wednesday morning.

When they tried to cross the road in the wrong direction, their bike hit a lorry bound for Tiruchy. Vinoth and Ramesh were crushed to death, while Saravanankumar sustained severe injuries.

On information, Cantonment police rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies and sent them to the GH. Saravanankumar was also rushed to the GH. South Traffic Intelligence police registered a case and are investigating.

During a press briefing after meeting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat, Shanmugam said the CPM had submitted a memorandum on issues including inam lands, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, renaming a village in Virudhunagar district, the Salem drinking water distribution contract, and the custodial death in Nagercoil.

Welcoming the government's recent order on inam lands, he urged the State to constitute a separate commission to resolve similar issues across Tamil Nadu. He also appealed to the government to move the Supreme Court against the eviction of forest dwellers and ensure full implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

On the alleged horse-trading of MLAs, he said, "Whoever indulges in horse-trading, it is condemnable. Whether it is the DMK, TVK or any other party, we do not accept it. MLAs elected by the people should not resign and switch parties within a few days."

Replying to a question on the local body elections, Shanmugam said the Left parties had not yet taken a decision on contesting alone or in alliance and that the issue would be discussed jointly before a final decision was taken.

CHENNAI: In a major joint initiative to crack down on drugs, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have decided to jointly intensify anti-narcotics operations along their shared border.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Wednesday that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has assured full support for coordinated enforcement, intelligence sharing, and awareness campaigns to curb drug trafficking.

After meeting the chief minister at the Secretariat, Chennithala said Vijay and him discussed the growing drug menace across southern states and the need for a united response.

He said Kerala had sought Tamil Nadu's cooperation in strengthening surveillance along border areas.

He also said ports, airports, and railway networks would remain under close watch as part of the coordinated strategy to curb drug trafficking across the two states.

The Kerala minister said he has invited Vijay to participate in a major anti-drug awareness programme in Kerala alongside actor Mohanlal, the State's anti-drug campaign ambassador.

Recalling that Mohanlal and Vijay had acted together in the film, ‘Jilla’, he expressed confidence that their joint participation would strengthen public awareness.

Pointing out that Chief Minister Vijay had already launched an anti-drug campaign in Tamil Nadu and reiterated his government's commitment to eliminating narcotics, Chennithala said that a recent meeting of Directors General of Police of southern states evolved a common strategy to combat drug mafia.

Highlighting Kerala's ongoing anti-drug campaign, Operation Toofan, Chennithala said the State had conducted the drive successfully for the past 43 days, during which more than 6,000 people were arrested, around 5,500 cases registered, and more than 100 accused put in jail. He added that the government has also attached properties of major drug offenders.

Responding to a question on ‘We the leaders’ founder K Annamalai's anti-drug campaign, Chennithala welcomed the initiative and said all political parties should unite in the fight against narcotics, describing it as a serious threat to the nation.

Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to former Chief Minister K Kamaraj at his memorial house in Virudhunagar, Tagore said AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran had built the party through hard work, while former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had protected and strengthened it, including during periods when it enjoyed the support of the Congress.

"Today, Palaniswami has left the AIADMK shattered. If someone were to pursue a PhD on how to destroy a political party, Palaniswami would be a key character in that research," Tagore said.

He also launched the Congress' anti-corruption campaign, "Avoid Bribery, Hold Your Head High", and said it would be taken across Tamil Nadu through signature campaigns outside government offices as part of a mass outreach programme.

Responding to questions on factionalism within the Congress, Tagore said the party would continue engaging with its leaders and cadre.

"Congress is a democratic party. Differences will be resolved through dialogue, and we will continue to listen to the views of senior leaders with respect," he said.

Higher Education Minister Viswanathan, who accompanied Tagore, said the campaign was aimed at promoting corruption-free governance. He added that the Congress and the Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government were committed to ensuring transparent administration in line with the ideals of Kamaraj.

