The measures have been issued on the instructions of HR&CE Minister Ramesh. Under the new protocol, temples must inform the Commissioner at least a day in advance about visits by VIPs and other important personalities, providing details of the proposed visit, including the date, time and number of persons accompanying them. If a visit is decided at short notice, the department must be informed immediately.

The department has directed that VIP visits should not disrupt the movement or darshan of ordinary devotees. No permission should be granted for photography or videography within temple premises during such visits. Arrangements must also ensure that the temple’s sanctity and the normal movement of devotees are not affected.

Meanwhile, mobile phones will be completely prohibited in all major temples from September 1. The move is also aimed at preventing devotees from photographing or recording deities and sanctum sanctorums and making reels or other videos inside temple premises, in accordance with existing court directions and the Minister’s instructions.

Temple authorities have been given 20 days to establish secure mobile-phone deposit facilities. Notices announcing the restriction must be prominently displayed at temple entrances and other key locations.

Devotees will have to deposit their phones before entering and collect them after darshan. A fee of Rs 5 per phone has been prescribed, with receipts to be issued through the department’s ITMS system. Volunteers or designated personnel will manage the facilities, while CCTV cameras will be used to monitor the process.

The department has also directed officials to take appropriate action against unauthorised photography and videography and ensure strict compliance with the new guidelines.

The meeting, scheduled to be held at 3 pm at Kalaivanar Arangam, has been convened by the Tamil Nadu government amid concerns over the proposed delimitation process and its implications for Tamil Nadu's representation in Parliament.

The Delimitation Bill, 2026, recently debated in the Lok Sabha, has sparked significant political contention, particularly regarding the representation of Southern states.

CM Vijay convenes meeting

The monsoon session of Parliament has been under way since July 20, amid reports that the Central Government may move the Delimitation Bill.

Against this backdrop, the Tamil Nadu government invited Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from the State for a consultative meeting to discuss the proposed exercise.

In a statement, the State government said the meeting would focus on the delimitation exercise proposed by the Central Government and its potential impact on Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is scheduled to preside over the meeting.

Invitations were sent to all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members through the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi.

AIADMK to stay away

Meanwhile, reports indicated that AIADMK MPs would not participate in the meeting convened by the Chief Minister. AIADMK MPs, including Thambidurai and Inbadurai, are currently in Delhi, according to reports.

DMK calls meeting ‘political drama’

The DMK has decided to boycott the meeting, maintaining that there was no change in its earlier position on the delimitation issue. In a statement, the party said it would not participate in what it described as a political exercise being conducted by the State government under the guise of a consultative meeting for MPs.

The DMK will decide on whether to support the Delimitation Bill only after the legislation is formally placed on the table of the Parliament, senior party leader R S Bharathi had said on Friday.

DMDK to skip meeting

The DMDK has also announced that it will not participate in the consultative meeting on constituency delimitation.

The party said its MP Sudheesh would not attend the meeting chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

MNM MP Kamal Haasan absent

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is not likely to attend the consultative meeting.

The party's Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan is currently in the United States, according to reports.

What does the Delimitation Bill 2026 propose?

The Delimitation Bill, 2026, introduced in April 2026 proposed expanding the Lok Sabha by approximately 50 per cent, raising the total number of seats from 543 to 816.

The Union Government has asserted that under this model, Southern states will not lose their proportionate share. For instance, the government projects that Tamil Nadu's representation would increase from 39 to 59 seats, maintaining its share of approximately 7.2 per cent in the expanded House.

When will the special eKYC camps be held in Tamil Nadu?

The camps will be held from 9 am to 5 pm on August 8 and 9, as per a Daily Thanthi report.

Family card holders who are yet to complete fingerprint-based eKYC have been requested to make use of the special camps.

Why is fingerprint-based eKYC being conducted for ration card holders?

The Centre has instructed that fingerprint-based verification of beneficiaries linked to electronic ration cards be carried out to verify Aadhaar details of Priority and Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration cards under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

How many priority ration cards have completed eKYC in Tamil Nadu?

The fingerprint verification process for family members has been under way since October 2023. So far, 95.86 per cent of priority ration cards have completed eKYC, the release said.

In a representation, the association appealed to the Prime Minister, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and senior railway officials to intervene and ensure the immediate commencement of the project.

The Railway Board sanctioned the 22.52 km project on July 2, 2025. The Athipattu-Gummidipoondi stretch forms part of the Chennai-Athipattu-Gummidipoondi-Gudur corridor, one of the busiest railway routes, carrying suburban and MEMU services, long-distance mail and express trains, besides freight traffic round the clock.

“The suburban train service to Gummidipoondi started in 1985. More than 10 lakh people depend on this corridor. Even today, it takes nearly two hours to travel from Gummidipoondi to Chennai Central because trains are frequently held up for signals,” S Suresh Babu, president of the Gummidipoondi Railway Passengers Welfare Association, told DT Next.

While third and fourth railway lines were laid in phases between Chennai Central and Athipattu between 2012 and 2023, those additional tracks have largely been used for freight movement, leaving the bottleneck beyond Athipattu unresolved. Suresh Babu noted suburban passengers continue to bear the brunt of congestion as trains are frequently made to wait for express services.

Pavunish and Mahesh had come to the temple for darshan when they allegedly attempted to photograph Arunachaleswarar and Unnamalai Amman at the respective sanctums using a camera concealed in their spectacles.

Temple employees near the sanctum noticed the two and detained them. The camera-fitted spectacles were seized and the youths were taken to the temple's internal office, where they were questioned.

The temple administration later handed them over to Tiruvannamalai Town police. After questioning them, the police warned and released them.

The incident occurred as three-tier security arrangements were in place at the temple for Amit Shah's visit. Hundreds of police personnel had been deployed at the temple from Friday morning ahead of the Union home minister's visit in the evening.

