He pointed out that nearly 2,000 books published by ‘Agal Vilakku’ had been stocked at the facility, despite Tamil Nadu having more than 100 publishing houses. He questioned the rationale behind procuring such a large collection from a single publisher.

Comparing the prices with prevailing rates in the Tamil publishing industry, Murugan said a 100-page book would generally cost around Rs 150, while publications by well-known authors might be priced at Rs 200. “However, several books at the library were priced at Rs 1,500 or more, nearly five times the usual rate,” he said.

He also questioned the quality and authenticity of the publications, claiming that several appeared to have been entirely generated using artificial intelligence. “The language did not resemble natural Tamil, while the authors named on the covers did not appear to have published any other works. These can only be described as fake books. The content, language and credentials of the authors raise serious doubts about their authenticity," he said.

Pointing out that several bundles remained unopened, Murugan said examining them could reveal further irregularities involving amounts running into crores of rupees.

He urged the State government to identify the distributors, officials who authorised the purchases and the owners of the publishing house, and take immediate action against those responsible.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting the Kumbakonam railway station facelift works at Rs 150 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and the double line conversion of Aduthurai-Sundaraperumal Kovil section to a distance of 22 kms at Rs 164 crore, Subba Rao said a tender has been floated for the double line conversion of Aduthurai-Sundaraperumal Kovil section.

Stating that all the developmental works, including double lining, basic amenities and widening the foot over bridge, would be completed well ahead of the upcoming Masi Mahamaham event in Kumbakonam. “Additional platforms are also being established. Adequate special trains would be operated for hassle-free commuting. Temporary employees would be appointed to assist the devotees," Subba Rao said.

He also stated that the project report has been readied for the Kumbakonam-Virudhachalam section.

Tiruchy Divisional Railway Manager Balak Ram Negi, Station Master Muruganandam, Southern Railway headquarters engineers, divisional engineers and others accompanied.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Mannan at the CCB office, Raju said Mannan and Mustafa are long-time close friends and call each other “maman” and “maithunar” (terms for maternal uncle and brother-in-law).

Explaining the conversation Mannan allegedly had with Mustafa, Raju said Mannan called him to ask about social media posts alleging that a TVK functionary, Kaniraj (Mustafa’s personal assistant), had demanded money to provide party posts in the Madurai Central constituency. Mustafa said he would talk to Mannan later, as he was travelling by train. Raju clarified, adding that this was the only conversation Mannan had with the MLA and that he had not engaged in horse-trading, as the latter claimed.

Raju said the Police Commissioner sent Mannan a notice on November 5, asking him to appear in person on November 7 to explain a complaint. “Then why have the police taken him away in the wee hours of November 6? He is neither a terrorist nor a drug smuggler. He has served the people. They are keeping him as if they were confining a terrorist,” he said.

He further alleged that the TVK government was using such tactics to deflect criticism instead of addressing people’s issues.

Raju said, “Our general secretary has not the slightest such thought. The AIADMK has won votes by meeting people directly and telling them about its achievements over 31 years in power. Even now, we have won votes by contesting alone. Therefore, we have no intention of capturing power through shortcuts.”

Commenting on the way the police were treating Mannan, he said that Mannan had already undergone bypass surgery and had health problems.

Youth detained after molestation bid on school girl on bus

Ariyalur police secured a youth who reportedly misbehaved with a Class 12 girl on a moving TNSTC bus on Thursday late evening. School students were returning home after class on Thursday evening by a TNSTC bus bound from Ariyalur via V-Kaikatti.

When the bus was proceeding from Ariyalur, a youth who was said to be in an inebriated condition attempted to misbehave with one of the girls.

As the girl raised the alarm, the co-passengers secured the youth and handed him over to the Ariyalur All Women police. He was identified as Arun, a driver from Ponparappi Kudikadu village near Sendurai.

NIT Tiruchy student kills self in hostel

A final-year student from NIT, Tiruchy, committed suicide by hanging in the hostel room here on Friday, frustrated over a relationship failure.

A Shirthick (21), a resident from Chrompet in Chennai, was pursuing BTech at NIT, Tiruchy. As his hostel room remained shut for a long time, his classmate Prassanna opened the window to check. He found Shrithick hanging dead.

Soon, the institute alerted the Thuvakudi police, who sent his body to Thuvakudi GH. The police found that Shrithick was in love with his senior.

The police also retrieved letters written to his lover and family members. Further investigations are on.

Man held for land records tampering in Tiruvarur

A man was arrested for allegedly tampering with official land records at a Sub-Registrar office in Tiruvarur to facilitate the illegal transfer and sale of properties, police said on Thursday.

Based on a complaint lodged by the District Registrar, Tiruvarur, the CB-CID registered a case on August 21 against the accused Sasikumar, along with officials of the Tiruvarur Joint Sub-Registrar Office and other private individuals.

Sasikumar conspired with officials to erase existing particulars in official records and insert fabricated details to illegally obtain 'pattas' for properties belonging to the Virudhachalam Kumara Devar Mutt, the Tiruvarur Dakshinamurthy Mutt, certain temple lands, and private lands located in Adiyakkamangalam Village. The accused subsequently sold these properties. Sasikumar was arrested on November 3.

Woman arrested for stealing gold, cash in Chennai

A 51-year-old domestic help was arrested for allegedly stealing gold jewellery and cash from her employer’s house in Mylapore. The police recovered around 53 sovereigns of jewellery and Rs 15.5 lakh in cash from her.

The complainant, V Padma (85), a retired government official lives with her daughter on Karaneeswarar Koil 2nd Street in Mylapore. The arrested woman, Manimekalai of Mandaveli, has been working as a domestic help at her house for the past 15 years.

Prisoner dies at Stanley Hospital, probe on

The police are investigating the death of a prisoner who died while undergoing treatment at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital on Thursday.

R Ramesh Kumar (49) of Selvalakshmi Nagar near DNK Puram in Tirupur was convicted in a case registered at the Tirupur North police station in 2021 and was serving his sentence at the Coimbatore Central Prison.

