According to police sources, head constable Swarna Raj, attached to the Melapalayam police station, was on duty along with other police personnel at the Melakarungulam check-post on September 29. During the vehicle check, the police team found that the motorcyclist did not have valid insurance.

When a police officer was informed, he advised the motorcyclist and allowed him to leave. However, Swarna Raj allegedly demanded money from the motorcyclist before he left the spot, the sources said.

The motorcyclist then asked the head constable for his GPay number to transfer the money. Swarna Raj allegedly provided a mobile number and asked him to transfer the money to it, the sources said.

The motorcyclist later called the head constable and asked whether he had received the money. Swarna Raj allegedly replied that he had not received it. The motorcyclist recorded the conversation and shared it on social media, where it went viral.

After the matter was brought to the attention of Commissioner Deshmukh Shekhar Sanjay, he suspended Swarna Raj and ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Acting on a complaint, police removed an NTK banner erected in front of a marriage hall along Alangiyam Road. An NTK functionary objected to its removal and entered into an argument with the police over the action. Police subsequently took him to the station.

On learning about his detention, NTK cadres led by party candidate M. Karthika rushed to the police station and demanded his immediate release. They also protested against the removal of the banner by raising slogans outside the station.

The protesters later blocked the road, causing tension in the area. Talks between the police and the protesters failed to immediately resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, NTK chief coordinator Seeman spoke to Dharapuram police over the phone and discussed the issue. The detained functionary was subsequently released, following which the protesting cadres withdrew their road blockade and dispersed.

The police identified the accused as Mohammed Saddam Hussain (29), a resident of Vallalar Nagar in Madambakkam, an A-plus category rowdy who faces several pending cases, including murder.

According to officials, four country-made bombs, three machetes, and 23 kg of ganja were seized from an abandoned house in a forest area near Karasangal where he had been hiding.

Hussain is the prime accused in the murder of Venkatesan, who was the Madambakkam panchayat president in 2022. He was arrested in connection with the case and later released on bail. He was subsequently allegedly involved in other criminal activities and ganja sales, said the police.

As he failed to appear regularly before the court during the trial in the case, the court cancelled his bail and issued a warrant for his arrest. Following this, the Manimangalam police formed a special team to trace him.

On Friday morning, the team received information that he was hiding in an isolated, dilapidated house in the Karasangal forest area. The officials surrounded the house with firearms and attempted to apprehend him. However, Hussain allegedly tried to attack the personnel with a machete. Despite warnings to surrender, he attempted to flee and allegedly made another attempt to attack the police.

The officials then opened fire in self-defence, shooting him in the leg. He fell to the ground and was subsequently apprehended.

The injured accused was initially taken to the Tambaram government hospital for first aid. He was later shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where he is undergoing treatment.

During a search of the abandoned house, police allegedly recovered four country-made bombs, three machetes, and 23 kg of ganja.

The special team is continuing its investigation to identify his associates, trace the source of the explosives, and determine whether he was planning any attacks.

The congestion was reported from 7 am to 1 pm on Gandhi Jayanti, with vehicles queuing up on major roads and pedestrians finding it difficult to move through crowded streets. The long weekend and the influx of visitors from neighbouring districts added to the traffic volume.

Kancheepuram, known as the city of temples and the silk city, attracts large numbers of devotees, tourists, and shoppers throughout the year. The arrival of employees working in multinational companies, wedding functions, auspicious occasions, and temple festivals also contributes to the growing traffic in the district headquarters.

The four Raja Veedhis, Kamarajar Street, Nellukara Street, Gandhi Road, Mettu Street, and Salai Street are among the key stretches that witness heavy vehicular movement.

Residents and social activists attributed the worsening congestion to the absence of a traffic police inspector for several months and inadequate personnel deployment. According to them, the town requires at least 24 traffic police personnel to regulate vehicle movement, but only 7 are currently available.

The situation was further aggravated near the bus stand entrance on Kamarajar Road, where auto-rickshaws are allegedly parked indiscriminately and passengers picked up without proper regulation. Autos stopping in the middle of roads and vehicles parked along road margins have also obstructed the movement of pedestrians and other motorists, added residents.

The people there have urged the district administration to take immediate measures to ease congestion, remove encroachments on major roads, and deploy additional traffic police personnel according to the requirements.

When asked, police sources said though Kancheepuram had been upgraded to a municipal corporation, its police administration continued to function as the Kancheepuram district police. Steps were being taken to upgrade it to a city police commissionerate, they said.

The traffic situation is expected to be addressed through the deployment of additional personnel and officers once the proposed upgrade is completed, sources added.

The deceased was identified as Meghaladevi, wife of Jayakumar of Arun Nagar, Pallikaranai. An MBA graduate, she was employed at a private college in Meenambakkam.

Due to work pressure, Meghaladevi had stayed back at the college on Thursday night to complete her work. She was returning home on her moped in the early hours of Friday when the accident occurred.

While she was riding along Velachery Main Road in Pallikaranai, a speeding van allegedly travelling on the wrong side of the road collided with her moped.

Meghaladevi sustained severe injuries in the impact. Members of the public rescued her and rushed her to a private hospital in Kovilambakkam. However, doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation Wing registered a case and arrested the van driver, Selvam (43), a resident of Perumbakkam, in connection with the accident.

The new facility, named TNEB Chatbot, has been developed as part of the board's efforts to make it easier for consumers to report complaints. To access the service, consumers have to send "HI" to 94987 94987 through WhatsApp.

The chatbot will then obtain the details of the complaint using the consumer's mobile number or service connection number and forward it to the concerned official for immediate action.

The facility is intended to enable faster registration and processing of complaints and help ensure that grievances are addressed within the stipulated time. The board said it would continue to take measures to resolve consumer grievances promptly and improve electricity services.

The police identified the deceased as Dinakaran (60), of Alivalam in Tiruvarur; Baskar (45) of Srinivasapuram in Tiruvarur; and Ramachandran from Senthurai in Ariyalur.

According to the police, M Subramanian (61), a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Senthurai, was constructing a house at Vallalar Nagar on the Sendurai-Udayarpalayam main road. A septic tank with a height of 12 feet and a depth of 8 feet had been constructed.

On Friday, Dinakaran and Baskar were removing the wooden boards and poles inside the tank used for support while constructing the tank, while Ramachandran was helping them from outside.