The use of cameras is prohibited at the Arunachaleswarar and Unnamalai Amman sanctums. Despite the restriction, some visitors have occasionally recorded photographs and videos of the deities and posted them on social media. Temple officials seize the mobile phones and cameras of those caught doing so and take action.

The temple witnessed a large number of devotees on Friday, as Saturdays and Sundays usually see heavy footfall.

Amit Shah visited the Arunachaleswarar Temple on Friday evening and offered prayers.

The train service was launched on August 7, 1976, and initially operated three times a week. It was converted into a daily service in 1988.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, the front portion of the train was decorated with flowers and the entrances to the coaches were adorned with decorations and messages marking the milestone. A cake was cut in the presence of the loco pilot and sweets were distributed.

The Tamil Nadu Express currently operates with modern LHB coaches. The train leaves Chennai Central at 10 pm every day and reaches Delhi at 6.30 am on the third day. In the return direction, it departs Delhi at 9.05 pm and reaches Chennai Central at 6.15 am on the third day.

The train covers 2,182 km in 32 hours and 40 minutes, connecting southern and northern India.

The train has only one halt in Tamil Nadu — Chennai Central, from where it originates. Passengers have urged the railway authorities to introduce additional stops in Tamil Nadu.

The service has undergone several changes and developments over the years. It has now entered its 51st year.

Water is usually released from the dam in the first week of June for first-crop irrigation in the Cumbum Valley. However, inadequate summer rainfall and insufficient southwest monsoon rainfall meant the dam had insufficient storage in June this year.

Following heavy rainfall in Kerala recently, inflow into the dam increased and the water level rose, prompting the State government to order the release. Collector R Vaithinathan urged farmers to use water judiciously, cultivate short-duration crops and adopt water-management practices to improve yields.

Water is being released for irrigation at 200 cusecs for 120 days, subject to water availability and inflow. Another 150 cusecs is being released for drinking water, taking the total discharge to 350 cusecs, the Collector said.

The water level at the dam stood at 122.30 feet on Saturday, with an inflow of 1,525 cusecs and storage of 3,083 million cubic feet.

The dam, which can store water up to 142 feet as per a Supreme Court order, had a water level of 121.75 feet before the government ordered the release.

Collector R Vaithinathan opened the shutters at the dam in Thekkady, Kerala. Theni MP Thangathamizhselvan, MLAs PLa Jaganath Mishra (Cumbum), Maharajan (Andipatti) and Sabari Aingaran (Periyakulam), along with officials, showered flowers on the released water.

District Revenue Officer Rajakumar, Uthamapalayam RDO Syed Muhaiddeen Ibrahim, Periyar Vaigai Basin Division Executive Engineer Sivaprabakar, Special Division Executive Engineer Selvam, Assistant Executive Engineers Mallika and Rajagopal, government officials and farmers attended the event.

The Mullaiperiyar dam is a water source for Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts.

The possible increase comes amid reports that a revised delimitation Bill could be introduced during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. The exercise is expected to redraw Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies based on population.

Tamil Nadu and several other States that have successfully controlled population growth have opposed the move, apprehending that a population-based delimitation could reduce their relative representation while States with higher population growth could gain more seats.

Unofficial list of Tamil Nadu constituencies after Delimitation

1. Tiruttani

2. Tiruvallur

3. Chennai North

4. Chennai East

5. Chennai Central

6. Chennai South

7. Chennai West

8. Tambaram

9. Chengalpattu

10. Kancheepuram

11. Vellore

12. Tirupattur

13. Ranipet

14. Tiruvannamalai

15. Vandavasi/Arani

16. Tindivanam

17. Villuppuram

18. Kallakurichi

19. Cuddalore

20. Chidambaram

21. Hosur

22. Krishnagiri

23. Dharmapuri

24. Salem

25. Mettur

26. Rasipuram

27. Namakkal

28. Erode

29. Gobichettipalayam

30. Tirupur

31. Dharapuram/Palani

32. Pollachi

33. Coimbatore East

34. Coimbatore West

35. Nilgiris

36. Karur

37. Perambalur

38. Ariyalur/Lalgudi

39. Tiruchirappalli

40. Thanjavur

41. Kumbakonam

42. Mayiladuthurai

43. Nagapattinam

44. Tiruvarur

45. Pudukkottai

46. Sivaganga

47. Ramanathapuram

48. Thoothukudi

49. Tiruchendur

50. Tirunelveli

51. Nanguneri/Kanniyakumari

52. Kanniyakumari/Nagercoil

53. Tenkasi

54. Sivakasi

55. Virudhunagar

56. Theni

57. Madurai East

58. Madurai West

59. Dindigul

CM Vijay holds meeting on Delimitation

The consultative meeting convened by the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government to discuss the proposed delimitation of constituencies began at Kalaivanar Arangam on Saturday, with 19 MPs from Tamil Nadu participating.

Representatives of the DMK, AIADMK, MNM, DMDK and PMK did not participate in the meeting. MPs belonging to the Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML attended the meeting along with State Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan.

The meeting assumes significance amid concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise and its possible impact on the parliamentary representation of Tamil Nadu. It is expected that a unanimous resolution will be passed at the end of the meeting.

If the delimitation Bill is passed by both Houses of Parliament, the total number of Lok Sabha constituencies across the country is expected to rise from the existing 543. Tamil Nadu's tally could consequently increase to 59.

The restrictions had been enforced earlier this week after heavy rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas caused a sharp rise in the river's water level, making bathing and coracle operations unsafe. Authorities had suspended tourist activities as a precautionary measure amid strong currents.

Ban lifted for Coracle rides

With the river flow receding steadily, officials reviewed the situation on Saturday and permitted coracle services to resume. Bathing has also been allowed in designated safe zones after authorities assessed the river conditions and ensured that adequate safety measures were in place.

Officials said police and personnel from the Fire and Rescue Services Department have been deployed at key locations to monitor tourist movement and prevent visitors from venturing into unsafe areas.