According to prison officials, he was recently diagnosed with jaundice. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Puzhal Prison on October 28 for further treatment.

He was admitted to Stanley Hospital, where he was receiving intensive care.

Despite treatment, he died on Thursday. The Puzhal police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Officials said the body has been sent for autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Chennai: Domestic help arrested for stealing 53 sovereign jewellery, Rs 16 lakh from 85-yr-old employer

A 51-year-old domestic help was arrested for allegedly stealing gold jewellery and cash from her employer's house in Mylapore. The police recovered around 53 sovereigns of jewellery and Rs 15.5 lakh in cash from her.

The complainant, V Padma (85), a retired government official lives with her daughter on Karaneeswarar Koil 2nd Street in Mylapore. The arrested woman, Manimekalai of Mandaveli, has been working as a domestic help at her house for the past 15 years.

On Wednesday, Manimekalai allegedly stole a box containing the cash and gold jewellery from the house. Based on Padma's complaint, the Mylapore police registered a case and began investigations.

A police team conducted a detailed inquiry at the spot and detained Manimekalai for questioning. Investigation revealed that she had access to all parts of the house and had stolen the box containing the cash and jewellery when the elderly woman was in another room.

After investigations, the police arrested Manimekalai and recovered the stolen valuables. She told the investigators that she stole the valuables to repay debts she had incurred. Officials said that she would be produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

15 school students injured in beetle attack in Kumbakonam

As many as 15 students from Kumbakonam were admitted to the GH after being stung by swarms of beetles on the premises of a government school on Thursday.

A swarm of beetles from a tree on the Government Girls Higher Secondary School premises in Tirunaraiyur stung students.

A few sustained injuries. On hearing them screaming, the teachers rescued them and rushed the injured to the Nachiyarkoil GH, where they underwent treatment till evening. Later, they were sent to their houses.

Based on the complaint by VAO Thiyagu, the police registered a case and conducted an inquiry. Meanwhile, the fire and rescue personnel removed the beetle nest from the particular tree.

Unemployed Kerala youth turns to smuggling, caught by Chennai Air Customs with 5 kg hydroponic ganja

A 27-year-old youth from Kerala, who was struggling to find a job after completing his graduation, turned to drug smuggling for an international ring, only to land in the Puzhal Central Prison after being nabbed by the Air Customs officials at the Chennai international airport for ferrying 5 kg of high-quality hydroponic ganja from Thailand via Kuala Lumpur.

The officials who were monitoring passengers arriving from Thailand via Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday became suspicious of the flyer who had returned to Chennai after visiting Thailand as a tourist. When questioned, he reportedly failed to cooperate properly with the officials. He was taken to the Customs office for further questioning, and his luggage was thoroughly checked.

During the search, officials found packets of processed food items in his luggage. Hidden between these packets were several other packets containing high-quality hydroponic ganja. A total of 5 kg of hydroponic ganja was seized from him.

Following this, the officials arrested the youth and seized the drugs. During further questioning, officials found that the young man was a graduate who had been unable to find a job. He had allegedly agreed to work as a drug courier for a smuggling gang. The arrested youth was produced before a court and remanded in Puzhal Prison.

The officials are now investigating further to find out the members of the smuggling ring who lured the youth.

Kumbakonam man held for illegal cracker manufacturing

Kumbakonam police on Thursday arrested a man on charges of illegally manufacturing and selling country crackers ahead of Deepavali.

Vijayapandian (37), a resident of Muppakovil in Kumbakonam, is a construction worker.

Acting on a tip-off that Vijayapandian has been illegally selling crackers to regular customers and making varieties of crackers for the past few weeks, the Kumbakonam East police conducted a surprise search in his house late Wednesday,

They seized 50 gunny bags full of country crackers and around 500 kgs of raw material from the house. The police registered a case and arrested Vijayapandian early Thursday.

Woman cop dies of cardiac arrest on way to work in Thanjavur

A woman head constable died of a sudden cardiac arrest while commuting from her home to work in Thanjavur on Thursday.

According to sources, S Muthu Nachiyar (39), a resident of Keezhavastha Chavadi in Thanjavur, was working as a head constable in Kallaperambur police station.

On Thursday, while Muthu Nachiyar was on her way to work, she suddenly suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed. Soon, the passersby rushed her to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.

However, the doctors declared her dead upon arrival. She is survived by her husband, Sankar, an Armed Reserve personnel, a son and a daughter. 

Burglars plunder 10 sovereigns of gold from retired teacher's house in Tiruvarur

Miscreants decamped with 160 sovereigns of gold jewellery belonging to a retired teacher in Tiruvarur in the early hours of Thursday. The police have retrieved CCTV footage and are searching for unidentified persons.

The incident occurred when Govindaraj (65), a retired teacher, residing at Karuppukilar village in Tiruvarur, had gone to Bengaluru with his family members to give ‘Deepavali seer (gift)’ to one of his daughters. They had left on November 2 and returned on Thursday.

Upon returning home, they were shocked to see the front door of their house broken. Govindaraj found the almirah in one of the rooms damaged and 160 sovereign gold ornaments and cash of Rs 10,000 missing. The value of the gold ornaments was said to be around Rs 2 crore.

Soon, he passed on the information to the Kottur police, who registered a case. The information about the theft was also passed on to the Tiruvarur SP, V Satish Kumar. The SP, along with a police team, visited the spot and conducted an inquiry with the retired teacher Govindaraj.

Fingerprint experts were also deployed while the police retrieved CCTV footage near Govindaraj's house. Further investigation is on, and a search is under way for the culprits.

Class 10 boy severely injured after leaping off school building

A Class 10 boy leapt from the second floor of his school after exam invigilator found him exchanging papers during a model exam on Wednesday.

According to reports, CBSE students in Class 10 and 12 were now involved in preparing for model examinations. On Wednesday, while an examination was going on, a Class 10 boy reportedly exchanged his paper with a classmate, which was found by the invigilator. He was caught red-handed and the invigilator inquired with him.