The protest comes as the storage in the 90-foot-high dam has fallen to 50 feet following a deficit in the southwest monsoon. Despite poor inflows, the State ordered the release of water from July 15 to July 21, at a rate not exceeding 414 cubic feet per second, exclusively to meet the drinking water requirements of people in Tirupur.

Opposing the decision, the farmers said nearly 5,000 acres of sugarcane crop had already withered, while coconut plantations were under severe stress. They argued that releasing water under the present conditions would reduce the reservoir level to below 30 feet, making it impossible to supply water for irrigation.

They also pointed out that water had already been released on June 19 for the Dharapuram Drinking Water Scheme and contended that the reservoir should not be tapped again for drinking water.

Following nearly three hours of protest, officials from the revenue and water resources departments assured the farmers that water would not be released from the dam immediately and that their demands would be considered. The farmers then called off the agitation.

The Amaravathi Dam irrigates 54,637 acres of farmland across Tirupur and Karur districts, including 29,387 acres under the old ayacut system and 25,250 acres under the new ayacut system.

CHENNAI: Alleging that two civil works tenders worth Rs 42.58 lakh floated by the Valliyoor panchayat union in Tirunelveli violated the State government's new contractor registration guidelines by restricting participation to contractors registered within the panchayat union itself, anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam has sought cancellation of the tender process, revision of the eligibility conditions, and a fresh tender notification.

In a representation to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand, and officials, Arappor said the tender conditions contradict GO No 115 dated June 30 issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and the government statement explaining the revised registration system.

The fourth condition in the tender notification restricts eligibility to contractors who are only registered within the panchayat union, which is against the GO that had replaced this earlier system with district-level registration through the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

Under the new system, contractors registered with a DRDA concerned can bid for tenders floated by any procuring entity within that district, and are also permitted to participate in tenders in adjoining districts, even without a common state-wide registration system.

The organisation said the restrictive condition works against the goals of increasing competition and opening opportunities to new contractors. Limiting eligibility to a small pool cuts down competition and creates room for a winning bidder to be decided in advance, opening the door to favouritism and corruption, it argued.

The tenders were floated under the 2025-26 District Mineral Foundation (DMF) scheme, following administrative sanction from the Tirunelveli Collector's proceedings dated December 1, 2024, and May 11, 2026.

They cover construction of a compound wall around the Erukkandurai cremation ground (Rs 12.86 lakh) and strengthening of the road to the Keezhakulam cremation ground (Rs 29.72 lakh). Both were published on the State's e-procurement portal on July 8, with bids due to close on July 15.

The organisation has asked the government to halt the ongoing tender process, amend the eligibility conditions in line with the new order, issue a fresh notification, and ensure all tenders across Tamil Nadu comply with the Transparency in Tenders Act and the revised registration guidelines.

Speaking to reporters in Ariyalur, Thirumavalavan said the new TVK government has assured to protect the rights of Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka government might not build a dam in Mekedatu as that government will never destroy the sentiments of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water.

“The union government would never take a stand against the interests of Tamil Nadu on this issue,” Thiruma said.

Answering a query about the CPI’s participation in the government, Thirumavalavan said the VCK would welcome the decision if the CPI takes part in the cabinet of the TVK government. At the same time, Thiruma opposed the events of elected MLAs from AIADMK joining TVK and said that TVK has been luring the MLAs to join the party, and it is not healthy in a democracy, he said.

Thiruma also condemned the custodial death of remand prisoner Sabari Varman in Nagercoil prison and said that it is the duty of the judiciary, prison and police to ensure the safety of the inmates, and the state government should initiate stringent action against those who are involved in this, he said.

Meanwhile, Thiruma pointed out that the delimitation bill was opposed by all the opposition parties, particularly from southern states, when the bill was tabled in the Parliament, and this would continue. “The parties in the INDIA bloc, including DMK, would strongly oppose the bill as it is the duty of every opposition party to oppose delimiation”, Thiruma stressed.