Tourists Delighted

The decision coincided with the weekend, leading to a surge in tourist arrivals at the popular waterfalls.

Families and visitors from neighbouring districts flocked to Hogenakkal to enjoy the waterfalls and coracle rides after the restrictions were lifted.

The resumption of tourist activities brought relief to coracle operators, roadside vendors and small businesses that depend on weekend tourism for their livelihood.

Authorities have urged visitors to strictly follow safety instructions and cooperate with officials to ensure a safe and incident-free experience.

The meeting is being chaired by Chief Minister and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay.

Representatives of the DMK, AIADMK, MNM, DMDK and PMK did not participate in the meeting. MPs belonging to the Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML attended the meeting along with State Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, R Nirmalkumar and Rajmohan.

The meeting assumes significance amid concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise and its possible impact on the parliamentary representation of Tamil Nadu. It is expected that a unanimous resolution will be passed at the end of the meeting.

Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha MPs — 22 from the DMK, nine from the Congress, two each from the VCK, CPI and CPM, and one each from the IUML and MDMK.

In the Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu has 18 members, including eight from the DMK, four from the AIADMK, three from the Congress, and one each from the DMDK, MNM and PMK.

"There has been no official announcement from the Union government about introducing a Delimitation Bill in this Parliament session. There has also been no communication regarding any amendment to the existing law. When there is nothing before us, what is there to discuss?" she asked.

Recalling the resolution adopted at the all-party meeting convened by the previous DMK-led government, she said the DMK remained firm in its opposition to any delimitation exercise that could affect Tamil Nadu's representation.

She pointed out that parties including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), IUML and VCK had participated in the earlier all-party meeting and opposed the proposed delimitation process.

"Will these parties change their earlier stand simply by attending this meeting?" Kanimozhi asked.

She said the DMK would continue to oppose any delimitation exercise that affected Tamil Nadu's rights or reduced the State's representation in Parliament.

Questioning the TVK-led government's priorities, Kanimozhi said it had failed to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue, despite demands from all political parties, but had instead called a consultative meeting on delimitation, which, she claimed, no party had sought.

Describing it as an attempt to divert attention from the Cauvery issue, she asked whether the State government would send its representatives along with Tamil Nadu MPs to meet the Union Minister for Jal Shakti and hand over the Assembly resolution opposing the Mekedatu project.

"If the TVK-led government is genuinely concerned about the interests of Cauvery Delta farmers, will the Chief Minister send representatives of the State government to meet the Union Minister?" she asked.

He was lodged in Madurai Central Prison after the CB-CID completed its three-day interrogation at Dindigul on Friday evening. A Prison official said the CB-CID produced a medical fitness certificate for Anwardeen when he was handed over to the prison authorities.

A source close to Anwardeen told DT Next that prison authorities informed his family members around 10.30 pm that he had suddenly developed chest pain in his cell and that he was being taken to Government Rajaji Hospital for treatment. However, 20 minutes later, the family received a message that he had died before being brought to the hospital, the source claimed.

A Judicial Magistrate Court in Dindigul on August 5 permitted the CB-CID to take four persons, including Anwardeen, for interrogation.

When Anwardeen was arrested on July 29, 2026, and produced before the Magistrate Court for remand, his advocate sought bail, stating that he was suffering from paralysis on the left side of his body, diabetes and high blood pressure, and submitted his medical records to the court.

However, the court postponed the hearing on his bail plea, which was later rejected on Friday on the ground that the police needed him for further inquiry, the source said.

The prison official said that on Friday evening, after taking his tablets, Anwardeen interacted with his fellow prisoners and went to bed around 9 pm. He suddenly complained of breathing difficulty, following which prison authorities rushed him to the hospital. However, he died around 10.40 pm, police said.

During his confinement in the prison from July 29 to August 4, the prison authorities kept him in a cell close to the prison hospital and provided regular treatment.

According to the police, Anwardeen was one of the main accused and had allegedly colluded with Justin Manikandan and Jayaprakash in the fraudulent registration of the property.

The arrested Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan was also admitted to the Dindigul Government Medical College Hospital after he complained of ill health while in CB-CID custody on Thursday

Based on a complaint lodged by the temple administration, the police registered a case against Sub-Registrar Justin Manikandan, Murugadas, a school teacher from Villupuram, Vellathurai of Tiruppur district, and Sethupathi of Palani. After the case was transferred to the CB-CID, the agency arrested 11 persons.

The allocation was made under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Castes (DAPSC), earlier known as the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP).

According to Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale's reply, 38 ministries and departments implemented 239 DAPSC schemes during the financial year.

Venkatesan had sought details on whether allocations were made in proportion to the SC population, the shortfall, utilisation of funds and the extent to which funds reached targeted schemes.

Athawale said the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment monitored DAPSC allocations and utilisation based on NITI Aayog's 2017 guidelines. Periodic review meetings were held on April 29, 2025, August 25, 2025 and April 16, 2026. All 38 implementing ministries and departments had also nominated nodal officers for financial and physical monitoring.

The minister said the total plan allocation of the 38 ministries was Rs 11,61,830 crore, of which Rs 1,68,482 crore, or 14.5%, was earmarked for SC development. The revised estimate stood at Rs 1,61,201.98 crore.

Venkatesan, however, questioned the basis for arriving at the 14.5% figure, saying it was calculated against the plan expenditure of ministries with DAPSC allocations rather than the overall plan expenditure.

He also pointed to the Rs 7,280 crore difference between the allocation and revised estimate, besides the nearly Rs 30,400 crore gap between the allocation and reported expenditure.

Venkatesan said the figures highlighted the need for a separate law to ensure statutory compliance with DAPSC norms, a demand raised by Left parties, social justice groups and Dalit organisations.

He said the sub-plan, introduced five decades ago to bridge development gaps, could not achieve its objective unless its allocation and spending norms were strictly enforced.