While the invigilator was talking with him, the boy suddenly ran out of the classroom and jumped from the second floor of the school.

On impact, he sustained severe fractures in his hand and hip. The school authorities rushed to his rescue immediately and moved him to a private hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment.

The E-Pudhur police registered a case and are investigating.

DMK man hacked to death over financial dispute

A DMK functionary, identified as Lakshmanan, was hacked to death by a gang near Kodaikanal in Dindigul district.

Police suspect that a dispute over money between Lakshmanan and one Ajith of Meenatchipuram led to the murder. According to the initial information, the gang had first attacked Lakshmanan's son in an attempt to murder him.

However, he escaped and lodged a complaint with the police. The assailants subsequently targeted his father, Lakshmanan, and hacked him to death. Following the incident, police have launched a search for Ajith and other suspects who fled the scene.

Dindigul Superintendent of Police Jayakumar is conducting an intensive investigation into the murder.

14-yr-old boy succumbs to fever after falling unconscious in school

A Class 8 boy who fell unconscious on his school premises died after undergoing treatment in the hospital in Tiruchy on Wednesday.

Sources said that on October 31, S Mohammed Yasin (14), studying in a private school near Pullambadi in Tiruchy, fell unconscious on the school premises after vomiting. Soon, the school authorities took him to a private hospital for treatment. The boy reportedly developed a fever for a couple of days, and the temperature failed to subside.

He was shifted to another hospital at Kallakudi near Lalgudi, but his condition had worsened. The boy was shifted again to the Tiruchy Government Hospital to continue treatment. Unfortunately, the boy's treatment failed, and he succumbed.

Based on the complaint by Mohammed Yasin's father, Seit Mohammed, the Kallakudi police registered a case and are investigating. The police also conducted an inquiry at the school and with the doctors who treated him.

Man gets triple life term for wife's murder

Karur Mahila Fast Track Court on Wednesday awarded a triple life sentence to a man who murdered his wife over a domestic quarrel and burnt the body to destroy evidence.

On November 9, 2023, Sivakumar of Kulathupalayam quarrelled with his wife, Palaniammal, and later took her on a drive in their car to pacify her. Sivakumar later severely assaulted her, and she died on the spot. He then burned her body to destroy evidence.

After a few days, Palaniammal's parents lodged a missing person complaint with the Aravakurichi police. Subsequently, the police arrested Sivakumar following a probe.

The Mahila court judge Thangavel, who heard the case, awarded triple life term and a fine of Rs 10,000 to Sivakumar. He has been lodged in Tiruchy Central Prison.

History sheeter hacked to death in Madurai

A notorious history-sheeter was hacked to death by an unidentified gang near Samayanallur in Madurai district in the wee hours on Monday, police said.

The deceased, identified as Surya alias ‘Kuttisaku’, a resident of Sadachiamman Nagar in Samayanallur, had over 10 pending criminal cases against him, including charges of murder and assault. According to the police, the incident occurred when Surya was consuming alcohol at the old panchayat office complex located on the Madurai-Dindigul National

Highway around 2 am. An armed gang confronted him and attacked him with lethal weapons. His face was severely disfigured in the attack, and he died on the spot before the assailants fled the scene.

Upon receiving information, the Samayanallur police rushed to the site, recovered the body, and sent it to the Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Preliminary investigations suggest that prior enmity and retaliation could be the motive behind the murder.

The police have launched an intensive investigation and are currently on the lookout for the absconding gang members, officials added.

VCK man’s murder: DMK cadre among 5 held

Five people, including a DMK functionary, have been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a VCK functionary at a petrol pump here, police said on Monday.

The Police apprehended all five suspects within six hours of the incident after reviewing CCTV footage from the fuel station. The deceased, Balamurugan (40), was a former VCK union secretary for Ottapidaram who ran a vegetable shop and worked as a van driver.

According to the police, the murder was the fallout of a dispute over the placement of flex banners on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road. The fatal attack occurred around 6 am on Sunday. Balamurugan had gone to a fuel outlet on Sethupathi Road to refuel his two-wheeler when a five-member gang arriving on two motorcycles surrounded him. They hacked him with sickles, and he died on the spot.

The Thalamuthunagar police recovered the body and sent it to the Thoothukudi Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Based on a complaint filed by Balamurugan’s wife, Sudha, a case was registered at the Thalamuthunagar police station.

The incident triggered tension in the highly populated area. Hundreds of locals and relatives of the victim staged a road blockade on the Sottaiyan Thoppu main road, disrupting traffic and demanding immediate action against the killers. The protest was withdrawn after senior police officials held talks and assured them of swift arrests. Over 200 police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Woman smuggles 800g gold, held in Coimbatore airport

A woman passenger from Sharjah was arrested for smuggling 808.27 grams of gold, valued at around Rs 1.15 crore, at the Coimbatore International Airport on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, officials of the Customs Intelligence Unit intensified surveillance and screened over 200 passengers. During the checks, they found that the woman had concealed gold in paste form inside her garments. The officials recovered 808.27 grams of gold, valued at approximately Rs 1.15 crore, from her possession. The woman was detained, and the seized gold was confiscated. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain whether others were involved in the smuggling operation.

Ennore: Week after son's arrest in Pocso case, father held for similar offence

Days after his 32-year-old son was arrested for alleged sexual assault on a two-and-a-half-year-old girl child in Ennore, his 61-year-old father was arrested in a similar complaint.

The arrested person was identified as Desingh. He had allegedly behaved inappropriately with a 7-year-old girl in June, according to the police. The police said the two families had earlier tried to resolve the matter through a local community meeting, and no complaint was filed at that time.

The matter came to light again after the accused's son was taken into custody last week in a separate case registered under the Pocso Act concerning a toddler from the same locality.

Following the recent arrest of his son, the mother of the 7-year-old survivor approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Based on her complaint, Ennore police registered a case and arrested Desingh on Saturday. He was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.

Earlier, Desingh's son, Ranjithkumar, was arrested on October 26 after he allegedly lured a child to his house twice last week and had allegedly sexually abused her.

