Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay opened the sluice gates of the reservoir on September 1 to facilitate samba cultivation

The water release is expected to continue for 45 days, until October 15. The discharge was initially fixed at 3,000 cusecs and was subsequently increased to 7,000 cusecs. With the demand for irrigation water increasing, the discharge was raised further to 10,000 cusecs from Sunday evening.

As of Sunday, the water level in the Mettur Dam stood at 92.39 feet, while the inflow into the reservoir was recorded at 9,709 cusecs. The water released from the dam is expected to benefit nearly 16 lakh acres of farmland across 13 Delta districts.

The girl, K Kaviksha, studying Class 3 at Panchayat Union Primary School in Kuppichipalayam, suffered a fracture in her leg while playing at the school on August 24.

"Two days later, she was taken to a private hospital in Paramathi Velur, where she was treated with a plaster cast. However, the condition of the girl deteriorated, and she was taken to two other private hospitals in Paramathi Velur and Namakkal, where doctors, upon examination, informed the family that the condition of the girl’s leg had deteriorated severely,” police said.

The girl’s parents, Kannan, who runs a fish stall and Kavya of Poyyeri near Paramathi Velur, then admitted her to the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry on August 30.

The girl’s right leg was amputated up to the knee, and despite treatment, she died on Sunday.

Following the girl’s death, parents and relatives gathered outside the private hospital in Paramathi Velur and staged a protest claiming that improper treatment led to her death.

As there was no response from the hospital, the protesters placed the girl’s body on the Paramathi Velur-Namakkal Road and resorted to a roadblock. They then shifted the protest to the Karur-Namakkal bypass road.

Namakkal SP Yadav Girish Ashok and other police officials reached the spot and held talks and persuaded the protesters to withdraw the agitation.

Subsequently, the girl’s body was sent to Namakkal GMCH for post-mortem. In a further development, the police summoned the doctor from the private hospital and questioned him. Further inquiries are under way.

Rajmohan, who underwent two days of scuba-diving training in Chennai, entered the sea with the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) Director VP Jeyaseelan, and observed work in waters about 10 metres deep.

He interacted with the archaeology team and divers.

Adviser to TNSDA Prof K Rajan, Joint Director R Sivanantham and other officials were among those present. A team of about 25 personnel, equipped with diving gear and cameras, is involved in the operation.

The department, in collaboration with the Indian Maritime University, had conducted two phases of exploration in 2025 and in March this year. The latest phase will continue for 20 days.

Poompuhar, or Kaveripoompattinam, is identified by the TNSDA as an ancient port city of the Sangam period at the confluence of the Cauvery and the sea. Earlier underwater investigations have documented structural remains and artefacts.

“I am happy to have personally participated in the exploration and seen ancient Poompuhar beneath the sea,” Rajmohan said.

Rajmohan’s dive is notable among political visits to submerged heritage sites. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had scuba-dived off Dwarka in Gujarat in February 2024, visiting the submerged site associated with the ancient city.

The consultation, titled "A Decade of Implementation and the Way Forward, " was conducted with Justice G Jayachandran, chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) Committee. Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice S Srimathy, members of the committee, also participated in the deliberations.

The programme brought together representatives from the judiciary, senior government departments, police leadership, Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units (DCPUs), child care institutions and organisations working in the field of child rights.

Participants reviewed the progress made in implementing the JJ Act and discussed measures required to make child protection mechanisms more effective, accessible and accountable. Reflections on the Act's functioning during the last ten years were also shared during the consultation, along with recommendations for the next decade.

As one of the participants, Andrew Jesuraj, a child rights activist, said, "A major focus was placed on preventing children from entering vulnerable situations through early identification and timely intervention. Strengthening the functioning of CWCs, JJBs and child care institutions was identified as another key priority."

The discussions also highlighted the need to support families and reduce avoidable institutionalisation by expanding adoption, foster care and other family-based care options. Greater attention was sought for children with disabilities and special needs.

With children increasingly exposed to risks online, participants stressed the importance of strengthening safeguards against digital exploitation and emerging forms of abuse. Better coordination among child protection agencies, police, healthcare, education and social welfare departments was also emphasised.

The consultation further underlined the importance of involving children meaningfully in decisions affecting them and strengthening professional social work services.

Speakers noted that effective implementation, accountability and responsive institutions are essential for translating the objectives of the JJ Act into tangible improvements in children's safety, dignity, development and long-term well-being.

The VCK chief, along with the State Social Welfare Minister Vanni Arasu, met the Union minister on Sunday and submitted a detailed memorandum seeking Rs 466.33 crore in central assistance for various tribal welfare schemes in Tamil Nadu. He defended meeting the BJP leader hailing from Odisha, despite his staunch opposition to the saffron party, saying that meeting people for the benefit of Tamil Nadu's people isn't wrong.

Meanwhile, in response to statements positioning Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate, the VCK president said it should not be construed as the party’s official position.

Thirumavalavan said that some TVK leaders and ministers may have expressed such views out of personal enthusiasm, but their remarks should not be taken as the party’s stand.

“Why should we discuss the prime ministerial candidate now when the next Lok Sabha election is due only in 2029? Some North Indian media organisations have unnecessarily included Vijay in the race for Prime Minister, perhaps for political reasons. This does not mean that the TVK is opposed to the Congress,” he said.

Thirumavalavan said the VCK would participate in the TVK’s second post-poll electoral meeting to be chaired by Vijay on September 9. On the law-and-order situation in the State, he said it was currently good but stressed that sustained efforts were necessary to maintain peace and security, regardless of which party was in power.