Suddenly, both Dinakaran and Baskar collapsed. Ramachandran found the duo lying unconscious and entered the tank to rescue them. But he too experienced breathing difficulties and fell unconscious.

On receiving information, the building owner Subramanian rushed to the spot and alerted the Senthurai police and the fire and rescue personnel. All three were rushed to the Senthurai GH where the doctors declared them dead. Subsequently, the bodies were sent to Ariyalur Medical College Hospital for the postmortem.

The police questioned Subramanian. The fact that the septic tank was newly built and yet to be used raised eyebrows about the death. The initial investigation found that the septic tank was closed for more than 20 days after construction for curing and the police also found that there was some foul smell emanating from it, which might have caused suffocation resulting in death. A detailed investigation is under way, the police said.

It may be noted that on September 2, exactly a month back, two workers who were involved in cleaning a septic tank in Tiruchy asphyxiated.

Speaking to reporters after the inauguration of the Deepavali Khadi sales in Tiruchy in view of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi, Ramesh said TVK is committed to bringing development to the state, and the welfare schemes brought out by the government have a great impact among the people. This would fetch an easy win in the upcoming bypolls. He refused the claim of TVK distributing money to voters. He stressed that there is no need for distributing money as the welfare schemes will speak a lot to the voters, he said.

Stating that the DMK leaders have been losing control while speaking in public and uttering filthy comments, Ramesh said that the DMK leaders should follow the path of Anna and practice the principles he taught. “Otherwise, the people will teach a fitting lesson to everyone in the DMK as was done to the party president MK Stalin in Kolathur constituency,” Ramesh said.

Meanwhile, the minister reinstated that the DMK functionary Ramkumar had usurped the Asrirangam temple land worth Rs 50 crore with foisted documents. He said that Ramkumar was arrested for the land scam and in the similar way, the retired judge from Puducherry who had reportedly sold the land would also be arrested.

In the meantime, Ramesh evaded the query about the TVK’s stand against the Chief Election Commissioner on the SIR issue and said that the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay only would decide on this.

The TVK founder began the roadshow at Mamandur around 2.30 pm and travelled towards Madurantakam in a campaign vehicle, standing alongside party nominee Maragatham Kumaravel. People lined the roads and stood outside their houses as the vehicle passed, with Vijay waving to them, greeting them with folded hands and seeking votes for the party's Whistle symbol.

TVK workers staged cultural programmes and dance performances at several points along the route as people waited to see the leader.

Vijay also stepped out of the campaign vehicle at a few places. At a small tea shop in L Enathur, he stopped for tea and interacted with elderly residents. Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and Maragatham Kumaravel accompanied him.

At Kiliya Nagar, he entered a farmland and spoke to women engaged in agricultural work. Later, at Ramapuram, he drove a farmer's tractor through a field before resuming the roadshow.

The Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls were necessitated after AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama resigned their seats and quit the party before joining the TVK. Both have been renominated by the ruling party.

Tagore said Congress had followed a consultative process before extending its support to TVK for the 2026 Assembly election. He said state Congress leaders were invited to Delhi on January 17 to discuss the election strategy and convey their views to the party leadership.

"Congress had decided to continue its alliance with the DMK on March 2. Subsequently, considering the political situation, the party decided to support TVK. It is incorrect to say that Congress took the decision without informing anyone, " Tagore said.

He added that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had informed DMK leader TR Baalu about the party's decision to support TVK before further steps were taken.

According to Tagore, several positions announced by Vijay, including power sharing in government and a caste census, were close to Congress' policies. He also recalled that Rahul Gandhi had campaigned nationally for a caste census.

Tagore claimed that Vijay had met Rahul Gandhi as early as 2009, well before launching his political party. He said the two had developed closer political ties over issues including secularism and the caste census.

"Rahul Gandhi was the first political leader to speak to Vijay after the Karur incident. He asked Vijay to overcome the grief and stand by the people who had placed their trust in him, " Tagore said.

He also said Rahul Gandhi had expressed support for Vijay over the controversy surrounding the film Jana Nayagan.

"Vijay is clear about secularism and democracy. Rahul Gandhi firmly believed that Vijay should become the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and would work for the people of the state. He is a democrat who listens to others before taking decisions. Therefore, Congress is firmly supporting Vijay," Tagore said.

Speaking at a protest here on Friday, Selva Karthik, CJP’s chief convenor for Tamil Nadu, added that around 50,000 voters were removed from rolls in Dharapuram constituency, where a by-election is currently under way.

Alleging that the electoral process had been marred by irregularities, the Gen Z outfit demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and called for greater transparency in elections. They added that the SIR exercise had resulted in denial of voting rights to eligible citizens.

Blaming CEC Gyanesh Kumar for the discrepancies in the voter roll revision process, Selva Karthik demanded his resignation, and also called upon the Election Commission to ensure that elections were conducted in a transparent manner and that no eligible citizen was denied the right to vote.

He alleged that the Centre-ruling BJP was undermining the democratic process through the electoral system and appealed to opposition parties to jointly protest against the Election Commission. He also urged opposition parties to boycott elections and instead intensify protests against the irregularities.

The protest was part of the party’s campaign seeking transparency in the electoral process and protection of voters’ rights across the country.

The SSF, a dedicated unit for the safety and protection of women and children, traced 15 missing women and 16 missing children between September 1 and 30. The team also conducted 2,812 awareness programmes in educational institutions, 11,787 programmes at other locations and 706 sessions among migrant labourers.

The force made repeated visits to 57,183 identified hotspots to strengthen preventive measures. It also rescued 25 persons with intellectual disabilities, including 22 females and three males, prevented seven child marriages and facilitated the re-enrolment of 227 school dropouts.

In a notable incident on September 27, an SSF team on patrol in Flower Bazaar apprehended a man accused of allegedly sexually harassing a 19-year-old woman who had alighted from a Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus. The accused was handed over to the jurisdictional police and remanded in judicial custody.

In another incident, an SSF team conducting an awareness programme at a school in Tenkasi found that a 17-year-old Class XII student had been absent for two months. An enquiry revealed that two neighbours had allegedly sexually assaulted and threatened her on several occasions, causing her to stop attending school. The Child Welfare Committee was informed, and a case was registered. The accused were arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

On September 29, an SSF team in Koyambedu responded to a complaint from a woman who alleged that a person had recorded her on a mobile phone without her consent. The team informed the police station concerned and assisted her in lodging a complaint. The accused was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, the SSF has announced a short film competition for university and college students to raise awareness about women's and children's safety. The last date for submissions is October 10. The themes include men's role in women's safety, bystander intervention and society's role in preventing crimes against women and children.