63-yr-old woman killed as tanker rams bike near Pallikaranai

A 63-year-old woman died on the spot, and her husband was injured after a private water tanker hit their two-wheeler from behind near Pallikaranai on Saturday.

The victim was identified as Indumathi (63) of Radha Nagar, Perumbakkam. She was riding pillion with her husband Balachandar (67).

According to the Pallikaranai Traffic Investigation Wing, the couple was heading home on Velachery Main Road when the tanker rammed their bike near Mayilai Balaji Nagar.

Due to the impact, both fell on the road. Indumathi was run over by the tanker and suffered fatal injuries. Balachandar escaped with minor injuries.

Residents rushed them to a nearby private hospital, where Indumathi was declared brought dead. The police sent the body to Tambaram Government Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police registered a case and arrested the driver, Chinnarasu (31) of Tiruvarur

5 held for circulating counterfeit notes in Vellore

The Vellore police arrested five people for circulating counterfeit currency notes.

Rafiq Ahmed (46) of Gudiyatham had paid for a Flipkart delivery using two counterfeit Rs 500 notes.

The delivery agent tipped off the police, and Rafiq was arrested. He told the police he acquired the notes from Zubair Ahmed (52), who in turn revealed that Gopal (47) and Kamaraj (48) were his suppliers.

The duo named Babu (65) as their supplier. Further probe revealed that Babu had been arrested in counterfeit currency cases in West Bengal around 10 years ago and had served a prison term.

Police have seized counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 1.50 lakh and are Babu's connections in West Bengal.

Chennai: 26-year-old Siddha medical student dies by suicide

A 26-year-old postgraduate Siddha medical student dies by suicide at the girls hostel of the National Institute of Siddha in Tambaram on Thursday. The deceased was identified as T Shenbagavalli, who was pursuing her third year of postgraduate Siddha medicine at the institute and was staying at the college hostel along with two other students.

Police said that Shenbagavalli was also preparing for central government recruitment examinations. The question papers were difficult, and she was worried about whether she would clear the exam and secure a government job.

READ FULL STORY HERE

12-year-old FSC detainee accused of sexually abusing infant in Tiruchy

 A 12-year-old Bangladeshi boy, lodged as an alleged illegal immigrant at the Foreigners Special Camp (FSC) in Tiruchy, has been accused of sexually abusing a one-year-old girl inside the facility.

Sources in the Centre said the incident occurred because the boy, who should have been housed in the men’s block, was instead allowed to stay with his mother in the women’s block. The child he allegedly abused belongs to another Bangladeshi family lodged in the women’s block, they said.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Thanjavur: 3-yr-old girl sexually abused; mother, lover held

Thanjavur police arrested a man for sexually abusing a three-year-old child.

The police also arrested the child’s mother for supporting the accused on Friday. Yogaraj (32), a collection agent in a finance firm in Kumbakonam, had an extramarital affair with a 24-year-old woman whose husband was said to be working abroad.

On October 26, Yogaraj, who went to the woman’s house, had reportedly sexually abused the woman's three-year-old child. Yogaraj had also bitten the baby in several places.

When neighbours inquired about it, the mother gave an evasive response. Based on the alert, the Natchiyarkoil police found that the child was sexually abused and arrested Yogaraj and the baby’s mother.

Tamil Nadu: 3 assault cop and HG personnel, held

A gang of three arrested for attacking a policeman and a home guard personnel after being warned against consuming alcohol in a public place in Ariyalur in the wee hours of Friday.

When Raja Kannan (37), a policeman from Thalavai station near Sendurai, along with home guard personnel Venkatesan (47), were on routine patrol in the late hours of Thursday, a gang of three were consuming alcohol at a shed along the main road.

Both personnel urged them to leave the spot immediately. However, they picked up a quarrel and hurled abusive words at the personnel.

Soon, the police constable Raja Kannan contacted the Thalavai police station and passed on the information. Suddenly, the trio attacked the duo and escaped.

However, the police secured the trio, identified as Mathivanan, Thamaraikannan and Elamparithi, all from Silappanur village.

Tiruchy: 3 held in separate ganja peddling cases

Three persons, including a woman, were arrested for peddling ganja across Tiruchy City.

Based on a tip-off, the City Commissioner of Police Rupesh Kumar Meena ordered an elaborate raid across the city.

When a team from E-Pudhur police were searching at Panjapur, they found one Pavithran (22) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja.

Soon, the police arrested him and seized ganja packs. Similarly, another team found Sakthivel (24) from Ramji Nagar selling ganja in Rettamalai and arrested him.

A 35-year-old woman selling ganja was arrested from a house in Ariyamangalam.

Jewellery dealer cheated of 7.3 kg gold; man arrested in Triplicane

A 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly cheating a jewellery dealer of 7.30 kg of gold ornaments worth several crores of rupees in Triplicane.

The accused, Masook Jain of Vepery, was arrested by the Triplicane police on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody.

According to the police, the complainant, Seerak (25), runs a jewellery shop and workshop on Irulappan Street in Sowcarpet. Jain had reportedly been collecting gold ornaments from him on a commission basis, claiming that he would sell them to jewellery shops operated by his contacts.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Chennai man, Bangladeshi mother-in-law held for serial robberies

Thanjavur police arrested a Chennai man and his Bangladeshi mother-in-law for stealing 30 sovereigns of gold jewellery from a house. The duo were habitual offenders involved in a series of theft cases across the state, targeting houses locked for a long period.

On October 23, K Karthi, who runs a finance firm at Pillayarpatti near Tiruvidaimaruthur in Thanjavur, returned home in the evening after work, and he found the front door of his house broken and 30 sovereigns, 250-gram silver articles and Rs 2.50 lakh cash were missing. A complaint was filed.

During a vehicle check, on suspicion, the police secured B Gunasekar (40) from Choolaimedu in Chennai and his mother-in-law Hannah Begam (59) from Bangladesh. The probe found that the duo had been involved in the robbery at Karthi's house, and valuables were recovered. The duo was lodged in prison.