Thirumavalavan said a special law to prevent honour killings would be enacted based on the recommendations of the Justice KN Basha Committee. He said the committee had sought a nine-month extension to submit its report and expressed confidence that the recommendations would form the basis for appropriate legislation.

He also called for constructive debates in the Assembly and Parliament, saying discussions should focus on issues affecting the people rather than degenerating into confrontation. The VCK leader also criticised organisations that were promoting religious ideas under the guise of teaching yoga. “While we are committed to secular principles, religious ideas should not be promoted through such activities, as this could affect social unity,” he said.

Addressing an IUML meeting in Tiruvannamalai, the Vaniyambadi MLA alleged that two muftis approached them after the Assembly elections with cash and a letterhead, asking them to pick ministerial portfolios.

“They came looking for Shahjahan and me, brought crores of rupees and said they would give us ministerial posts if we signed. We are not people who bow to crores; we stand by our principles,” Basha said, adding they were specifically offered the Local Administration and Transport portfolios.
“We told them Allah is the one who can give us a position. We were not prepared to compromise our principles for their posts and sent them away,” he said.

Shahjahan was subsequently inducted into the Vijay cabinet, while the party leadership had also sought a cabinet position for Basha.

Basha’s remarks have triggered an intense war of words between the DMK and TVK on social media, with the IT wings of both parties accusing each other of making the offer.

Meanwhile, maximum temperatures in north interior Tamil Nadu are expected to remain 2 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal until September 10.

On Monday (September 7), thunderstorms and lightning with gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km per hour are likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.

Isolated areas along the Western Ghats are expected to experience moderate rain with thunderstorms.

Additionally, light to moderate rains with thunderstorms are expected at isolated places in North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on September 10.

For Chennai, Monday's maximum temperature will hover around 37 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature will drop to 26 degrees Celsius.

Some areas in the city are likely to receive light rain with thunderstorms and lightning during the evening and night.

In a statement, the Vriddhachalam MLA said harvested paddy was lying along roadsides and in open spaces in several districts, including Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur, as direct procurement had not been undertaken adequately.

With the onset of the monsoon, the exposed grain could get soaked, germinate or rot, she said. Premallatha also claimed that recent rains had completely damaged paddy crops in parts of Tiruvarur district and sought immediate compensation and relief for affected farmers.

She demanded temporary protective measures for stocks awaiting procurement and urged the government to ensure that farmers were paid without delay upon purchase of their produce.

"Protecting the livelihood of farmers and not disregarding their hard work is the government's primary responsibility," she said.

Premallatha said farmers who had invested their labour and money in cultivation were facing severe financial losses and urged the government to act on a war footing to prevent further damage.

She also stressed the need for timely procurement and proper storage arrangements to ensure that harvested paddy did not go to waste.

The DMDK leader called upon the State government to address the issue without further delay and provide adequate relief to farmers whose standing crops had been damaged by the rains.

Under the latest instructions, the LT billing software will identify domestic consumers who used more than 500 units in July or August 2026. If the bill for September or October is 20% higher than the previous one, bill generation will be blocked and the service will be flagged for re-verification.

Officials have been instructed to complete the verification within three working days of the meter reading. The rank of the officer assigned to verify a case will depend on the excess bill amount.

Cases involving an increase of less than Rs 1,000 will be verified by an inspector of assessment or revenue supervisor. Those involving an increase of Rs 1,001 to Rs 2,000 will be checked by an assistant superintendent of the Revenue branch.

An assistant treasury officer will handle cases involving an increase of Rs 2,001 to Rs 5,000, while an assistant accounts officer will verify cases involving an increase of Rs 5,001 to Rs 10,000. Cases involving an increase of more than Rs 10,000 will be verified by an assistant executive engineer of the sub-division.

If a wrong meter reading is detected during verification, the bill will be reassessed through the deletion process on the same day or the next working day. If the meter reading tallies with the reading recorded by the assessor, the service will be cleared and the bill generated.

Consumers who dispute the consumption recorded during re-verification can seek meter downloading through CMRI data by the MRT wing. They will, however, have to pay the bill before the due date. Any subsequent revision will be carried out as per the existing procedure, with excess payment adjusted in the subsequent bill.

The circular also provides for disciplinary action against assessors or inspectors of assessment if incorrect readings are detected during re-verification.

The new mechanism will not apply to readings captured automatically through the mobile application using cable or Bluetooth, as these readings are recorded without manual intervention.

To monitor the process, the TNPDCL has introduced a services blocked report in its LT billing software. The report will track blocked services, verification status, updates and remarks.

The entire process, including physical re-verification, update of records and revision of bills, has to be completed within three working days. Assistant executive engineers and executive engineers have been instructed to closely monitor the exercise and fix responsibility for any lapses.

The session comes in the backdrop of recent demands by senior leader C Ve Shanmugam and his supporters urging the leadership to convene the party's highest decision-making body to address pressing internal matters, including the election defeat.

During the meeting, Palaniswami brought together key district functionaries to review ongoing field initiatives and organisational expansion.

Alongside the discussions on convening the General Council (GC), Palaniswami issued directives on organising statewide celebrations for the 118th birth anniversary of Dravidian icon "Perarignar Anna", the then late Chief Minister C N Annadurai.

A release issued by the AIADMK headquarters said the strategy session took place at party headquarters with the explicit approval of the general secretary.

Further announcements regarding the finalised schedule and venue for the GC meeting are expected to be communicated to party members shortly sources added.

Speaking to reporters here, the minister said, "We'll give a name, as our alliance partners are requesting it. We need to have an identity and build on it."