During his campaign in Dharapuram in Tiruppur district ahead of the October 6 bypoll, the former CM interacted with traders and residents at a grocery shop to assess the impact of rising prices.

Targeting the state government, Stalin said the prices of essential commodities had risen sharply over the past four months, leaving ordinary households struggling to meet their daily expenses.

He criticised the ruling party's public outreach efforts, questioning whether watching promotional "reels" could feed hungry people, and cited a decline in the state's GST revenue and the departure of experts from Guidance TN as signs of an economic downturn.

"Is the chief minister, who is currently busy with 'MLA shopping', even aware of the plight of common people who are struggling to buy basic groceries?" Stalin said in a social media post.

"Will watching short video clips fill the stomachs of suffering families?" the DMK chief asked in the post on X.

Stalin claimed there was a sharp contrast between Tamil Nadu's past economic performance and its current trajectory, saying the state had maintained steady growth even during periods of national economic slowdown under the "Dravidian model" of governance, while several key indicators had now begun to deteriorate.

He specifically claimed that while GST revenue had increased nationally, Tamil Nadu had witnessed a decline in revenue over the past three months.

Expressing concern over the state's industrial climate, Stalin cited reports of experienced professionals leaving Guidance TN, the state's nodal investment promotion agency, for opportunities in other states.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu was witnessing a decline across several sectors, including the economy, prices of essential commodities, power supply, industrial output, law and order, healthcare and dairy development.

Criticising the government's public relations campaign, Stalin said the administration was merely putting "victory stickers" on projects instead of addressing core governance issues, leaving people to bear the consequences of what he described as administrative apathy.

The DMK has nominated lawyer S Suganya in the SC-reserved Dharapuram Assembly constituency, where a bypoll was necessitated after AIADMK MLA P Sathyabama resigned from the Assembly and joined the ruling TVK.

Sathyabama is contesting the bypoll as the TVK candidate on the party's "whistle" symbol.

The court quashed the chargesheet against Surjith’s parents, citing a lack of material evidence to establish their alleged involvement.

Kavin, an engineering graduate belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, was in a relationship with S Subhashini, a Siddha doctor from Palayamkottai who belongs to a dominant caste. Kavin was murdered in Tirunelveli on July 27, 2025. Surjith, Subhashini’s younger brother, was arrested in connection with the murder. Later, police charged Surjith’s cousin Jayapal and his parents in the case.

Chandrasekar and Tamilselvi, staged a sit-in protest in front of their house in Arumugamangalam. They held a photograph of their son and said they would continue their protest until justice was delivered.

“Should my son have been killed merely because he loved a woman? As a mother, only I know how much I struggled to raise my son. We do not want another Kavin to become a victim of such an incident,” said Tamilselvi.

Questioning the court’s observation that there was insufficient evidence, Kavin’s father Chandrasekar said, “If there was no evidence, how were arrests made in the first place? Since the CBCID conducted the investigation, it should have been allowed to collect further evidence and continue the investigation. We want an explanation as to why the charges were quashed without allowing the investigation to be completed.”

“We respect the court’s verdict. At the same time, we want proper answers to our doubts and questions,” Chandrasekar said.

Meanwhile, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, urged the Tamil Nadu government to challenge the order before the Supreme Court and effectively pursue the case.

“The primary purpose of Section 528 of the BNSS is to determine whether a prima facie case exists against the accused or not,” R Murali, president of PUCL, said in a statement.

“To examine the evidence in depth and arrive at a conclusion is a function that falls within the jurisdiction of the trial court. The High Court undertaking such an exercise amounts to encroachment upon the jurisdiction of the trial court,” he said.

The PUCL also questioned the High Court’s assessment of the applicability of provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. And for not considering electronic evidence, including a recorded telephone conversation from seven years ago in which Saravanan allegedly threatened Kavin over the phone and warned him to end his relationship with his daughter.

The signboard, installed near the Karumeni river bridge, had the names and directions to places including Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur, Alwarthirunagari and Tirunelveli in Tamil, Hindi and English. After the inclusion of Hindi triggered criticism and gained attention on social media, the government said the use of Hindi on a State Highways Department signboard was contrary to Tamil Nadu's two-language policy. After the government's intervention, the Hindi lettering was removed immediately.

The assistant divisional engineer and assistant engineer associated with the installation of the signboard were placed under suspension, and departmental action has also been initiated against them. The government warned that stringent action would be taken against officials who act against the State's two-language policy.

The action came amid criticism from opposition parties, including DMK president MK Stalin, who questioned the inclusion of Hindi on a State government signboard.

Meanwhile, Highways minister Aadhav Arjuna said the two-language policy introduced under former Chief Minister Anna remained a permanent policy of the TVK government.

Explaining the government's position, Aadhav said the government had received information about the signboard installed under the Union government's road and infrastructure funding scheme, and the officials who acted against the State’s policies will face action.

"We will defeat the trilingual policy in whatever form it comes. We will uphold the bilingual policy forever," Aadhav said.

The decision was formalised through a Government Order issued by the Commercial Taxes and Registration Department on October 1, following an Assembly announcement on September 7. The order said the change was being implemented in view of the reduction in workload arising from the department’s reforms.

Under the arrangement, the 100 identified SR offices will function only on weekdays. Registration personnel at these offices will no longer be required to attend duty on Saturdays, enabling them to use the day for other official work.

The move forms part of a wider reform package aimed at making document registration faster and less dependent on physical visits to government offices. The department has announced 25 Model Registration Hubs, additional infrastructure for 25 high-volume SR offices, and rationalisation of office jurisdictions to distribute workload more evenly.

The reforms also include the phased expansion of presenceless registration and paperless registration for specified documents. The department has said the measures are intended to streamline services while reducing the administrative burden on registration officials.

The Government Order, issued after consideration of the Registration Department’s 2026-27 policy announcement and the views of the department head, said the Saturday-duty system at the 100 offices would be withdrawn from November 1.

The revised schedule will apply to the identified offices from that date thereafter.