Further investigation revealed that Gunasekaran had befriended Hannah Begum's daughter on social media and managed to go to Bangladesh illegally and married her. He returned with his mother-in-law and they targeted several locked houses in a similar manner in Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Tiruchy.

Villupuram man strangles 14-year-old daughter to death for having a relationship

A 14-year-old Class 10 student was allegedly strangled to death by her father following an argument over her relationship with a young man in Villupuram district's Vanur on Thursday night (October 29).

According to a Maalaimalar report, the accused, identified as Sivasastri (40), a lorry driver, later surrendered before the Vanur police and was arrested.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Poverty drives Panruti woman to sell newborn boy for Rs 4.5 lakh; auto driver arrested

A three-day-old baby boy allegedly sold for Rs 4.5 lakh by his mother, who was struggling with poverty, was rescued by the police from a woman in Tiruchy.

An auto driver, identified as Zafar Khan (41), who allegedly acted as a middleman in the transaction, has been arrested.

Fatima (30), from Thattanchavady near Panruti, gave birth to the boy at the Panruti Government Hospital on October 19. Already having two daughters and living separately from her husband, she reportedly struggled to raise the children.

Taking advantage of Fatima's financial difficulties, Zafar Khan, an auto driver from Panruti, allegedly persuaded her to sell the baby. Through him, the child was handed over to Renuka Devi of Tiruchy for Rs 4.5 lakh on October 22.

Zafar Khan allegedly took a major portion of the money, leaving Fatima with only a small amount. This led to a dispute between the two. Fatima later asked Renuka Devi to return the baby. However, Renuka Devi allegedly refused.

Fatima subsequently lodged a complaint at the Panruti police station on October 28. The police registered a case and formed a special team, which went to Tiruchy, rescued the baby from Renuka Devi and safely handed him over to Fatima. The police have arrested Zafar Khan in connection with the case.

Two arrested in separate Pocso cases in Ambattur, Guduvanchery

Two men were arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Thursday in separate cases involving the alleged sexual assault of minor girls in Ambattur and Guduvanchery.

In the first case, the Ambattur All-Women Police arrested Mohammad Rafeeq alias Sarphul Dewan (40), a native of Jharkhand, for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl who had gone to a mosque to attend Quran classes.

According to the complaint lodged by the girl’s father, the accused had assaulted the child while she was returning from the mosque after her classes. The girl later informed her parents, who approached the police.

In the second case, Kilambakkam All-Women Police arrested Manoharan (50), a financier, for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl at her house near Guduvanchery in Chengalpattu. Police said Manoharan, a resident of Thailavaram, runs a small chit fund business.

On October 24, he visited the house, located two streets away from his residence, to collect money. The child was alone at the time, and he sexually assaulted her. Following a complaint from her parents, police registered a case, arrested Manoharan and produced him before a Chengalpattu court, which remanded him in judicial custody.

20-year-old son beats woman to death after quarrel in Dharmapuri

A 20-year-old construction worker, who was released on bail three days ago, beat his mother to death with an iron rod following a quarrel at their house in Dharmapuri district on Thursday night.

The police identified the accused as Devaraj of Old Indur village. Earlier on August 3, the Indur police had arrested him for creating a public nuisance while wearing a police cap and brandishing a knife. He had chased passers-by on the road and attempted to attack a man identified as Veeramani, according to the police. After a complaint, police arrested him and remanded him in judicial custody at Salem Central Prison. On October 28, he secured bail and returned home.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Villupuram man argues with wife, then throws six-year-old son into well; arrested

A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly throwing his six-year-old son into an agricultural well following an argument with his wife over money near Senji in Villupuram district.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased boy, identified as Sanjay, was the couple's only son. His father, Selvaraj, allegedly threw him into a well behind the government hospital in the area after a prolonged argument with his wife, Devi, over the spending of borrowed money.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Two arrested for murdering 19-year-old, burying body near Pulicat

Two men from Cuddalore were arrested for murdering a 19-year-old youth at Thirupalaivanam near Ponneri and burying his body on Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat. The arrested men were identified as G Dinesh (23) and S Devarasu (18), both from Siruvathur village in Cuddalore.

The body was exhumed on Friday following their confession, police said. The deceased, Prashanth (19), was working as a tile layer along with his maternal uncle Ramesh in Cuddalore. He is the son of Ezhilarasi, a domestic help working at actor Radhika Sarathkumar’s house in Chennai.

On October 27, Prashanth informed his uncle that he was travelling to Chennai to meet his mother. The following day he went missing. Based on a complaint lodged by Ramesh, Cuddalore police registered a missing person case and launched an investigation.

During the probe, police found that Prashanth was in a relationship with Devarasu’s wife. During interrogation, the accused confessed to assaulting Prashanth to death at Thirupalaivanam before burying his body at Sathankuppam beach near Pulicat.

Following the confession, Cuddalore police, with the assistance of Thirupalaivanam police, exhumed the body on Friday. It was subsequently sent to the Ponneri GH for a postmortem examination.

Kancheepuram: Three, including school student, killed in accident

CHENNAI: Three people, including a school student, were killed and three other school students injured in two separate road accidents in Kancheepuram district on Wednesday night.

In the first incident, four school students — Sanjay (16), Joshua (15), Jaswanth (14) and Chandru (14) from Echur near Sriperumbudur — were travelling on a bike towards Panrutti near Sunguvarchatram on Wednesday night. 

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Rashly driven MTC bus kills woman on way to hospital near Puzhal

CHENNAI: A 49-year-old woman who was on her way to a hospital for a health check-up was killed in a road accident at Kathirvedu near Puzhal on Wednesday after a rashly driven MTC bus hit the two-wheeler she was travelling on.

The deceased woman was identified as K Savithri, a resident of Sholavaram. On Wednesday, Savithri, along with her husband, Kumar, were on their way to a hospital, police said.

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22-yr jail for kidnap, assault of minor

CHENNAI: The Tiruvallur Pocso court on Wednesday sentenced a 22-year-old man to 22 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2018. Police said that the incident occurred on Dec 28, 2018.