Addressing recent criticisms from the Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin regarding law and order, Arunraj assured that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would deliver a comprehensive reply in the Assembly.

"Our honorable CM will definitely answer all these questions and will also answer to the people," he said, dismissing the opposition's remarks as an attempt to "score some brownie points" using "few punch dialogues" that were "totally disconnected with the feelings of the people".

The minister countered the DMK's allegations by pointing to their previous tenure, asserting that "one of the main reasons why the DMK lost is because of their improper and very poor handling of law and order situation".

He noted that the previous administration "couldn't even appoint a regular DGP," contrasting it with the current government's swift appointment of a police chief, the establishment of a special task force for women's safety, and proactive measures to tackle the "drug menace".

On the infrastructure front, Arunraj provided an update on the proposed second airport for the city. "We are in the process of finding an alternative site. So, definitely we are not against the second Greenfield Airport for Chennai," he said.

He emphasised that the government was only opposed to the previous "choice of location and the due process not being followed in the selection of that site".

Additionally, the minister said the CM Vijay's upcoming official trip to London, stating it is "going to attract investments, including in sports infrastructure to give a fillip to sports facilities here".

Sasikala, a Scheduled Caste (SC) cleanliness worker from Ambur village in Melur taluk, allegedly consumed poison and is undergoing intensive treatment at the Melur Government Hospital.

Social and Dalit organisations have demanded immediate action against those accused of intimidating her.

Sasikala had been working at Kambur panchayat under the Kottampatti panchayat union for the past eight years.

In a petition submitted to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and other authorities, she alleged that panchayat secretary Rupa had subjected her and other SC workers to discriminatory treatment after taking charge on July 17.

According to the petition, Sasikala alleged that the secretary had directed that sanitation work in areas predominantly inhabited by members of the SC community should be carried out only by SC workers, while workers from other communities would not be assigned there.

She also alleged that she was subjected to caste-based abuse and was forced to pick up and carry her slippers with her hands.

She further alleged that SC workers were prevented from using tumblers provided at the office for drinking tea and were instructed to use separate paper cups, amounting to a continuation of the double-tumbler practice.

The workers had subsequently lodged complaints with the district administration, police and rural development authorities, alleging abuse of authority, caste discrimination and human rights violations.

Following Sasikala's complaint, an FIR was registered against the panchayat secretary under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Kottampatti Police Station.

However, Sasikala allegedly came under pressure from local leaders and others to withdraw the case. Distressed, she allegedly attempted suicide.

The case has triggered fresh demands from Dalit and social organisations for action against those allegedly responsible for threatening Sasikala and for a thorough investigation into the allegations of caste discrimination at the panchayat.

Stalin took exception to the Centre's decision to record caste details through an open-ended format without a predetermined drop-down list or standardised menu, describing the move as disappointing.

He rejected the Centre's explanation that the entries in the OBC list represented classes rather than castes.

He said the Centre should consult state governments, obtain and compile the lists of castes covered under the backward and most backward categories in each state, and provide respondents the option to select their caste from the relevant list.

Allowing people to enter caste names on their own, he argued, could create confusion and potentially produce an erroneous figure suggesting that India has 46 lakh castes.

"The very purpose of a caste Census is to ascertain the actual population of OBC communities and their educational, social and economic status," Stalin said in a statement, adding that reliable data was essential for framing reservation policies and welfare schemes aimed at their advancement.

He warned that continuing with the present methodology could render the estimated Rs 12,000 crore expenditure on the Census and the efforts of lakhs of government employees futile, turning the exercise into a mere eyewash.

Stalin urged the Centre to immediately take corrective measures rather than attempt to justify what he described as a flawed approach.

On behalf of the DMK, he sought protection of the social justice rights of backward and most backward communities.

He also called on the Tamil Nadu government to adopt a special resolution during the ongoing Assembly session and exert pressure on the Centre to address the issue.

The accident happened late on Friday night when a car carrying eight people, including students of an engineering College from Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu hit the rear of a parked lorry on the highway at Panambikkunnu in Kaipamangalam.

Speaking to reporters here, the Tourism Minister said that it was a sorrowful incident.

"This is a very sorrowful incident for me. The (Keralam) government intervened, conducted the post-mortem here and handed over the bodies. The Tamil Nadu government has been informed," he said.

As the TN Assembly is currently in session, details of the incident and the government's next steps for the affected families would be reported in the House on Monday, he said.

Asked whether compensation would be announced by the Tamil Nadu government, Kumar said a decision would be taken after gathering details about the victims and the circumstances of the accident.

"In the case of such an accident, how they came here, how it happened, after gathering all this information, the government will definitely take action," he said.

Asked about the lack of warning boards and poor maintenance on the National Highway, where road work is under way, Kumar said several works were being carried out in coordination with the National Highway authorities.

"Road work is ongoing here as well. Our wish is that such incidents should never happen," he said.

"Regarding this incident where lives were lost, we are expressing our sorrow. Either way, they are students from our Tamil Nadu. So, for everyone, as the Tourism minister, we express our deep condolences to all the families," he added.

“We have faced several such cases levelled against us by several Chief Ministers, including late CM J Jayalalithaa, and proved innocent every time, and this time too, we will prove it,” he stressed.

He said the charges of tender irregularities were false and that he would prove his innocence in court. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition linked it to a direct response to questioning the ruling TVK government in the Assembly. Upset over executing the duty of an opposition party, they are trying to silence us by using the DVAC, he alleged.

Speaking to reporters after the raids, Nehru said DVAC sleuths searched his house, that of his brother and the premises of people associated with him in connection with what he termed a fabricated case.