In a symbolic gesture marking the launch, Vijay issued free tickets to women passengers on 76B, plying between Koyambedu and Kancheepuram, operated by TNSTC ( Villupuram), at the CMBT bus terminus.

The extended free ride covers Express, LSS and Deluxe government buses operating in urban and city areas, besides Mofussil Ordinary buses and Ghat Ordinary buses on hill routes exceeding 40 km.

The new extension builds on the existing ‘Vidiyal Payanam’ zero-fare travel scheme for women.

Under the scheme, women can travel free of cost in Ordinary Town buses operated by the seven state transport undertakings and Ordinary Ghat buses operating on routes of up to 40 km.

The scheme covers 7,537 Ordinary Town buses and 173 Ordinary Ghat buses.

During 2026-27, an average of 71.70 lakh women travelled daily under the existing free travel scheme.

Transport Minister Vijay Tamilan Parthiban said the scheme was aimed at ensuring that bus fares did not become a barrier to women’s education, employment, livelihood and economic progress.

Addressing the gathering, Parthiban said 12,695 buses out of the 18,413 buses operated by the seven state transport undertakings had been brought under the ‘Vetri Payanam’ scheme. Around 85 lakh women are expected to benefit from the scheme every day, he said.

He said the scheme would enable a student to travel towards education, a working woman towards employment and economic advancement, and a mother to meet the needs of her family.

For rural women, the scheme would provide access to new opportunities, while for self-employed women it would help connect their work with markets, he said.

Parthiban said the scheme was being launched on Gandhi Jayanti to give practical expression to the ideals of social justice and women’s advancement.

He said the scheme would open up pathways to new opportunities in the lives of women across Tamil Nadu.

More than 100 athletes from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) also gathered at the airport with banners and raised slogans to welcome the medallists.

The star of the lot was Vidya Ramraj, who won three medals - gold in 4x400m relay, silver in mixed 4x400m relay, and bronze in 400m hurdles. Among the rest were TK Vishal (bronze medals mixed 4x400m relay and 4x400m relay), Abinaya Rajarajan (bronze in 4x100m relay), Baranica Elangovan (bronze in pole vault), and G Kamalini (gold in cricket), and Hariharan Amsakarunan (bronze in badminton).

Speaking to the media, Vidya said the Indian contingent had gone to prove its capabilities against the highly skilled athletes from other Asian countries. The 28-year-old added that she hoped to surpass the achievements of legendary athlete PT Usha and win gold medals, inspiring more youngsters to take up sports.

Vishal recalled how he had visited the airport several times in the past as an athlete supported by SDAT, and was delighted to now return as a medallist.

Abinaya, who began training six years ago, said she had faced criticism from the people in her village who questioned how far a young woman could go in sports. Now, her achievements changed their perception and the same people are proud of her, she added.

Baranica described her pole vault medal as an achievement for India in the event, while Hariharan said it was a matter of pride to win a medal for the State and country.

Kamali, a member of the Indian women's cricket team that won gold, said consistent hard work and parental support could help athletes succeed.

On Friday, the State government organised a special reception for the medal winners at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, where Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna felicitated them. All the athletes thanked the Tamil Nadu government for its schemes to support sports over the years.

Around 3,000 students from 22 yoga and naturopathy colleges across Tamil Nadu participated in the event. Food stalls and exhibitions showcasing various treatment methods were also organised as part of the festival.

Justice Venkatesh said that vegetarianism was not merely a matter of food preference but also reflected a person’s relationship with other living beings. “Vegetarian food,” he opined, “offers peace of mind and a sense of satisfaction from knowing that one’s food had not come from the suffering of another living being. The link between vegetarian food and peace of mind is also supported by science, as food has a significant influence on a person’s thoughts and mental state. Food creates thoughts and food becomes the mind itself.”

Referring to changing food habits, he added that eating out had become part of contemporary culture. “While many people earlier consumed non-vegetarian food only once a week, often on Sundays, some now consumed it three times a day,” he said. “Thirukkural, Buddhism and Jainism emphasise on avoiding harm to living beings. Vegetarianism reflects the relationship people share with other living things.”

At the same time, Justice Venkatesh stressed that choosing a vegetarian diet should not be seen as a mark of superiority or as a reason to reject others. He also said the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung with devotion, describing the anthem as a representation of the identity of people born in Tamil Nadu.

The festival aimed to create awareness about vegetarian food, yoga, naturopathy and natural approaches to health and well-being.

Stalin's remarks came after Hindi lettering was found on a newly installed highway signboard on the Sathankulam–Nazareth State Highway (SH-93) in Thoothukudi district. The signboard, which carried place names in Tamil and English, also contained Hindi lettering.

Reacting to the development, Stalin referred to the signboards carrying Hindi letters and said Tamil Nadu had for decades faced attempts by the Union government to impose Hindi.

"Now, the State government itself is imposing Hindi. Is this the change they spoke about?" he asked.

He questioned whether the incident represented another instance of the TVK-led government making a U-turn after facing opposition from political parties and the public.

Stalin also criticised the functioning of the new government, describing it as a Reels government. He alleged that the administration was giving greater importance to social media publicity and claimed that it was attempting to cater to North Indian social media influencers.

He urged the government to focus on the concerns and policies affecting the people of Tamil Nadu instead of concentrating on social media narratives.

"Do not play with Tamil Nadu's two-language policy. It is the oxygen of Tamil Nadu," Stalin said.

Joshna Chinnappa, Shamina Riyas, Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh, who won bronze medals at the Asian Games.

He said the State government would give Rs 30 lakh each to the four players in recognition of their achievement.

The duo of Joshna and Senthilkumar lost (2-1) 11-10 2-11 11-10 after an intense three gamer at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena.

It is the sixth Asian Games medal for 40-year-old Joshna. She already has a haul of two silver and three bronze medals at the continental event.

With PTI inputs...

The welfare scheme’s name is derived from the ruling party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to mean “victorious journey” (Vettri payanam) for women.

The free travel was previously restricted to ordinary city buses and the government later announced to expand the scheme to include express, limited stop services and deluxe buses in corporation, municipal and town panchayats and hill areas across Tamil Nadu.

There’s no income limit or ceiling on the number for the beneficiaries to avail the daily services.

The expansion is expected to benefit about 8.4 million women daily, facilitating over 1.6 million one-way trips.