Replying to PMK MLA A Ganeshkumar during the debate on the Revised Budget and Revised Agriculture Budget 2026-27, Minister for Prohibition and Excise K Vignesh said the government had already closed down 717 Tasmac outlets across the State for violating the distance norm and had published the list of those shops.

"The government continues to receive complaints from different parts of the State. There are still shops functioning within the 500-metre radius. They will be relocated soon," the minister said, adding that action would also be taken against liquor outlets causing inconvenience to the public if complaints were submitted with the shop numbers.

Ganeshkumar alleged that several Tasmac outlets continued to operate near schools, hospitals, bus stops and places of worship, particularly in the Gingee Assembly constituency. Citing Article 47 of the Constitution, he argued that promoting liquor sales and increasing revenue should never be the government's objective.

Responding to criticism over the rise in Tasmac revenue, Vignesh said the government had never stated that it intended to increase earnings from liquor sales. "Revenue has increased because corruption and leakages in the department have been eliminated, not because liquor sales have been promoted," he said.

The Minister also clarified that Tasmac had not introduced online liquor sales, stating that the online booking facility was meant only to enable cashless transactions.

The Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Assembly on Friday (August 7) by Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister D Lokesh Tamilselvan.

The Bill seeks to amend the Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act to provide for the levy of the new cess. According to the Bill, the revenue generated will be utilised for the safe disposal and recycling of alcoholic liquor containers.

"The cess will also be used for rehabilitation and de-addiction programmes, including creating awareness about the ill effects of alcohol. It will also be utilised for welfare measures and livelihood support for families affected by alcohol addiction," the Bill stated.

In addition, the cess will be used to mitigate environmental hazards from the improper disposal of liquor containers and to protect and restore the environment.

The Bill is expected to be taken up for discussion during the ongoing Assembly session.

When the situation in Karnataka grew tense after Kannada activists took to the street, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged Vijay to postpone the visit to a later date when the atmosphere is conducive for a discussion.

Replying to the special calling attention motion moved by Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Assembly, Vijay said the TVK-led government would never compromise on Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery and would continue its legal battle against the proposed Mekedatu dam project.

"When enemy countries hold talks to resolve disputes, what is wrong with neighbouring states holding discussions? I saw it as a positive step towards resolving the problem," Vijay said.

He acknowledged that several people had expressed reservations over the proposed talks, with some asking what would happen if the attempt ended in humiliation. "Even if I had to face humiliation in that attempt, I was prepared to accept that risk for the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu," he said, adding that he was willing to bear any criticism for the people.

Describing the Cauvery river as Tamil Nadu's lifeline, Vijay said the government had no intention of playing politics over the issue. "On the Mekedatu issue, we all unanimously adopted a resolution together and sent it to the Prime Minister," he said.

Referring to the recent statement of the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha that Karnataka did not require prior consent from lower riparian states such as Tamil Nadu to construct the Mekedatu dam, Vijay said the State government immediately wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Union government not to grant legal or administrative approval for the project.

"Be it the Cauvery water-sharing issue or stopping attempts to build the Mekedatu dam, our government will not yield even a bit. That remains our firm stance," he said.

The Chief Minister also referred to Assembly discussions held in 1969 when Karnataka began constructing dams across the Cauvery basin. Without naming the then DMK government, Vijay said he did not want to indulge in "cheap politics" by questioning who held the Water Resources portfolio at the time or why those projects were allowed. It may be noted that in 1969, Karunanidhi was the State's Water Resources Minister.

He noted that even in 1969, the then opposition leader PG Karuthiruman had favoured talks involving Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and the Union government to resolve the dispute, but events had taken a different course thereafter.

"We remain firm in approaching this issue legally, and there is absolutely no change in that," he said. On Udhayanidhi's demand for a special drought relief package for Kuruvai cultivation, Vijay said the government had already sanctioned and distributed a Rs 134 crore special Kuruvai package. "I really don't know how those who claim that we are politics itself failed to know this. If they had read the newspapers now and then, they would know what is happening in the country," he said.

Responding to the comment, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the government should distinguish between the previously announced Kuruvai package and the present demand for drought relief. "It will not suffice if newspapers are read; you must listen to the grievances of the farmers," he said.

Leader of the House KA Sengottaiyan said drought relief would normally be considered after assessing the situation until September.

AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also participated in the debate and demanded that the government convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery issue.

The resolution was moved by Finance, Planning and Development Minister N Marie Wilson, who said an equitable system of financial devolution was essential to enable States to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively.

Emphasising the need for fair devolution of central taxes, Wilson said the distribution should be based on the principles of equity, fairness, fiscal effort, governance performance and the developmental requirements of the States.

The resolution urged the Union government to ensure a transparent, objective, and equitable methodology for the devolution of Central taxes that appropriately recognises the contributions, fiscal efforts, governance performance, and developmental needs of the States.

"The Union government should also ensure that the criteria adopted for tax devolution do not place any state at a comparative disadvantage on account of its achievements in population stabilisation and human development," the resolution stated.

It further urged the Union government to take appropriate measures to safeguard Tamil Nadu's legitimate financial interests.

The resolution was adopted by voice vote. Before its adoption, DMK member and former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami welcomed the move and expressed support for the resolution. During his speech, Thangam Thennarasu moved an amendment to this resolution. He said the Union government should share 50 per cent of the financial devolution, and Tamil Nadu should also receive appropriate financial devolution from the Union Government. But the amendment was not considered and was adopted by voice vote.

Responding to AIADMK MLA Agri SS Krishnamurthy during the debate, Aadhav first defended the State government's stand on the Cauvery issue, saying the Water Resources Minister N Anand had merely placed before the House the outcome of the recent Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting.

"The Water Resources Minister has just explained what was discussed in the CWMA meeting. He only reiterated and recorded it in the House. We all know rainfall has been lower this year than during the previous 10 years. Yet, we have continuously fought before the CWMA and secured 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water. We will never allow Tamil Nadu's rights to be compromised, " the minister said.