“The team took the usual records related to his accounts and those of his brother and got our signature for the documents and left the place. We gave full support to the team during the DVAC raids and our party president MK Stalin also asked us to extend full support to the raids,” Nehru said.

Nehru said the sleuths did not question him about cases that were already under investigation. Maintaining that he had done nothing wrong, he said he would face any charges legally and prove himself innocent in court.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Left parties’ coordination committee, Shanmugam said the CPI and CPM were yet to discuss the invitation extended by TVK to parties supporting the government and those in the alliance.

“The respective party committees will meet and take a decision. We will certainly announce our decision before September 9,” he said.

Shanmugam said TVK had made a fresh attempt to bring together parties supporting the government and form an alliance. Unlike the earlier meeting, which the Left parties did not attend, the ministers who met the two parties' state secretaries on Friday clearly explained the objective of the September 9 meeting.

Meanwhile, Shanmugam announced that the Left parties would hold a massive workers’ rally in Tiruchy on October 15. The rally, earlier scheduled for October 6, was postponed due to unavoidable reasons. The national general secretaries of the three Left parties are expected to participate.

The rally will be held under the slogan “Tamil Nadu towards the Left”, Shanmugam said. He said the objective was to strengthen Left ideology across Tamil Nadu and mobilise people in support of Left politics.

He said the rally would focus on the aspirations and demands of working people and oppose economic inequality, caste discrimination and various forms of oppression. A statewide campaign for the rally will begin on Sunday, with the Left parties planning to take their message and demands to villages, towns and households.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the Left parties had begun a separate political journey through the coordination committee and would join hands with democratic forces to defeat the BJP when circumstances required.

“We support good schemes and governance, but oppose those against the public without compromise. Our voice will always be on the side of workers, the poor and the weaker sections,” he said.

Tagore made the remarks while speaking to reporters after interacting with the visiting TVK ministers N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai.

Despite sources in Congress saying that Saturday's meeting was held in a less-than-cordial atmosphere, with the leaders remaining silent for most of the time, Tagore said that the PM candidate conflict with the TVK was a matter of the past. Rahul Gandhi is the only PM face, he asserted and confirmed Congress' participation in the September 9 TVK friendlies' meeting.

But the Congress source said the atmosphere at Saturday's meeting contrasted with their earlier interactions, when the leaders had met in a friendly manner and spent considerable time discussing the political situation in Tamil Nadu.

"This time, the scenario was completely different," the source said.

The meeting came a day after Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmal Kumar and Rajmohan personally met leaders of the Left and MDMK and invited them to the TVK's friendly parties' conference, which will be led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

During Saturday's meeting, Tagore held discussions with Anand and Aadhav Arjuna in the presence of Congress ministers Viswanathan and Rajesh Kumar and other senior party functionaries.

Tagore said the Congress would participate in the September 9 conference. "We assume that the TVK alliance will be named at that meeting," he said.

Asked about the Prime Ministerial candidate, Tagore said, "Our Prime Ministerial candidate is Rahul Gandhi."

He described the issue as a "closed chapter" and accused some people of being keen to break the secular-social justice alliance. "That will not happen," he said.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, Parande said Tamil Nadu's birth rate had fallen to 1.3 and urged every Hindu family to have at least two to three children.

He alleged that Christian conversion activities had increased in Tamil Nadu and called for a law similar to those in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Citing Article 25 of the Constitution, he said it protected the freedom to profess and propagate religion but did not permit forced conversions through inducement or threats.

Parande sought scrutiny of foreign funding for conversion activities and action under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act if violations were found.

He said the VHP had conducted 7,500 anti-drug awareness programmes nationwide in the past five to six months and would intensify such efforts in coastal Tamil Nadu.

Welcoming the ban on mobile phones in temples, he opposed the Rs 5 safekeeping charge, saying the facility should be free. He also demanded that temples be handed over to the Hindu community and their funds used only for Hindu religious purposes.

A membership drive from November 22 to December 6 would target one crore members across two lakh villages, he added.

Justice K Surender, while hearing a petition filed by the Retailers Association, observed that one year had already lapsed and directed the petitioners to complete the changes to their name boards by November 1. Failure to comply would invite action by the concerned authorities, the court said.

The association had approached the court challenging the GCC’s direction requiring shops to display their names in Tamil, followed by English and a third language. The direction also provided for a Rs 2,000 penalty for non-compliance under Rule 18 of the TN Shops and Establishments Act, 1947.

The retailers submitted that they had already made substantial investments in name boards featuring their trademarks and global branding. Immediate redesigning, they argued, would disrupt brand uniformity and cause confusion among customers. They also contended that the directions caused undue hardship and violated their fundamental right to carry on trade under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

The association sought directions to the authorities to consider its representation and grant additional time to comply with the directions.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners, Vijayan Subramanian, submitted that the retailers would comply with the orders passed by the authorities. However, he sought three months from the date of the hearing.

The court granted time till November 1 as a last chance and disposed of the petition.

During the Purattasi-Rabi season of 2025-26, farmers in Thoothukudi district cultivated millets, pulses, crops, oilseeds and cash crops. Due to a deficit of rain, the farmers did not get the expected yield.

In 2025, farmers staged protests seeking compensation for severely affected crops. However, co-operation societies reportedly said that no compensation would be provided, alleging that the farmers gave incorrect statistics, showing that the yield was higher than average last year.

Meanwhile, farmers obtained crop loans from primary agricultural cooperative credit societies by submitting crop records and by pledging jewellery. They continued to urge the government to waive the crop loans.