Accusing the TVK of “rebranding” the DMK initiative of ‘Vidiyal Payanam Thittam’, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said the core concept of free bus travel for women was originally introduced by the DMK government.

The agency registered the case based on an FIR filed by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Greater Chennai Police and initiated its investigation a few weeks ago, sources said, adding that the central agency would dig deep into the financial activities of the former minister, and his family members and friends.

The development comes days after Arasakumar was granted default bail by the Special Court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Chennai on Tuesday (September 29).

The court granted bail after the CCB failed to file its final report within the stipulated 90-day period.

The case originated from a complaint lodged by DC Elangovan, secretary of the Federation of Associations of Private Schools in Tamil Nadu.

He alleged that Arasakumar, who headed an unregistered organisation called the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, collected around Rs 100 crore from school managements by promising permanent recognition, upgradation, DTCP approvals and, other statutory clearances using his connections in the political and bureaucratic circles.

However, he failed to secure the promised approvals or return the money collected from school managements.

The agency registered the case based on an FIR filed by the CCB and initiated its investigation a few weeks ago, sources said, adding that it would dig deep into the financial activities of former minister, and his family members and friends

The CCB arrested Arasakumar on June 27 and detained him under the Goondas Act on July 13, which was quashed later.

On September 16, the CCB booked Anbil Mahesh under the Prevention of Corruption Act and conducted searches at premises linked to him and his aide in Chennai and Tiruchy, including the DMK leader’s residence in Thennur.

The agency subsequently conducted searches in Kallakurichi at locations linked to Muthukumar, another key accused who is absconding.

The ED's investigation is expected to focus on the alleged movement of funds and the possible proceeds of crime in the case.

In a statement, he said the five personnel — Superintendent of Police of Tiruvallur district V V Sai Praneeth, Tiruchy Special Branch Inspector J Raman, Vikravandi Sub-Inspector K Shanmugam, Thirupapuliyur Head Constable E Carounagarane of Cuddalore district, and Head Constable P Selvam of the Prohibition Enforcement Wing in Kallakurichi — would receive the Gandhi Adigal Police Medal during the ensuing Republic Day celebrations.

He said each award comes with a cash prize of Rs 40,000 and a medal.

A memorandum of understanding was recently signed by HWA general secretary Rajni Kant and IIT-M Dean (CSR) Prof Manu Santhanam in the presence of IIT-M Director Prof V Kamakoti, and project coordinators Prof M Manivannan and Prof John Augustine.

The collaboration will focus on digital authentication, product traceability, documentation, and technology-based interventions for GI-tagged products. The solutions are expected to help artisans and producer communities establish product authenticity, enhance consumer confidence, protect cultural identity, and access sustainable livelihood opportunities.

"Artisans form India's second-largest population; empowering them with technology can drive transformative impact," said Prof Manivannan, Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering.

Prof Augustine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, said buyers valued authenticity but lacked reliable means to verify it.
"Our goal is to build a shared trust infrastructure that lets anyone verify an artisan's identity and a product's origin, and thereby enable India to leapfrog on trust, and on the consumer engagement that follows from it," he said.

The initiative will be supported by IIT-M’s Artisan Empowerment Lab, which is developing innovative and scalable technological approaches to address challenges faced by artisans, producer groups and other stakeholders in the GI ecosystem.

HWA founder Rajni Kant, popularly known as the 'GI Man of India', said: "Millions of artisans, weavers, producers, farmers, and women will benefit in the long run once this project is scaled up nationally.”

The partnership will bring together researchers, artisans, farmers, producer communities, industry partners, government bodies and social-development organisations to develop practical models for authentication, traceability and sustainable growth of India's diverse craft and agricultural heritage.

Gujarat followed with 33,084 factories and Maharashtra with 27,379.

The survey estimated 2,66,931 factories and 2,09,96,913 total persons engaged across India in 2024-25, based on results from 86,547 surveyed units.

Its share of India's manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) also rose to 10.90% in 2024-25, from 10.26% the previous year. It stood at 10.33% in 2022-23. Maharashtra had the highest share of GVA at 15.92%, followed by Gujarat at 14.10%, placing Tamil Nadu third, at 10.9%.

The rise in GVA share came alongside an increase in Tamil Nadu's share of manufacturing output. It rose from 9.97% in 2022-23 to 10.11% in 2023-24 and 10.87% in 2024-25. Tamil Nadu was third on this measure too, behind Gujarat at 16.93% and Maharashtra at 14.36%.

However, in employment, Tamil Nadu remained the State with the highest share of total persons engaged in manufacturing, at 14.99% in 2024-25. But, this was down from 15.24% in the previous year.

Maharashtra accounted for 13.08%, Gujarat 12.99%, Uttar Pradesh 8.72% and Haryana 6.44%. Together, the five States accounted for more than 56% of India's total persons engaged in manufacturing.

Tamil Nadu also accounted for 12.77% of India's total manufacturing input consumption, behind Gujarat and Maharashtra. At the national level, Gujarat had the highest share of input consumption, followed by Maharashtra.

At the national level, the number of factories increased by 2.64%, while factories in operation rose 2.61%.

Fixed capital increased 10.54% and invested capital 11.10%. The number of workers increased 7.31% and total persons engaged rose to 7.19%. Wages to workers increased 13.03% and total emoluments 12.08%.

On the production side, India's manufacturing output grew 7.81%, while GVA grew 9.59%. Net Value Added increased 9.36%, net income 9.68% and net profit 7.73%.

Among industries, basic metals accounted for the largest share of manufacturing GVA at 11.58%, followed by motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers at 9.54%, chemicals and chemical products at 8.45%, pharmaceuticals at 8.08% and food products at 7.87%.

Together, the five industries accounted for about 45.5% of India's manufacturing GVA.

The move comes as the validity granted to 12,000 government vehicles expired on September 30. The government has also permitted the State Transport Authority (STA) and Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) to extend the registration validity annually, up to September 30, 2035, for government vehicles that have crossed 15 years but are yet to be scrapped and replaced.

The order issued by the Home (Transport-IV) Department on September 29 said the Transport and Road Safety Commissioner had identified around 40,296 vehicles whose registration validity would expire. The Commissioner had sought permission to extend their registration validity and allow manual processing of tax and fitness certificates wherever renewal through the Vahan portal was not possible.