Aadhav then took on Krishnamurthy's assertion that "Ammavin Aatchi" would soon return to Tamil Nadu under AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.

"I want to tell this House that the present TVK government is also Ammavin Aatchi. Our leader, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, will provide governance in the same spirit as former chief ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, " he said.

Earlier, Krishnamurthy claimed the AIADMK would stage a political comeback, win the next Assembly election and once again establish "Ammavin Arasu" in Tamil Nadu.

The issue arose during the debate on the Revised Budget and Revised Agriculture Budget 2026-27, when Markandayan, while criticising the Budget, referred to his recent imprisonment, which was objected to by Minister R Nirmalkumar and Aadhav Arjuna. The Speaker informed the House that the latter had raised a complaint over the issue.

"The issue will be placed before the Privileges Committee, once it is constituted, for a recommendation," the Speaker said. He added that Markandayan's public speech had caused widespread anguish. Responding to his remark, Markandayan expressed regret, saying DMK president MK Stalin and senior party leaders, including Udhayanidhi Stalin, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, EV Velu and KN Nehru, had advised him to maintain political decorum. "Such an incident will not happen again. I request everyone to forget that episode," he said.

Senior DMK MLA EV Velu argued that Markandayan had already been arrested and was facing judicial proceedings, and questioned the need for a parallel inquiry by the House. However, Prabhakar maintained that since the remarks were directed against both the Assembly and the Chief Minister, the legislature was well within its rights to examine the matter through the Privileges Committee.

The move follows directions from the Health and Family Welfare Department in connection with a case pending before the Madras High Court, where a petition sought the formulation of a uniform SOP governing post-mortem examinations and forensic procedures.

In an official communication dated August 5, the DMER asked the committee to examine the existing procedures followed across the State, identify areas requiring standardisation, recommend best practices and suggest measures for evolving a comprehensive SOP. The committee comprises 11 experts drawn from the departments of forensic medicine, pathology, biochemistry, microbiology and radiology from government medical colleges and institutions across Tamil Nadu.

Dr M Guhan, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Tirupur, has been named the State Nodal Officer for Forensic Medicine and will be part of the panel.

The Directorate has directed the committee members to submit the draft SOP and recommendations on or before August 10. The draft will then be deliberated upon and further refined after incorporating the views of representatives to be nominated by the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Director General of Police and Director of the Forensic Sciences Department before being submitted to the State government.

Replying to AIADMK MLA Agri SS Krishnamurthy during the debate on the Revised Budget and Revised Agriculture Budget 2026-27, Marie Wilson said budgetary allocations should be assessed against revised estimates and actual expenditure rather than Budget Estimates alone.

He noted that under the previous DMK government, the School Education Department's allocation of Rs 44,042 crore in the 2024-25 Budget Estimate was revised to Rs 40,412 crore, with actual expenditure standing at Rs 38,759 crore. Likewise, the 2025-26 allocation of Rs 46,766 crore was revised to Rs 43,192 crore, while actual spending stood at Rs 42,351 crore.

"For 2026-27, the Interim Budget had earmarked Rs 8,176 crore towards non-salary expenditure for school education. In the Revised Budget, we have increased it to Rs 8,203 crore. We have not reduced funds. The government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will never compromise on school education or any form of education," Wilson said.

Earlier, Krishnamurthy alleged that the revised Budget had lowered the overall allocation for the School Education Department and accused the government of repackaging AIADMK-era welfare schemes under new names. Citing the free bicycle, laptop and goat distribution schemes, he asked, "You promised change. Is this the change?"

Ministers R Nirmalkumar and Aadhav Arjuna rejected the charge, maintaining that no welfare scheme had been discontinued. Aadhav Arjuna said the government had retained Amma Unavagam without renaming it and strengthened its functioning through additional financial support.

AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said the controversy could have been avoided had the government retained the original names of existing schemes, while DMK deputy opposition leader KN Nehru defended the continuation of Amma Unavagam during the previous regime and disputed claims that it had received exclusive government funding.

Speaking during the debate, the Rishivandiyam MLA named Aadhav Arjuna and described him as a close friend. Deputy Speaker M Ravishankar promptly reminded him to address him only as "the minister" in keeping with Assembly conventions.

Smiling, Karthikeyan said, "Please do not separate our friendship." He then disclosed that when Aadhav Arjuna was in the DMK, he had taken him to the party leadership, introduced him as his relative, and helped him secure the party nomination to contest the 2016 Assembly election.

The unexpected revelation drew laughter from members across the House.

Joining the banter, Water Resources Minister N Anand remarked, "Why are you dragging in the Public Works Minister, who has been sitting quietly?" His comment triggered another round of laughter in the Assembly.

Leaders of major political parties, including the ruling TVK, joined the protest and assured the demonstrators that they would take up the issue with the state government to prevent the eviction of residents from 98 villages under nine panchayats, including Megamalai, Varusanadu and Thummakundu, in the Kadamalaikundu-Myladumparai Union.

The protest comes in the wake of the Supreme Court's May 29 order, in which, based on the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), it directed the Tamil Nadu government to implement a time-bound eviction plan to clear long-pending encroachments in protected forests, take action against government employee encroachers and restore reclaimed forest land.

However, members of the Traditional Forest Dwellers' Rights Association (TFDRA) contended that the legal rights guaranteed to traditional forest dwellers under the FRA were not adequately brought to the notice of the apex court.

"While the Supreme Court relied on the CEC to arrive at its conclusions, was it not the duty of the state government to explain that the separate legal mechanism prescribed under the FRA should be followed to determine whether a person has rights over forest land?" asked the association's secretary, Marthu Pandi, who participated in the protest.