The newly formed TVK government also announced in its election promise that crop loans obtained by farmers from cooperative credit societies would be waived. Based on this, the government announced various waiver slabs amid changes to its position.

Farmers who had borrowed up to Rs 75,000 were to receive a full waiver, while those who had borrowed Rs 1 lakh were to receive a waiver of Rs 75,000. Those who had borrowed more than Rs 1 lakh were to receive a waiver of Rs 35,000, according to the announcements.

Some farmers had obtained loans of up to Rs 2 lakh by submitting crop records, while others had obtained crop loans by pledging jewellery from their homes.

Despite two months since the waiver was announced, farmers have not been issued loan-free certificates. Further, the jewellery pledged as security for the crop loans has not been returned to them.

When asked, cooperative society secretaries reportedly said that they had not received an order from the Tamil Nadu government to return the farmers' jewellery.

The next cultivation season is due to begin within 20 days. Farmers will require their jewellery to pledge them again for crop loans.

Karisal Bhoomi Farmers' Association president Varadarajan has urged the State government to display a list of farmers who benefited from the crop loan waiver on a notice board so that it is accessible to everyone.

The latest action comes after hundreds of Tasmac employees were suspended within two days following complaints of liquor being sold above the maximum retail price (MRP).

On September 2 (Wednesday), 67 employees were suspended for three months, followed by the suspension of more than 100 employees the next day.

The suspensions triggered protests by Tasmac employees, who shut shops in opposition to the disciplinary action.

Despite a government warning that employees participating in the protest would face action, shop closures have continued in several districts.

“There are protests in Kancheepuram, Tambaram, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Theni and many other districts. Since the tussle is increasingly becoming volatile, we’re discussing further course of action,” a department source said.

The developments have left the department facing a difficult situation.

Disciplinary action over alleged overcharging has triggered an employee agitation, while action against those participating in the protests could potentially widen the confrontation.

Meanwhile, Prohibition and Excise Minister K Vignesh defended the government’s action against employees accused of overcharging customers.

“The government has already provided employees with a salary hike and other benefits, including advances and shop maintenance charges. Even after this, if they are overcharging customers, it’s not right. We had to take action,” Vignesh added.

The government’s crackdown comes against the backdrop of a 25% pay hike announced by Tasmac on July 7.

During the Assembly discussion on the demands for grants for the Prohibition and Excise Department, Vignesh said that the revision was decided after taking into account the concerns of Tasmac employees, many of whom had been working in the outlets for nearly 23 years.

He had also cautioned employees against selling liquor above the MRP, warning that violations would invite strict disciplinary action.

Under the revised pay structure, Tasmac supervisors will earn a monthly salary of Rs 33,033, while salesmen and assistant salesmen will receive Rs 30,284 and Rs 28,680, respectively.

The government held four rounds of discussions with trade union representatives before finalising the revision.

The revised salaries are applicable from September 1, and will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 486.96 crore to the exchequer.

"As our leader said, we will neither touch public money nor allow anyone to touch it, and will not spare those who have touched it," he said. It was up to the senior politician to prove his innocence through the court, he added.

Meanwhile, he criticised NTK chief coordinator Seeman's Bigg Boss jibe at the Assembly proceedings, saying there was no need to belittle a television programme to elevate political proceedings and asserting that the growing interest in the House was drawing an entire generation towards politics.

Responding to Seeman's criticism, he said there was no need to demean a television programme to elevate political proceedings. "He might have said it as an analogy," he added.

Rajmohan said videos of children discussing Assembly proceedings were going viral on social media and being widely shared. "From children to elders, everyone is now waiting for 9.30 am," he said, referring to the time when Assembly proceedings commence.

"Those who used to make reels of cinema dialogues and punchlines are now making reels of Assembly proceedings. A leader who is politicising an entire generation is something you should welcome," he said.

On the sanitation workers' agitation, the minister said the government had to hold discussions with several unions and described a recent meeting as cordial.

The minister also paid floral tributes to VO Chidambaranar at the Gandhi Mandapam in Guindy on his birth anniversary. He thanked actor Ajith for appreciating Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's announcement to establish a Motor Smart City.

Issuing a statement while the raids were underway, Stalin said the matter was pending before the Madras High Court and the Assembly session was also in progress. In such circumstances, the TVK-led government conducted the raids on Nehru's premises for political reasons, he alleged.

Stalin said people in the State were aware that the DVAC had not registered any cases regarding allegations of MLA poaching against the ruling government. He was referring to an open claim filed by the party's Tiruchendur MLA, Anitha Radhakrishnan, who alleged that the police asked him to defect to the TVK. It was also a veiled reference to AIADMK's charges that their MLAs are being poached by the ruling party.

Stalin alleged that the raids on Nehru's premises were part of the "reels" government's usual diversionary tactics. Stalin said the DMK and Nehru would not be intimidated by the new government's tactics and would face and overcome them through legal means.

The state-level Teachers' Day celebration was held at the Anna Centenary Library here on Saturday and was attended by Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Advertising, A Rajmohan.

According to the details released for the programme, teachers from various categories have been accorded the honour. The list includes 171 teachers from the School Education department and 171 from the Elementary Education department. In addition, 38 teachers from private schools across the state also received the award.

Two teachers each from Anglo-Indian schools, Social Welfare Department schools and teachers serving students with disabilities were also awarded by the minister. Further, 10 teachers from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) were also honoured, taking the total number of awardees to 396.

In his keynote, the minister said, "The celebrations are aimed at recognising teachers who play a crucial role in shaping students' academic and personal development. The Dr Radhakrishnan Awards serve as a mark of appreciation for their commitment, innovation and service to education."