Under the latest order, Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) have been authorised to manually collect taxes and grant or renew fitness certificates for vehicles requiring manual renewal from October 1.

The decision follows the Centre's 2023 notification introducing Rule 52A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, under which government-owned vehicles more than 15 years old were required to be scrapped. The registration certificates of such vehicles covered by government departments were also cancelled through the Vahan portal from April 1, 2023.

Tamil Nadu subsequently issued a series of extensions for such vehicles. In 2024, the government extended the registration validity of 6,247 out of 14,611 government and government undertaking vehicles. In September 2025, the validity of 12,000 vehicles belonging to government departments, State Transport Undertakings, and local bodies was extended up to September 30.

The latest order provides for annual manual extension of the registration certificates of government vehicles that cross 15 years and remain in service pending scrapping and replacement. Such extensions can be granted up to September 30, 2035.

The order covers vehicles belonging to government departments, government bodies, quasi-government bodies, government corporations and statutory boards.

For this, the department has directed all Chief Educational Officers (CEOs) to ensure that the details of all non-teaching staff working in sanctioned posts are uploaded and updated in the EMIS portal, ahead of the proposed transfer and promotion counselling.

The exercise assumes importance as compulsory transfers for employees who have served for more than three years in the same office or post, followed by voluntary transfers, district transfers, promotions and transfers on promotion, are proposed to be conducted through the EMIS portal.

According to the proceedings, several staff records were found to be missing even after an earlier deadline of September 25 for uploading the details.

The department also noted instances where the number of employees shown in EMIS was higher than the number of sanctioned posts or staff actually working in certain posts.

For instance, the department pointed out that posts such as Personal Assistant to CEO (HSS and HS) and Personal Assistant to DEO belong to different services.

However, in some districts, five, six or seven employees had been recorded against the PA to DEO post in EMIS, indicating discrepancies in the data.

CEOs have been told to verify details of all office staff and ensure that every employee working against a sanctioned post is brought into EMIS database

The department has therefore instructed CEOs to verify the details of all office staff, from PA to DEO to watchman, and ensure that every employee working against a sanctioned post is brought into the EMIS database.

The department has stressed that there should be no delay in completing the exercise as the upcoming transfer and promotion processes will be carried out through the EMIS portal.

“This Court is not inclined to disrupt the relationship arising out of the ceremony undergone by the petitioner with J Arun Kumar. However, this Court is inclined to grant them a period of 60 days from the date of the order to regularise their relationship by solemnising a valid marriage under any of the applicable statutory forms, namely, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954,” Justice C Saravanan said.

The petitioner, K Pavithra Ketheeswaran, a Sri Lankan national, arrived in India on May 14, 2026, on a tourist e-visa valid for one month, until June 13. The counsel for the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) submitted that she had overstayed her visa and should be deported.

However, her counsel informed the court that she was eight weeks pregnant and required treatment at a government hospital as she and her husband could not afford treatment at a private hospital.

The petitioner and Arun Kumar had undergone a marriage ceremony on June 4 in the presence of his family members at Konnaikudi village in Lalgudi taluk, Tiruchirappalli district. Her counsel submitted that the marriage could be registered under Sections 15 and 16 of the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

The court had earlier directed the Medical Officer of the Government Primary Health Centre, Anbil, to admit the petitioner for pregnancy-related treatment and submit a report. The report dated September 28 confirmed her pregnancy and stated that her expected date of delivery was March 2, 2027.

After examining the medical report, Justice Saravanan observed that several complications had arisen as the petitioner had breached the conditions of the tourist visa.

The court also observed that the ceremony undergone by the petitioner and Arun Kumar on June 4 did not, strictly speaking, amount to any recognised form of marriage ceremony.

However, the court granted the couple 60 days from September 30 to regularise their relationship by solemnising a valid marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act, the Indian Christian Marriage Act or the Special Marriage Act.

The court ordered that the petitioner should not be deported during the 60 days. If the marriage is solemnised and registered within this period, she can continue to stay in India, subject to applicable law.

The court also directed the medical officer to provide her with necessary medical assistance whenever required.

The system, made mandatory from August 17 for the first sale of plots and flats, enables people to submit documents online from anywhere and at any time. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay introduced the system, which has received a positive response from the public, construction companies and land developers.

Following the response, the department made the system mandatory from September 15 for the registration of Deposit of Title Deeds and Receipt Deeds involving banks and financial institutions.

The initiative provides a legally secure registration process and allows applicants to submit documents at their convenience, including on holidays and after working hours. It also facilitates online payment and permits sale and bank-loan documents to be submitted together.

Applicants can review draft documents online, make corrections and submit them after verification. Aadhaar authentication is also integrated into the registration process.

Between August 17 and September 30, 1,00,134 documents were registered under the system, the department said in a statement. It estimated that the initiative had helped save time and avoidable expenses for nearly five lakh people.

The department said the system would be gradually extended to other categories of documents. Software modifications are also being carried out continuously based on suggestions and feedback from the public, construction companies, banks and financial institutions.

On September 29, the SIU team headed by the DSP Charles searched the houses of the persons identified as Zakir Hussain (50), a resident of SNM Nagar near Keezhavasal; his brother Abdul (49), J Yasar Abdul (25), his brother Umar Mukthar (29) from the Cauvery Nagar near Keezhavasal; his brother Yasal Abdul, N Samsudeen (27), a resident of Ramasamy Pettai; and A Sheik Fareed (38), a resident from Rahman Nagar in Keezhavasal.

The team had reportedly seized more than 20 books, mobile phones, laptops and pen drives.

The investigations found that the persons had been involved in brainwashing youth to join the Khilafat movement.

Subsequently, the Thanjavur East police registered a case under four sections and arrested all six persons.

On information about the arrest, the relatives of the arrested persons assembled in front of the police station and police security has been intensified around the police station premises.

Rejecting the argument that the liquor trade could not be discontinued because it generates up to Rs 60,000 crore annually for the State, he claimed that the government spends Rs 1.08 lakh crore on alcohol-related health problems, while the wider public impact was estimated at Rs 72,000 crore.

He claimed that Tamil Nadu had the highest number of young widows, road accidents and suicides in the country, and alleged that alcohol was a major factor behind these problems. He also cited studies to claim that alcohol was a major cause of domestic violence targeting women.