Puyal Mannan (54), a third-generation farmer from Thummakundu village, said, "Like our forefathers, we depend on this land for our livelihood. Earlier generations cultivated millets, but today we grow silk cotton, cashew and lemongrass to meet family expenses and educate our children. We earn less than Rs 2 lakh a year. I wonder how the Court concluded that farmers do not need this land for their livelihood."

The protesters said the Forest Department had issued eviction notices asking them to vacate the land while calling upon them to submit objections.

"Now we have learnt that, under the FRA, the Gram Sabha alone has the authority to determine the claims of traditional forest dwellers and recommend the grant of pattas," said one of the protesters.

According to the association, families that have cultivated forest land for three generations are eligible to seek recognition of their rights under the FRA.

Pandi contended that the High Court had overlooked the FRA's self-contained mechanism for deciding forest rights through the Gram Sabha, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) and the District Level Committee (DLC). He urged the state government to place this legal position before the Supreme Court.

The protesters said that, unlike earlier forest laws that primarily focused on conservation, the Forest Rights Act recognises traditional forest dwellers as an integral part of the forest ecosystem and entrusts them with rights and responsibilities to protect it.

Following the protest, the demonstrators submitted a memorandum to Theni District Collector R Vaithinathan, seeking the state government's intervention to safeguard their legal rights.

The meeting, held on behalf of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, was attended by Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KA Sengottaiyan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, Vinoth, P Venkataramanan and V Gandhiraj, along with senior officials and representatives of various farmers’ organisations, including Tamil Nadu Coordination Committee of All Farmers’ Associations president PR Pandian and Desiya Thenindhiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam president P Ayyakannu.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Pandian said the delegation pressed for a comprehensive crop loan waiver, a procurement price of Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.

“The ministers assured us that all our demands would be placed before the Chief Minister. We have returned with the hope that appropriate announcements will be made in the Assembly,” he said.

Pandian said the government explained that implementing a farm loan waiver required settling the entire amount with lending institutions upfront, posing financial challenges. Nevertheless, he said the Chief Minister was committed to ensuring that the benefits reached all eligible farmers.

On the Cauvery dispute, Pandian maintained that Karnataka could not move forward on the Mekedatu project without statutory approvals and said the neighbouring state’s recent all-party meeting had failed to produce any breakthrough.

Ayyakannu urged the state government to initiate legal proceedings seeking Rs 1 lakh crore in compensation from Karnataka for allegedly withholding Cauvery water and affecting kuruvai cultivation. He also demanded that procurement centres eliminate bribery and welcomed the assurance that farmers’ grievances would receive further consideration in the Assembly.

CPI MLA K Marimuthu said the government had assured the delegation that a more satisfactory announcement on crop loan waiver would be made during the current Assembly session, raising hopes among protesting farmers.

But what they chanced upon has turned out to be a treasure trove that suggests that the site may have been occupied between about 3,00,000 and 10,000 years ago, and also offer insights into how early humans selected raw materials, migrated, and adapted to environmental changes.

The field survey team led by associate professor and Head (in-charge) J Soundarrajan, along with faculty members, research scholars, and students, began surveying the area to identify sites for future excavation.

Much to their delight, they seem to have discovered evidence of early human occupation in Kathiyavadi village, marked by assemblage of Stone Age tools made entirely from locally available quartz.

The researchers found a wide range of stone tools spanning different prehistoric periods, from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Microlithic period. The Middle Palaeolithic assemblage includes various types of cores, scrapers, burins, and notched tools. The team also recovered large quantities of stone debitage, indicating that tools were manufactured at the site. Finely crafted Microlithic tools were also found, reflecting changes in stone tool technology over time.

Based on comparisons with well-known archaeological sites such as Attirampakkam and other Microlithic sites in South India, researchers estimate that the site was occupied between about 3,00,000 and 10,000 years ago.

The discovery is significant because all the artefacts were made from locally available quartz. Earlier studies in north Tamil Nadu had largely focused on quartzite tools. The Kathiyavadi findings suggest that prehistoric communities in this part of Ranipet may have developed a long-standing tradition of using quartz, adapting the same raw material as tool-making techniques evolved over thousands of years.

Speaking to DT Next, Soundarrajan said the site could provide valuable insights into how early humans selected raw materials, moved across the region, and adapted to changing environmental conditions.

He said the team was now planning to undertake a detailed and systematic excavation at the site, which could yield further evidence on its age, settlement patterns and the evolution of Stone Age technology.

The discovery places Kathiyavadi among the important prehistoric sites in South India and is expected to contribute significantly to understanding the early human history of Tamil Nadu.

As part of the operation, the Chennai Cyber Crime Wing detained more than 80 people, while several others were detained across the state for questioning.

Police said searches are still under way in some districts and further details about the arrests will be released after the investigation progresses.

According to investigators, cyber criminals involved in online trading frauds, digital arrest scams, online gaming frauds and other financial crimes used bank accounts obtained from members of the public to receive and transfer illegal funds.

Many account holders allegedly handed over access to their accounts in return for commissions or cash payments.

Police said cyber crime victims in Tamil Nadu have reported losses of about Rs 1,897 crore last year, prompting the special enforcement drive under the direction of Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal.

Investigators are examining financial transactions and digital evidence to identify the organised networks behind the frauds. Police also warned the public against sharing or renting out bank accounts, ATM cards, cheque books or internet banking credentials, stating that account holders could face criminal prosecution if their accounts are used for cyber crimes.

Participating in the Special Calling Attention Motion on the Mekedatu issue, CPM MLA R Chellaswamy said it was inappropriate for the Chief Minister to say that he was prepared to face humiliation in the interest of the State, over talks with Karnataka.

"We will win the Mekedatu issue through legal means and need not surrender to anybody. If the Chief Minister bears any humiliation, it is equivalent to the people of Tamil Nadu bearing that humiliation," Chellaswamy said.

The CPM, which extends outside support to the TVK-led government, was the only supporting party to publicly criticise the Chief Minister's statement made during the Assembly debate on the Cauvery issue.