He added, "The event is expected to bring together teachers and education officials to celebrate the profession and underline the importance of educators in building the next generation."

The minister stressed that teachers focus only on teaching, and the department will ensure their concerns are addressed.

The Mines department has permitted a crusher unit at Rettamalai near A-Thoppupatti in Manapparai, and the works for the proposed crusher unit is under way.

Sources said the crusher unit is sanctioned against the norms as there are houses and religious places within the 500-metre radius of the site.

The villagers have protested the proposal as it would harm agricultural activities in the area and even met Minister for Mines TK Prabhu and Manapparai MLA R Kathiravan, but to no avail.

They also tried to meet Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday (September 3) but were stopped by the officials.

On Saturday, four school students - Suba (14), Jeeva (13), Vettrivel (10) and Karuppasamy (14) from Rettamalai climbed atop the Rettamalai hillock around 7 am and staged a protest and threatened to end their lives if the crusher unit work continues.

Their parents rushed and urged the children to climb down, followed by the revenue officials and Vaiyyampatti police. But the students continued to stay put and demanded officials' response.

Two parents - Sathya and Nithya - fainted due to dehydration and were rushed to the Manapparai GH.

The revenue officials and the police assured the protesting students that they would stop the ongoing work for the crusher until the court gives a verdict.

Subsequently, the protesting students climbed down.

Sivakumar, a contractor undertaking works for the Public Works and Water Resources departments of the State government, has submitted a complaint to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

In his complaint, Sivakumar alleged that Duraimurugan received Rs 1 crore from him when he was the Water Resources Minister, in exchange for contract works under the department. However, he claimed that no work was subsequently awarded to him.

Sivakumar also levelled allegations against Kathir Anand, claiming that the Vellore MP received Rs 1.25 crore from him after promising to award contract works under the MP's Constituency Development Fund.

"He also failed to fulfil his promise. I have submitted a complaint to the DVAC. If the department fails to take any action, I will approach the courts," Sivakumar said.

Sivakumar had earlier lodged a complaint with DMK top brass seeking action against Duraimurugan. He had also alleged that he was cheated of another Rs 75 lakh with an assurance that his wife would be given the post of union chairman. However, neither the contract works nor the post was given, he alleged, adding that Duraimurugan had been evading repayment despite repeated requests.

The latest target was a white-label ATM situated along the Chennai–Tirupati National Highway, in Avadi City Police limits. 

White-label ATMs are automated teller machines set up, owned, and operated by non-banking companies rather than traditional banks.

Members of the public who arrived to withdraw cash on Saturday morning noticed that the machine was missing and immediately alerted the authorities. A police team headed by Poonamallee Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) inspected the crime scene and launched an investigation.

Investigators are scrutinising CCTV footage from surrounding commercial units to establish the exact time of the heist, identify the number of suspects involved, and trace the vehicle used to haul away the heavy machine.

Unlike the previous two ATM robberies, where gangs broke open the cash kiosks, the perpetrators in Saturday’s incident fled with the entire machine. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the ATM contained over Rs 5 lakh at the time of the theft.

Police are now probing whether the same inter-State network was behind the earlier strikes at Somangalam under Tambaram City police limits and near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district two weeks ago.

In the Somangalam incident in Kancheepuram district, a gang targeted an ICICI Bank ATM on the Sriperumbudur–Kundrathur highway, using a gas-welding torch to cut open the vault before escaping with Rs 10 lakh. A similar modus operandi was employed in Gummidipoondi, where thieves made off with Rs 11.5 lakh.

The vehicle used in the Somangalam heist was intercepted at the Telangana–Maharashtra border on August 25, but four suspects managed to flee during the operation. Special teams tracking their movements learned they had escaped to Haryana.

Meanwhile, one of the key suspects, Pawan Kumar, was arrested by Jaipur Police in connection with a case registered at the Vaishali Nagar station. Interrogation by Tambaram police confirmed that Kumar had visited the crime scene along with four accomplices who remain on the run.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has proposed new rules under which renewable energy plants commissioned after July 1, 2027 will have to ensure that at least 15% of their inverters, devices that convert electricity generated by solar panels or wind turbines into a form that can be supplied to the grid, can work in a ‘grid-forming’ mode. Battery storage systems will also have to have this capability.

For new ground-mounted solar and on-shore wind projects commissioned after July 1, 2027, the CEA has proposed a minimum battery storage capacity equal to 10% of the project’s installed capacity. The batteries should be able to store electricity for at least two hours. For example, a 100 MW solar plant would need a battery system capable of storing 10 MW of electricity for two hours.

The requirement will become stricter for projects commissioned after July 1, 2029 and up to June 30, 2031. These projects will have to provide storage for at least four hours, while the storage capacity will remain at 10% of the plant's installed capacity. A 100 MW project, for example, would need 10 MW of storage for four hours.

The CEA said it may change the required percentage of grid-forming inverters or the storage capacity from time to time. The draft rules have been issued for public comments. Stakeholders and members of the public can send their suggestions and objections to the CEA by October 4, 2026.

The Rs 13,076-crore project at Udangudi comprises two units of 660 MW each. Unit-1 initially commenced power generation on March 13, 2026, generating between 300 MW and 400 MW daily during preliminary operational testing.

Following instructions from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to expedite commissioning at full commercial capacity, officials conducted a series of test runs to establish the plant's operational stability at its rated output.

As part of the mandatory commercial operation declaration process, a continuous full-load trial run was conducted from 4.16 pm on September 2 to 4.15 pm on September 5. Throughout the 72-hour run, the unit consistently sustained generation at its full 660 MW capacity, prompting TNEB to officially declare commercial operations on Saturday.