Anbumani said alcohol consumption was linked to seven types of cancer, heart disease, hepatitis and around 200 diseases. He claimed that more than two lakh people die annually in the State due to alcohol consumption and that nearly 70% of them were primary earners, leaving their families without livelihood. He further claimed that 54 lakh people in the State currently required treatment for alcohol addiction.

He said more than 85% of families of alcohol dependent persons were burdened with debt and warned that continued addiction across generations could make the problem increasingly difficult to address.

Anbumani added that Mahatma Gandhi had strongly advocated a liquor-free India and described alcohol related problems as one of the biggest threats facing Tamil Nadu, citing their social, health and economic impact.

While political parties have stepped up their campaigns, several voters DT Next spoke to expressed little enthusiasm for the contest. Some questioned the need for another election, while others said they were yet to decide whom to support.

A journey from Kilambakkam to Madurantakam highlighted one of the constituency's recurring civic concerns—public transport. Passengers said they often face difficulties boarding certain express buses, with some conductors allegedly refusing to allow them to board unless they purchase tickets up to the next major stop, Melmaruvathur.

Residents said the issue raises questions over access to intercity public transport in Madurantakam, despite its proximity to Chennai.

Political activity, meanwhile, was visible along the route, with vans carrying flags of various parties ferrying workers and supporters to meetings and campaign programmes. However, locals said a sizeable portion of the crowds at such events came from outside the constituency and, in some cases, from other districts.

This has made campaign crowds an unreliable indicator of the actual support parties enjoy among local voters.

Another major concern emerged at the bus stop on the bypass along the Chennai-Trichy National Highway, near the historic Madurantakam Lake. The bus stop does not appear to have a dedicated space for buses to move away from the main carriageway while picking up or dropping passengers.

Instead, buses stop along the highway, leaving passengers close to fast-moving traffic. Those getting down have to cross the busy highway to reach Madurantakam town, with no elevated pedestrian crossing at the stretch.

The arrangement has raised safety concerns, particularly for elderly passengers, children and those carrying luggage. A flower seller operating along the highway told DT Next that accidents are common there.

"People we know, friends and relatives, have been involved in accidents here, suffering fractures and, in some cases, losing their lives. It has become almost a daily occurrence. Even police personnel are not regularly present here to regulate traffic and help pedestrians cross the road," she alleged.

In Madurantakam town, the Arignar Anna Bus Stand is used primarily by town buses. Commuters said most Chennai-bound buses do not enter the town, despite a sizeable section of the population depending on Chennai for employment and other livelihood needs.

As a result, residents must rely on buses that stop along the highway, adding to the difficulties faced by daily commuters.

These transport concerns are especially significant given the constituency's changing character. Madurantakam has a mix of rural villages, established towns and increasingly urbanised areas, with Melmaruvathur and Achcharapakkam among the important semi-urban centres. Its proximity to Chennai and its location along the NH corridor have strengthened its links with the metropolitan region.

Water and agriculture remain other key concerns. The Madurantakam Lake, the largest artificial lake in Chengalpattu district and the second-largest in Tamil Nadu, spans roughly 2,400 acres and was built by Uttama Chola.

Farmers, however, say silt accumulation continues to affect the lake. Farmer Ramesh claimed that nearly 10 feet of silt had accumulated in parts of the lake over the years.

He alleged that although the government sanctioned more than Rs 120 crore and undertook works over three years from 2022, it had not completely removed the silt deposited inside the lake. "Speed was shown in works such as strengthening the bunds and modernising the sluices, but the same attention was not given to deepening the water-holding area," he said.

The lake's condition remains important for farmers dependent on irrigation, as well as the constituency's wider water ecology.

Madurantakam, reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, has largely remained a contest between the two major Dravidian parties, the DMK and AIADMK. Congress has won the seat only twice so far.

The constituency has a sizeable Scheduled Caste population, while areas such as Muthuvankani and Achcharapakkam also have a significant Vanniyar presence. The PMK's absence from the bypoll has consequently become a talking point, particularly amid recent speculation about a possible political understanding between the PMK and TVK.

TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel appears to have an established personal presence in the constituency. During interactions in the area, several residents appeared familiar with her, giving her campaign a local face beyond the party's wider political appeal.

For the DMK, Parandhamen is contesting after having represented the Egmore constituency in Chennai in the previous Assembly election. Though he has now been fielded in Madurantakam, some residents and local political observers view him as an outsider and question his ability to establish a strong connection with the constituency's electorate.

AIADMK candidate Kanitha Sampath is seeking to regain political space in a constituency where she was previously considered an influential local figure. Her campaign has gained importance as she seeks to rebuild her position in the local political landscape.

The CPM's Sugandhi is also campaigning actively, with party leaders, including state secretary Shanmugam, visiting the constituency.

Total votes: 1,98,251

2026 results:

AIADMK: 69,284 votes

TVK: 62,090 votes

DMK: 59,838 votes

On September 30, upon receiving information that sand was being smuggled, a police team headed by SSI Muthuvel from the Melattur area went to Kodukili village in Thanjavur district.

A gang was reportedly trying to smuggle river sand in a tractor in Kodukili village, according to the police. When SSI Muthuvel tried to prevent them, the gang had reportedly attempted to murder him by running the tractor over him. Fortunately, Muthuvel's teammate Raman came to his rescue and saved him from the gang. Muthuvel has been undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Thanjavur, the police said.

The Melattur police registered a case. The police conducted an investigation and on Friday arrested G Ramalingam (67), a resident of Kodukili; S Baskar (51), a resident of the same village; and a 17-year-old boy who was driving the tractor during the murder attempt.

The Melattur police are also searching for the tractor owner, S Kumar (50), a resident of Aryapuram in Thanjavur, in connection with the case. Further investigations are under way.

“The life of a youth cannot be laid to waste because of his brother’s love story, that turned ugly at a later stage,” the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed while dismissing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) against a single judge’s order in favour of a police aspirant.

The Division Bench of Justices M Dhandapani and N Dileep Kumar held that no material established that the petitioner, P Manikandan, knowingly suppressed his involvement in a criminal case while applying for recruitment as a sub-inspector of police.

“The present case also brings into sharp focus a larger issue concerning the future and livelihood of the younger generation. A criminal case may commence with the registration of an FIR on the basis of an allegation, but the registration of an FIR by itself cannot be treated as proof of guilt or as a conclusive determination of the character and suitability of the person against whom such allegation is made,” the judges observed.