The accused, Peter (aged 21 at the time) lured a 13-year-old girl on the pretext of marrying her and sexually assaulted her. Based on a complaint from the victim’s mother, a case was registered at the All Women Police Station, and the accused was arrested and remanded. After investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the Pocso Court.

Retired Warden killed inside CSI school in Sivaganga

A woman was murdered by unidentified persons who allegedly broke into her house inside the premises of the CSI School in Manamadurai, Sivaganga district, on Thursday evening. Vasantha Mallika, wife of Easwaran, was killed, and the assailant snatched the jewellery she was wearing before fleeing the scene. The incident occurred while the school was functioning. The deceased had worked as a warden at the school. The incident came to light only after her husband found her dead upon his return home. Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta inspected the spot. Further probe is under way.

5-member armed gang robs car dealer of Rs 1 crore in Erode

A five-member armed gang robbed a used-car dealer of Rs one crore at knifepoint near Perundurai in Erode on Thursday.

The police said Arun Kumar (55) of Rajendra Prasad Street in Perundurai was engaged in the used-car business and was also overseeing the construction of a temple on a 55-cent plot on Kanjikovil Road through receiving donations.

The police said a businessman from Tirupur had donated Rs one crore towards the temple's construction. On learning about the cash, some unidentified persons contacted Arun Kumar over the phone and offered to give him Rs 1.15 crore through online transfer in exchange for Rs one crore in cash.

Tempted by the prospect of making an additional Rs 15 lakh, Arun agreed to the deal and asked them to come to Perundurai. “Arun Kumar was counting the cash using a currency-counting machine at a house on Kanjikovil Road when five men arrived armed with knives and iron pipes on Thursday. When he attempted to raise an alarm, the gang threatened to stab him to death. The assailants then fled with the Rs one crore kept in a suitcase,” the police said.

Following the robbery, Arun Kumar lodged a complaint with the Perundurai police, who registered a case and special teams have launched a search for the accused.

Theni jailbreak: Last four inmates nabbed, all 17 back in custody

The police on Wednesday recaptured four more inmates, bringing all 17 inmates who escaped from the Theni District Jail on Monday night after assaulting three prison staff back into custody. The inmates had pretended that one of them was suffering from an epileptic seizure to trap the guards and carry out their escape plan.

On Wednesday morning, around 100 police personnel intensified their search in the Amachiyapuram hills to trace four inmates: Rejin from Kanyakumari, and Tirupathi, Meenatchisundram and Ponmuthuselvam from Madurai.

The police team recaptured Rejin and Ponmuthuselvam from the hills. The other two, Tirupathi and Meenatchisundram, who are brothers, allegedly fled after learning that police had entered the area where they were hiding. They allegedly assaulted a motorist who was passing by on a motorcycle, seized his bike and escaped, a police source said.

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Trio snatches gold chain from home alone woman

An unidentified trio robbed a home alone woman of a 2.5-sovereign gold chain in Tiruchy on Wednesday after gaining entry into the house and locking it from inside.

The victim, a 41-year-old woman, lived alone in KK Nagar and works as a domestic helper. On Monday evening, while the woman was cooking, three unidentified persons had reportedly gained entry into the house and locked the doors from inside.

On seeing them, the woman raised an alarm, but one of them gagged her. They snatched her 2.5-sovereign gold chain and fled. She immediately ran out of the house, raising an alarm, but the trio had escaped. She lodged a complaint with the KK Nagar police, who registered a case and are searching for the culprits.

Thanjavur ganja peddler nabbed in Ariyalur

A notorious peddler from Thanjavur was arrested in Ariyalur while attempting to smuggle ganja from Odisha on Wednesday evening.

A police team led by Jayankondam inspector Balaji conducted a vehicle check following a tip-off and suspected a youth, who fled. After a chase, the man was caught and identified as R Shanmuga Ganapathi (29) of East Street, Thanjavur.

They found 6 kg of ganja concealed in his belongings and arrested him. Further probe revealed that the accused sold to regular customers in the neighbouring districts and procured the contraband from Odisha. He faces several pending cases in Thanjavur.

Two murdered in Otteri, Avadi

Two people were murdered in separate incidents in Chennai and Avadi on Tuesday night. In one incident in Otteri, an elderly man was beaten to death after an argument with a neighbour.

The deceased has been identified as S Ponnurangam (69), a resident of Rettaimalai Srinivasan Street in Otteri. Police said there was an existing enmity between Ponnurangam’s family and the family of his neighbour, Subramani.

A few days ago, Ponnurangam’s daughter-in-law was cleaning the entrance of their house when Subramani’s sons – Sathish (27) and Santhosh (25) – allegedly spat near the spot, which triggered an argument between the two families. On Tuesday night, an argument broke out between Ponnurangam’s son Kandhan and Sathish and Santhosh.

Hearing the commotion, Ponnurangam came out of the house and reprimanded the brothers after which they attacked him and pushed him to the ground. Ponnurangam was severely injured, and collapsed after which he was rescued and rushed him to the Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital.

Doctors who examined him declared him brought dead. The Otteri police have registered a case and are searching for the duo, who fled after the incident.

In another incident in Thirumullaivoyal in Avadi city police limits, a 30-year-old man was hacked to death by his friend during a drinking session in the victim’s house on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Gokul.

Police said that Gokul and the accused, Rajesh (25) lived in the same neighbourhood and would argue often. On Tuesday, Rajesh made fun of Gokul, which had infuriated him and both of them argued and left.

The same night, the duo gathered again for a drink when Gokul questioned Rajesh about his comments and took a knife from the kitchen and attempted to attack him. Rajesh dodged the attacks, managed to retrieve the weapon from Gokul and stabbed him to death. On information, Thirumullaivoyal Police arrested Rajesh.

Man arrested for kidnap, murder of a Chennai woman

A 45-year-old man was arrested for kidnapping and murdering a woman from Aminjikarai and dumping her body in a farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur in Chengalpattu district.