With the commissioning of Unit-1, TNEB's total installed thermal power capacity has increased from 4,460 MW to 5,120 MW. The steady availability of firm power from the new facility is expected to help the utility cut down its reliance on expensive short-term power purchases from private suppliers, offering financial relief to the power board.

Meanwhile, construction work on Unit-2, which also has a capacity of 660 MW, is progressing rapidly, with efforts underway to begin power generation soon.

The letter of award for the main plant was issued to EPC contractor BHEL in December 2017. Unit-1 was originally scheduled for commissioning in January 2021 and Unit-2 in March 2021. However, project execution faced delays due to various hurdles, including the COVID pandemic, severe labour shortages, and legal disputes.

Power and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar commended TNEB Chairman V Arun Rai, Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Managing Director M Govindarao, Director (Projects) M Sethuraman, Udangudi Chief Engineer (in-charge) K Rajakumar, and the project staff for achieving the milestone.

The event was held in Chennai, where messages from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and DMK president MK Stalin were read out.

Hailing the contribution of the print media, Radhakrishnan said newspapers often sold copies at prices that were about half the cost of printing. Despite this, the service rendered by newspapers could be considered an excellent form of social service, he said.

A short film showcasing Dinamalar’s 75-year journey was screened during the event.

The event was presided over by M Manoj, Director of the Postal Department, Chennai City. Publishers of Dinamalar, including L Athimoolam and RR Gopaljee, participated in the event.

Dinamalar began its journey on September 6, 1951, from Thiruvananthapuram.

One suspect has since been detained near Ulundurpet.

Police are probing whether the cash was hawala money and suspect that the gang may have known the 65-year-old businessman, Thamun, was travelling to Coimbatore with the money.

They are also investigating whether the gang had followed him from Hyderabad before carrying out the robbery.

Thamun frequently visits Coimbatore for business and boarded a luxury bus in Hyderabad on Thursday (September 3) night with cash in a bag. When he got off and walked a short distance on Friday morning, a car approached him from behind.

Four men got out, allegedly snatched the bag with the cash and fled in the same vehicle. The robbery was carried out within five minutes of Thamun getting off the bus, leaving him shocked.

Thamun lodged a complaint with the Race Course police about two hours after the robbery.

Police officials reached the spot and examined CCTV footage from the area, which reportedly captured the gang getting out of the car, snatching the bag and fleeing.

Four special teams have been formed on the orders of city police commissioner Kannan to trace the suspects.

Based on information that the gang was fleeing in a car near Ulundurpet, the teams, with the help of local police, intercepted the vehicle.

Police said one person was inside and detained him for questioning.

The other three suspects remain at large. Police are questioning the detained person to establish the identities of the others, their place of origin and the whereabouts of the stolen cash.

The Race Course police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation.

The 10.30 am to 11 am slot had only 10 seats available as of 7.30 pm on Saturday (September 5).

Assembly officials said students and the public were eager to watch the Chief Minister's reply on Monday in person. Hence, the demand for passes among college and school students was high.

"The 11 am to 11.30 am slot has been completely booked for Monday. After the TVK-led government assumed charge, the footfall in the Assembly hall has been very high during the sessions. If the Chief Minister comes to the Assembly, the footfall doubles as people want to see him. Around 2,000 to 3,000 people watch the proceedings every day," an Assembly official said.

People can watch the Assembly proceedings through two types of viewing facilities in the hall: eight box-type viewing galleries, each with five seats, and benches that can accommodate around 100 to 150 people on both sides of the hall at a time.

School or college students eager to watch the proceedings should register via the Assembly website's dedicated registration facility.

It is said that a couple of days back, a gang of four boys from the Gandhi Market police jurisdiction took a 16-year-old girl from the locality to a nearby school and sexually assaulted her.

The girl, who managed to escape from them, passed on the information to the village elders, who lodged a complaint against the boys with the Fort All Women Police Station.

The residents also took the boys to the station while complaining.

The police, who conducted an inquiry, confirmed the offence and registered a case against the four under various sections, including the Pocso Act and arrested them.

Subsequently, they were lodged in the Government Observation Home in Thanjavur.

The residents said that ganja peddling has been widely witnessed in the locality and the peddlers target the minors and force them to consume it to make them addicted to it.

Those four boys who were studying classes 9 and 10 were said to be regular customers, and the offence had taken place under the influence of drugs.

The deceased was identified as B Niranjan. His father, Balaji, worked at a fish farm in Chennai while his wife, Saraswathu, worked at a private firm.

The family lived at Veppampattu. Niranjan was a Class 3 student at a government school, and his elder brother is in Class 8.

On Friday, his parents had gone to work.

Around 3 pm, his grandmother and the two boys returned home and went to sleep. Niranjan later woke up and started playing with a towel hanging from the window frame.

While playing, the towel got wrapped around his neck and tightened.

On hearing his screams, his grandmother and brother rescued him and later rushed him to a hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’.

Further investigations are underway.

In Mylapore, an 18-year-old college student died of electrocution after he touched the Corporation street light pole while crossing a road divider near his hostel in Mylapore. The deceased was identified as A Jayachandran (18).

A native of Tiruvannamalai, he was a second year student at Government Arts College, Nandanam, and was staying at a government hostel in Kabali Thottam, Mylapore.

Police said that Jayachandran had gone out with a friend on Friday (September 4) night and returned to the hostel during the early hours of Saturday.

While crossing the centre median, he had held the electric pole for support when he suffered an electric shock and was thrown to the ground.