Upon completing the investigation, the local police station found that the petitioner was not involved and deleted his name from the array of accused. But the delay cost the youth a polic job.

The TNUSRB issued a notification on March 8, 2022, for recruitment to various posts, including that of sub-inspector of police. Manikandan cleared the written examination, certificate verification, physical measurement test, endurance test, physical efficiency test and viva voce.

But his candidature was rejected after the department alleged that he had suppressed his involvement in a criminal case, crime no. 32 of 2022, registered at Dhalavaipuram police station in Virudhunagar district.

However, the DSP of Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar district, after completing the investigation, filed a final report on April 29, 2022, exonerating Manikandan from the charges, and since he was staying in Chennai and preparing for his exams, he had no knowledge about the registration of the criminal case against him, the court noted.

The judges further observed that the objective should not merely be to determine whether a person was technically involved in a pending criminal case, but to ensure that a young citizen who had not been found guilty was given a fair opportunity to build his life and participate meaningfully in society.

The law must protect the legitimate interests of public administration while preventing the criminal process, particularly a prolonged or ultimately unfounded criminal proceeding, from becoming an instrument that permanently destroys the career, livelihood and future prospects of the youth, the court said.

The measures, announced in the latest Budget session by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister Ramesh, have been implemented through amendments to the Hindu Religious Institutions Employees (Conditions of Service) Rules, 2020.

They were among several measures announced for the department, covering temple renovations, restoration of 1,000-year-old temples, conservation of dilapidated temples without altering their heritage character, repair of temple chariots, rejuvenation of temple tanks, improvement of basic amenities for devotees, development of educational institutions, expansion of the Annadhanam scheme and employee welfare.

Under the amended rules, retiring temple employees can surrender earned leave for up to 240 days and receive the corresponding monetary benefit, bringing the provision on a par with that available to government employees.

Women employees working in temples will now be entitled to 12 months of maternity leave, up from the existing nine months, also on par with government employees.

The department said the measures were intended to improve the service conditions, family welfare and social security of temple employees and would benefit personnel working in temples across the State.

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik on Thursday said that as per the commission's guidelines, a special drive would be undertaken across Tamil Nadu.

"The ECI has directed that in States and Union Territories where the SIR process has already been completed, a special drive shall be undertaken by the Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)," she said.

During the drive, people whose names were missing from the electoral rolls, including young and first-time eligible voters, can apply for inclusion.

The CEO also clarified that applicants need not attach the declaration form used during the SIR process and can submit applications with valid documents. Applications can also be made for corrections in names and addresses.

The SIR exercise in Tamil Nadu had resulted in 97.37 lakh names being removed from the draft electoral roll. The draft roll, released on December 19, 2025, had 5.43 crore electors, compared with 6.41 crore before the revision.

According to the data released by the ECI, 66.44 lakh voters were categorised as shifted or absent, 26.94 lakh were identified as deceased and around 3.9 lakh were found to be enrolled at multiple places.

The exercise subsequently triggered political debate in Tamil Nadu. Minister and ruling party functionary Rajmohan claimed that the ruling party would have secured a majority in the Assembly if the SIR had not been implemented.

VCK leader D Ravikumar also attributed the DMK's electoral performance to the SIR process. These were political claims and have been disputed in the wider debate over the revision.

Voter S Kanthimathinathan filed an election petition before the Madras High Court seeking to declare Esakki Subaya's election invalid.

Justice PB Balaji heard the petition and refused to reject it, dismissing Esakki Subaya's plea.

However, accepting Esakki Subaya's request, the court directed that certain paragraphs containing allegations be struck off from the election petition.

Esakki Subaya, who contested the recent Assembly election from the Ambasamudram constituency on behalf of the AIADMK, defeated his Congress rival VP Durai by a margin of 10,245 votes.

He later resigned as MLA and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Subsequently, Esakki Subaya filed a petition seeking dismissal of the election petition filed against him.

The officials were alerted about a stolen metal idol of Thirugnanasambandar being transported near Vandiyur, after which the Idol Wing personnel conducted surveillance near Madurai-Tirumangalam four-way junction.

Around 2 am on Tuesday (September 29), the police team intercepted an SUV.

When they checked the vehicle, they found an antique metal idol of Thirugnanasambandar, measuring approximately 3 feet in height and weighing 52.180 kg.

Officials said the idol belongs to the 15th century and Vijayanagara period, and is estimated to be valued at approximately Rs 1 crore.

The occupants in the car, S Jeyavelan (48), M Pandiyarajan (37) and J Akbar (52) from Madurai, were arrested and produced before a magistrate, who sent them in judicial remand until October 13.

D Jeyakumar, inspector, Idol Wing CID, Madurai Range, has been nominated as the investigating officer in the case.

Further investigation is in progress to ascertain the origin and provenance of the idol, identify the temple from which it was stolen, and trace the other persons involved in the idol smuggling network, an official statement said.

State police chief DGP Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and ADGP D Kalpana Nayak, who heads the Idol Wing CID, appreciated the efforts of the team.

Seva Trust had approached the court seeking formulation of the SOP in accordance with animal welfare and safety standards, based on its representation dated July 29, 2026.

People For Cattle In India (PFCI) and Suparna Ganguly had sought to be impleaded as party respondents and also sought directions to refer the proposed inter-state transfer and transportation of five captive elephants Durga, Hiralal, Shiva, Rupsing and Bijuli from Assam to Tamil Nadu to the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted under the directions of the Supreme Court. They also sought to restrain their transportation pending the HPC's decision.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan dismissed the impleadment pleas filed by PFCI and Suparna Ganguly, observing that the Seva Trust petition was limited to formulating a policy/SOP for the regulated participation of temple elephants in religious ceremonies. The bench held that PFCI and Suparna Ganguly were not necessary parties to the proceedings.

The court said elephants have a significant place in the State's cultural, historical, and religious traditions, but the use of captive animals in religious ceremonies must comply with constitutional values, statutory safeguards, and Article 51A(g) of the Constitution.

The court directed the constitution of a Joint Working Group comprising the Chief Wildlife Warden, the Commissioner of HR&CE and expert veterinary officers to draft a State-wide SOP.

The bench also clarified that the applicants could pursue independent statutory or judicial remedies before the appropriate forum. The State government and officials were directed to place the draft SOP on record within four weeks.