Police said the murdered woman had failed to repay the loan which she had borrowed from him. The deceased was identified as Manimegalai (41), wife of Gurunathan, and a resident of Aminjikarai in Chennai.

Two days ago, the body of an unidentified woman with a slit throat was found in a private farm well in Sirunagalur village near Melmaruvathur. The Melmaruvathur police recovered the body and sent it to the Chengalpattu GH for a postmortem.

During the investigation, the police found that Manimegalai had borrowed money at interest from Jani Anbu Das (45), a resident of Egmore. He had allegedly threatened to kidnap her when she failed to repay the loan.

A special police team from Melmaruvathur detained Das for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed to kidnapping Manimegalai and murdering her by slitting her throat over the unpaid debt. Police said that the accused also allegedly removed the gold earrings and silver anklets worn by the woman, along with her mobile phone, before dumping her body in the farm well and escaping from the spot.

Following that, the Melmaruvathur police arrested Das for the murder, and he was remanded to judicial custody and sent to Puzhal prison.

Kanniyakumari: Four arrested for murdering panchayat staffer after he refused to steal lotuses from ponds

Four people, including Cyrus (32), have been arrested for allegedly murdering Kavin (27), a temporary electrician with the Alagappapuram Panchayat, after he refused to help them steal lotus flowers from local ponds, according to a Daily Thanthi report.

According to the police, Cyrus, a resident of Alagappapuram, had been illegally cultivating lotus flowers in ponds in the area. He allegedly asked Kavin, who hailed from Achankulam near Kottaram, to switch off the lights to facilitate the theft. Kavin’s refusal reportedly led to a dispute, following which Cyrus allegedly plotted to kill him.

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Man hacked to death by friend following argument in Thoothukudi market

A man was allegedly hacked to death with an axe by his friend following an argument at a daily market in Tittangulam near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district in the early hours of Tuesday (October 27).

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the deceased, identified as Kaliraj, was employed as a load lifter at a private daily market in the area. According to the available information, Kaliraj and his friends were talking at the market premises when a light-hearted exchange of jokes and teasing reportedly escalated into an argument. One of his friends, identified as Ayodhya, allegedly attacked him with an axe, killing him on the spot.

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Newborn rescued from pvt clinic toilet succumbs, cops mull altering case to murder

A newborn girl rescued from a private clinic's toilet succumbed on Tuesday. Police are contemplating altering the case based on postmortem findings.

A 19-year-old girl who was in a relationship with a lorry driver went to a private clinic on October 24 after experiencing labour pains. Despite her parents' knowledge of her pregnancy, she went alone.

She told the clinic staff that she had diarrhoea and locked herself in the toilet for nearly two hours. When the staff checked in on her, they found she had given birth there and shifted both of them to Government Stanley Hospital.

The girl is undergoing treatment; however, the newborn succumbed and was taken for autopsy. The reports indicated injuries, following which officials are considering altering the case to murder. The girl has not been arrested yet. The lorry driver has married another woman. Further probe is ongoing.

Woman arrested for allegedly setting husband on fire after domestic quarrel in Virudhunagar

VIRUDHUNAGAR: A 35-year-old construction worker, Shankar Guru, died after his wife, Sankareswari, allegedly poured kerosene on him and set him on fire following a domestic quarrel at their house in VVR Colony in Allampatti, Virudhunagar, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to police, Shankar Guru frequently returned home intoxicated and quarrelled with his wife. The couple had divorced in 2022 but later reunited and resumed living together.

On Monday night, Shankar Guru returned home after consuming alcohol and picked up a quarrel with Sankareswari in the early hours of Tuesday. In a fit of anger, Sankareswari allegedly poured kerosene on her husband and set him on fire, said the police source. She subsequently surrendered at the nearby Virudhunagar East police station.

The police recovered Shankar Guru's body and sent it to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Virudhunagar SP Gautham Goyal conducted an inquiry.

History sheeter hacked to death in Indira Nagar

Chennai: A 22-year-old history sheeter was murdered in broad daylight in Adyar's Indira Nagar on Tuesday. The police identified the victim as Maithreyan, originally from Mylapore and currently residing in Tiruvanmiyur.

According to officials, Maithreyan was listed as a C-category history sheeter with multiple criminal cases. Last week, he had secured bail in a case with a condition to report at Mylapore police station every day. Around 11 am on Tuesday, he was returning from the station in his autorickshaw when he was intercepted by a gang.

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Missing 7-year-old found dead in Madurai's abandoned house

A seven-year-old boy who went missing while playing near his house at Thaniyamangalam near Melur in Madurai district yesterday was found dead in an abandoned house nearby on Monday.

The deceased, Muthuchelvan, a Class 3 student, had left home around 11 am on Sunday to play and did not return. His relatives and villagers searched for him with police assistance. Police recovered the body and sent it to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for a post-mortem examination. Senior police officials are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

College student killed in clash over wastewater

A 20-year-old college student was hacked to death on Sunday night following a clash between two families over wastewater flowing in front of their houses at Alwarkarkulam near Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district.

The deceased, Isakkiraja, son of Mariappan, was a second-year student at an arts and science college near Srivaikuntam. The families of Mariappan and Sundararajan had reportedly been at loggerheads for a long time over the issue, the police said.

During an argument on Sunday night, both parties took to weapons and Isakkiraja was killed during the clash. The police have booked over 10 people in the issue.

Man held after pregnant wife dies by suicide in Otteri

Police have arrested a man on charges of abetment to suicide after the death of his pregnant wife in Otteri. The arrested man was identified as Santhosh (29), who worked in a mobile phone accessories shop.

Santhosh had married Kokila (26) on March 6 this year after being in a relationship with her. The couple lived in a rented house in Pudhu Vazhai Nagar.

Police said differences had developed between them within months of their marriage and the duo had frequent arguments. The couple had an argument on Saturday too after which Santhosh left the house. Kokila had video-called Santhosh on Saturday night and threatened to kill herself.

When Santhosh reached the house, he found her unconscious and rushed her to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Doctors declared her brought dead after which Otteri Police rescued her and sent the body for a postmortem. 