Public rushed to his aid and moved him to the GH in Royapettah, where doctors declared him as brought dead.

In Gummidpoondi, a 12-year-old boy was electorcuted inside the Gummidipoondi GH campus. The deceased has been identified as Kaushik, 12, a Class 6 student from Kottakkarai near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur.

Police said since it was a holiday, Kaushik was playing with his friends inside the hospital premises when he accidentally touched a high-mast light pole.

He was electrocuted and collapsed on the spot. He was rushed inside the hospital for examination, but doctors declared him brought dead.

On hearing the news, his relatives and other residents gathered inside the hospital and entered into a heated argument with the staff.

They questioned how a light pole in a public place like a GH could have an electrical leakage and demanded strict action against staff for negligence.

Police pacified the protestors and made them disperse. A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

Out of the 305 tourists from Tamil Nadu who went on a pilgrimage to Nepal and were trapped in the August 26 tragedy, 220 have been rescued, and 85 are still missing. The State and the Centre have been making constant efforts to bring them home safely.

The Nepal government have urged nations from which the tourists belong to conduct DNA analysis of the victims' family members. Accordingly, the State government appointed officials to collect DNA details of the family members of the tourists from Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Thanjavur.

A team of doctors from Thanjavur Medical College Hospital led by Rajmohan, the joint director of the Thanjavur Regional Forensic Science department, collected blood samples from 23 family members of flood victims from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchy and Karur. Thanjavur District Collector R Revathi monitored the drive.

"Based on the need, we would continue the collection of samples for two more days and submit the analysis report to the state government within a week," Rajmohan told reporters.

Meanwhile, Collector Revathi said the fate of the 16 tourists from Thanjavur is yet to be verified, but the district administration is in constant touch with their families and has been cooperating in tracing the victims.

A sand-laden lorry from Tiruchy ran amok among workers laying paver blocks at a petrol bunk in Samayapuram.

Two workers identified as Ganesan and Andi were crushed to death.

On information, the Samayapuram police rushed to the spot, retrieved the bodies and sent them to the government hospital.

The police also registered a case and arrested lorry driver Satheesh.

Initial probe found that driver Satheesh, who was overspeeding, lost control while negotiating a turn and crashed into the workers.

Further investigations are under way.

The advertisement was posted in June while Ganeshan was in Guangdong, China. The South Chennai cybercrime unit, led by inspector Sujatha, registered a case based on a complaint from a social activist.

Police initiated an investigation and issued a Look Out Circular (LOC). When Ganeshan arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi from Hong Kong early on Saturday, Immigration officials detained him

Police produced him before a magistrate’s court in Delhi and obtained a transit warrant to bring him to Chennai. He is expected to be questioned and produced before a court on Sunday for remand in judicial custody.

Ganeshan posted about his detention on X at around 3 am on Saturday, and sought the assistance of a criminal defence lawyer in Delhi-NCR to plead his case.

Addressing cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, researchers and medical experts from India and abroad, Radhakrishnan said the convergence of clinical expertise, scientific inquiry, innovation and collaboration marked an important step in the service of humanity.

He said every medical procedure, clinical decision and scientific advance ultimately concerned a patient seeking to live longer, healthier and with dignity.

Noting the advances in cardiovascular medicine, he said valvular and structural heart diseases remained an important and growing challenge.

He stressed that medical progress must be accompanied by a commitment to ensuring its benefits are inclusive and accessible, asserting that healthcare is a human right.

Describing the registry as an important initiative, Radhakrishnan said that the systematic, secure, and de-identified collection of data on patients undergoing valve interventions, their treatment, and outcomes could transform individual clinical experience into collective medical knowledge.

"Such registries will help create our country's own data for our own countrymen," he said, adding that India-specific evidence would help the medical community understand outcomes, identify gaps and improve patient care.

Referring to national registries established in several countries, he welcomed the collaborative effort in India.

Citing India's COVID-19 response, Radhakrishnan said the country had developed vaccines and supplied them to around 100 countries, demonstrating its medical and technological capabilities. "Our doctors, scientists and healthcare professionals have earned respect across the world," he said. The goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 must also mean building a Swasth Bharat, he added.

Health Minister KG Arunraj and cardiologists G Sengottuvelu, Ashok Seth and Praveen Chandra were among those present.

Nainar warned that the House was not a platform for cinema dialogues and urged him to address issues concerning the State.

Reacting to Joseph Vijay's remark that no one should get up and run away during his reply on the debate on demands for grants for the Home Department on Monday, Nainar Nagenthran asked whether Vijay would come to the Assembly with a sickle and a stick and wondered what he would speak about.

Talking to reporters here, he said Joseph Vijay should respond to more than 400 rape incidents reported in the State, including cases involving children. He also asked whether Vijay would raise the killings reported in Coimbatore and elsewhere. "Speaking cinema dialogues in the Assembly is not appropriate," Nainar said, describing the claim that Vijay could be a prime ministerial candidate as strange beyond imagination.

On the Assembly resolution seeking the declaration of Tamil as a language of proceedings in the Madras High Court, Nainar said, "Tamil should be there in Tamil Nadu. There is no difference of opinion on this."

The BJP leader urged the state government to hold talks with all cleanliness workers' unions to resolve their grievances, rather than negotiating with only one union.

Nainar alleged that farmers had not received complete loan waivers and criticised the delayed opening of the Mettur dam, saying it should have been opened on June 12. He claimed Rs 5 crore was spent on Vijay's recent visit to Mettur.

Nainar also criticised the continuing increase in electricity tariffs and said that the Energy Resources Minister, R Nirmalkumar, doesn't respond to charges.