The deceased, S Pranav Padmadev from Dindigul, was studying second-year engineering at a private college in Coimbatore, staying in a room with friends in Kuniamuthur.

He was in a one-sided love with a girl studying in the same college. On Thursday (August 6) night, he hanged himself while alone in the room. His shocked friends rushed him to a nearby hospital; however, he died by then.

In an Instagram post, Pranav claimed to have taken the extreme step as he couldn’t succeed in his love. The Kuniamuthur police have registered a case.

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

On a tip-off that the sedative pills were sold at the Cantonment roundabout in Tiruchy, the police went to the spot and arrested D Velankanni (48), a resident of Pudukkottai, for selling banned tobacco items.

The police seized the contraband from him. Based on inputs from Velankanni, the Ariyamangalam police secured Sakthi alias Sakthi Enthiran (30), a history-sheeter from Ambikapuram.

Sedative pills and syringes were seized. Similarly, the Srirangam police arrested a notorious criminal, Dinesh Babu (30), from Moolathoppu in Srirangam while peddling sedative pills.

According to a Government Order issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, the funds have been allocated to various departments and district administrations to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply.

Among the allocations, 12 districts, including Coimbatore, Dindigul, Tiruvarur, Virudhunagar, Salem, Dharmapuri and Karur, have been sanctioned Rs 36.65 crore for emergency drinking water supply measures.

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board has been allotted Rs 58.55 crore, while the Town Panchayats Department has received Rs 96.41 crore to improve water supply infrastructure and distribution.

The Municipal Administration Department has been allocated Rs 97.36 crore, the largest share of the sanctioned amount, for ensuring drinking water supply in urban local bodies.

The allocation has been made from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to help local bodies and government agencies meet the increased demand for drinking water during the ongoing dry spell.

Alerted by her cries for help, nearby residents rushed to the spot and managed to chase the elephant away. Kavitha sustained severe injuries in the attack and was initially taken to the Kotagiri Government Hospital. After receiving first aid, she was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Udhagamandalam (Ooty), where she is undergoing treatment.

The incident triggered outrage among residents, who attempted to stage a road blockade, alleging that recurring human-wildlife conflict has become a serious threat to people living in forest-fringe villages.

Police personnel from Sholurmattam and forest department officials rushed to the spot and held discussions with the protesting villagers.

During the talks, residents demanded regular forest patrols, particularly during the morning and evening hours when plantation workers and schoolchildren travel through the area. They also urged the local panchayat to repair and maintain non-functional streetlights, saying improved lighting would enhance public safety and help reduce encounters with wild animals.

Police said she was alone at home when the incident occurred. Her unmarried son, Satheesh (42), works at a private company in Irungattukottai near Sriperumbudur.

According to investigators, Mariammal’s daughter, Suhasini (44), who lives in Tiruvallur, visited the house on Friday afternoon and found her mother lying in the kitchen with multiple stab injuries. She also noticed that the three-sovereign gold chain Mariammal had been wearing was missing.

Mariammal was immediately taken to the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Sevvapet police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. Police suspect the murder was carried out with the intention of stealing the victim’s jewellery. Efforts are under way to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The panel, which held its first meeting on July 31, resolved to seek views from the general public, associations, academicians, research scholars, and institutions engaged in public finance, according to an official release.

The committee is looking for measures to augment the state's own tax and non-tax revenues, and to improve revenue buoyancy, efficiency, and self-reliance.

Stakeholders have been asked to email their suggestions to tnrac@tn.gov.in, preferably before August 11. The views can be submitted in English, Tamil, or both.

To facilitate follow-up and categorisation, the government has requested senders to indicate the broad category of their suggestion in the email's subject line. These categories include GST, Stamp Duty and Registration, State Excise, Motor Vehicle Tax, Mining, Non-Tax Revenue, or General.

The state finance department noted that suggestions on any other matter relevant to Tamil Nadu's revenues are also welcome.

The deceased, S Ashwin (22) from Sikkalampalayam near Kinathukadavu, had consumed liquor in the house of his friend Vignesh at Sakthi Nagar on Wednesday night. They then slept in separate rooms.

In the late night hours, Madesh (21) and the 16-year-old boy entered the house and murdered Ashwin by stabbing him multiple times with a knife, slit his throat and smashed his head with a hammer.

They then recorded a selfie video with the corpse, while grabbing the knife in their mouth and sent it to their friends on WhatsApp, before fleeing from the spot.

As the shocking video triggered an uproar, the Superintendent of Police A Pavan Kumar Reddy formed three special teams, who perused surveillance cameras in the neighbourhood to nab the culprits.

Based on information that the two accused were at a railway bridge near Kodangipalayam, the police reached the spot. On noticing the police, the duo attempted to flee and jumped off the bridge. Madesh suffered a fracture in his hand.

The police secured them subsequently and admitted Madesh to Pollachi GH and then to Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. The accused claimed that a dispute arose between them and Ashwin after an argument over buying him liquor, which led to the attack. Police seized the two-wheeler, two knives, a hammer and two cell phones.

The minister said that Tamil Nadu had also filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking the withdrawal of the Central Water Commission's guidelines that could facilitate new projects in the Cauvery basin, arguing that the basin remained water-deficit and could not sustain additional upstream interventions.

He noted that the State had strongly asserted its rights during the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee meeting held on July 28, but said that Karnataka had not fully complied with the directions of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

Anand said the Tamil Nadu government had urged the CWMA to direct Karnataka to immediately release the pending share of water and make good the deficit in proportion to the shortfall. He added that the State had also approached the Supreme Court seeking appropriate relief.

Explaining the delay in opening the Mettur dam for irrigation, the minister said the customary June 12 release could not be made due to low inflows. The government had prioritised drinking water needs and managed the reservoir cautiously. He said the decision on opening the dam for irrigation would be taken after assessing inflows from Karnataka, the storage level in the Mettur reservoir, irrigation requirements and drinking water needs.

On the proposed Mekedatu dam, Anand said the Chief Minister had written to the Prime Minister and the Union government on several occasions urging them not to grant any technical, environmental or other statutory clearances for the project.

He added that the State had initiated legal proceedings before the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal to oppose the project.

The May 18 meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended 19 names, of whom 15 have been appointed.

The eight advocates appointed as judges are Rajnish Pathiyil, Natarajan Ramesh (both of whom were appearing for ED in various cases), Krishnaswamy Govindarajan, GK Muthukumaar, Ramakrishnan Rajesh Vivekananthan, Sankaranarayanan Raveekumar, Nagarajan Dilip Kumar, and Ellappan Manoharan.

The seven district judges who were elevated are S Alli, Dr P Murugan, MD Sumathi, Shanmugam Karthikeyan, Baluchamy Murugesan, N Gunasekaran, and Thirumagal Chandrasekar. Of them, Alli was the Registrar General before retiring two months ago (the retirement age for RG is 60 while that of judges is 62). Alli was also the judge who had initially heard the ED case against senior DMK leader V Senthilbalaji.

The HC, which has a sanctioned strength of 75 judges, now has 66 judges.

The decomposed body, with the head and limbs missing, was found packed inside a red trolley suitcase in a general coach of the train at Agra Cantt railway station on August 5.

Passengers alerted railway authorities after noticing a foul smell and blood seeping from the luggage. The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) recovered the suitcase and sent the remains for post-mortem. A slip, found on the plastic wrapping, prompted investigators to dispatch a special team to Chennai.

GRP has been browsing over 350 CCTV footages trying to locate the handlers of the suitcase. According to preliminary findings, CCTV footage from Central railway station showed a man and a woman arriving together with the red suitcase. The duo placed the luggage inside a general coach of the train before leaving the station separately.

Police have also recovered a carry-bag belonging to a city-based retail chain in which the body parts had been wrapped. Billing receipts found inside the suitcase are being examined to identify the purchaser and establish the victim’s identity.

Investigators believed the suitcase was loaded onto the train at Central station nearly two days before it was discovered in Agra. CCTV footage from stations along the train’s route is also being reviewed to reconstruct its movement.

Forensic experts have been roped in for DNA profiling and other scientific testing. Meanwhile, the city police are scrutinising recent missing person complaints to identify the victim.

A Division Bench comprising Justices CV Karthikeyan and S Sakthivel issued the direction on a PIL filed by advocate Thirumurugan from Ramanathapuram. The petitioner also sought a direction to the State government to formulate an appropriate policy permitting the regulated tapping, manufacture, transportation and sale of palmyra and coconut toddy.

Stating that the State itself regulates and markets Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer, and other alcoholic beverages through statutory mechanisms, the petitioner contended that the government should objectively examine whether a similar regulatory model could be devised for toddy, rather than continuing an absolute prohibition without reconsideration.

The petitioner further submitted that several neighbouring states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa and the Union Territory of Puducherry, permit the tapping and sale of toddy under statutory licensing systems administered by their respective Excise Departments. These states have demonstrated that regulation, rather than total prohibition, can balance public health, revenue generation, environmental protection, and traditional livelihoods, he said.

He further submitted that successive governments in Kerala have consistently supported regulated toddy tapping as an important source of rural employment and have protected the occupation through statutory regulation.

The petitioner also submitted that, during the pre-Independence period and thereafter, the government gradually introduced prohibition measures to discourage excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor. However, he argued that today scientific testing, food safety regulations, digital monitoring, laboratory certification, licensing systems, GPS tracking, quality control measures and strict excise supervision are available.

Therefore, he contended that absolute prohibition is no longer the only available policy option. As his representations to the authorities elicited no positive response, he approached the High Court seeking appropriate relief.

In a statement, DMK general secretary Duraimurugan said the party's stance was clear that any delimitation exercise should be carried out fairly and should not affect Tamil Nadu's interests or its representation.

Duraimurugan said the party remained firm on the stand adopted at the all-party meeting convened by the then DMK-led government in March last year.

"No political party has the sole authority to advise on the issue of delimitation of constituencies. The DMK was the first party to raise this issue, and party president MK Stalin coordinated like-minded political parties on it," Duraimurugan said.

He, however, said the TVK-led government should convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu dam issue, similar to the one conducted in Karnataka.

"The DMK has no hesitation in participating in the TVK government's meeting on delimitation, as our stand has already been made clear. However, the TVK-led government remains silent on the Mekedatu dam issue, apparently to avoid hurting its new ally, the Congress," Duraimurugan alleged, pointing out that the government is not heeding demands to convene an all-party meeting on the inter-state water sharing issue.

He said Tamil Nadu should express its united stand on the Mekedatu issue and urged the government not to indulge in what he termed "diversionary politics," casting aspersions on the decision to convene a meeting of all MPs over delimitation even as the party didn't yield to a similar demand on the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues.

Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan also directed the Home Department to deploy additional police personnel at busy Tasmac shops to manage the crowd.

The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed by G Devarajan seeking directions to the DVAC and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to register cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against employees of 30 Tasmac outlets, including those in Perambur, Koyambedu, Manali, Kolathur and Madhavaram, for allegedly selling liquor above the prescribed price.

During the hearing, Tasmac informed the court that it had issued a circular directing all shops to issue bills for every sale and maintain queues. The staff have been instructed that each liquor bottle must be scanned using a handheld device and a bill must be generated and given to the customer, and added that sale without a bill has been prohibited.

The court pointed out that supermarkets issue bills even for the purchase of a single toothbrush, while the State of Kerala ensures that retail liquor shops issue bills to consumers. He questioned why a similar system could not be implemented in Tamil Nadu.

The court then directed consumers to approach the police if liquor was sold above the MRP and directed the DVAC to look into the allegations made by the petitioner. The plea was subsequently closed.