Meanwhile, Kokila’s family filed a complaint alleging that she had been subjected to dowry harassment by Santhosh’s family and protested demanding his arrest.

After investigations, police arrested Santhosh. As the couple had been married for less than a year, the police have recommended an RDO inquiry.

Man held for sexual assault of toddler in Ennore

Avadi City Police on Monday arrested a 32-year-old man for sexually assaulting a two-and-half-year-old girl child in Ennore. The arrested person was identified as D Ranjithkumar, a fisherman, a neighbour of the victim.

Police said that he was separated from his wife and lives alone, and that he had lured the child to his house twice last week and had sexually abused her.

The child’s parents, who noticed injuries on her body, took her to the Institute of Child Health in Egmore. The incident came to light on October 23, when doctors examining the child suspected sexual abuse and alerted the authorities. 

Based on the information received from the hospital and a complaint filed by the child’s mother, the Ennore All Women Police Station registered a case and launched an investigation on the same day. After investigations, Police arrested the accused under the Pocso Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences).

The child is undergoing treatment. The accused was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. 

Techie flees after running over sleeping senior citizen in Chengalpattu; nabbed

An elderly man was killed after a techie who was reversing his car from a marriage hall reportedly ran over him, unmindful of the man sleeping on the roadside in Chengalpattu on Saturday.

Visuals showed the victim's friend sitting beside the body, holding an umbrella over it to protect it from the rain while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

The deceased was identified as Kumar (77), who lived in a thatched hut in the neighbourhood. According to local residents, Kumar was sleeping along the roadside when a car reversing from a nearby marriage hall ran over him, killing him on the spot.

Police sources said the techie, who was behind the wheel, got down to check on the man but drove off upon seeing a mob gathering at the scene, as his wife and child were inside the vehicle.

The elderly man was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Meanwhile, the Chengalpattu police traced the car using CCTV footage and arrested the driver, G Saravanan (43), an employee with a private IT firm.

Bizman held under Pocso in Tirunelveli

A 52-year-old real estate businessman was arrested under the Pocso Act at Panagudi in Tirunelveli district for allegedly sexually harassing a six-year-old girl on Sunday.

According to police the accused was found committing the sexual offence after examining the CCTV footage. The accused was sitting in front of a church in the area on the night of October 23 when the girl walked alone on the road, said the police, adding that he allegedly called her over and sexually abused her.

The girl went home crying and told her parents, who lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under the Pocso Act and arrested him.

Special Sub-Inspector transferred to Armed Reserve on bribe charges

Tirunelveli District Superintendent of Police Viswesh Sastri on Saturday transferred a Special Sub-Inspector attached to the Seethaparpanallur police station to the Armed Reserve following a complaint that he accepted a bribe in a sand smuggling case.

According to the police, Special Sub-Inspector Muthupandi (54) is alleged to have received Rs 5,000 from the owner of a lorry linked to a sand smuggling case under investigation.

The money was reportedly transferred through his wife's GPay account.

Guest worker killed over card game in Chennai

A 26-year-old guest worker from Nepal was murdered after an argument during a card game in Perungudi on Saturday. Thoraipakkam police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the absconding suspect.

The victim has been identified as Ganeshkumar, who had been employed at a metal fabrication unit in Perungudi and was staying with his brother-in-law Umesh. The police said the suspect, Saurav (25), also a Nepali national, was working at a private eatery. Ganeshkumar and Umesh had gone to Saurav's house on Friday night. During a card game, a heated exchange between Ganeshkumar and Saurav turned into a physical confrontation. Saurav attacked Ganeshkumar with a knife.

Chennai: Woman dies after pushed to floor while rescuing son

A 62-year-old woman died after she was pushed to the floor while trying to rescue her son, who was being attacked by a group of men during a family dispute in Perungalathur. The deceased, Naseema Bee (62), was the mother of Vasivudeen (43), a resident of Kamarajar Street in Perungalathur.

Vasivudeen lives with his wife, Naseema (40). Police said an argument broke out between Vasivudeen and his wife on Wednesday.

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Kancheepuram silk showroom owners arrested in Rs 20 crore fraud case

Two owners of a popular silk saree showroom in Kancheepuram have been arrested by the Kancheepuram District Crime Branch police in connection with an alleged Rs 20 crore fraud involving wholesale saree suppliers from Rajasthan, Chennai and Salem.

Krishnamoorthy (52) and Sathish (50), both residents of George Town in Chennai, jointly operated Murugan and Kalikambal Silks, located near Rangasamy Kulam in Kancheepuram.

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Sathankulam man kills teen lover’s mother for opposing relationship

A 23-year-old man launched a sickle attack on a couple in their house, killing the woman and injuring the man and their minor son, and kidnapped her two minor daughters, at Mudalur near Sathankulam early on Friday. The girls were rescued shortly and the man, Gnanaprakash of Anandapuram, was apprehended by the Thoothukudi police after the girls shared their live location with them via WhatsApp.

The father Muthukrishnan (50) and son Pleasant Raja (12) sustained grievous injuries and are in the intensive care unit of the Government Super Specialty Hospital in Tirunelveli. Muthukrishnan’s condition is said to be critical.

2 lorry drivers confess to murder of coworker in Tiruvallur

Two lorry drivers allegedly confessed to murdering their colleague following a drunken quarrel and burying his body in an isolated spot near Alamathi in Tiruvallur district, police said. The police are scheduled to exhume the remains on Saturday in the presence of a Tahsildar.

The deceased, M Gokul (27), a native of Kanniyakumari district, worked as a lorry driver for a private transport company in Alamathi. His younger brother, Rahul, lodged a complaint with Sholavaram police stating that Gokul had been missing since October 7.

Following the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. They examined CCTV footage from the Alamathi area and identified two suspects, Ayyappan (18), and Sathish (33), who worked as lorry drivers.

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Describing Deepavali as a celebration of the triumph of righteousness over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness, Arlekar said the festival served as a reminder of the enduring values of truth, compassion, unity and harmony that underpin Indian civilisation.

“Let the spirit of Deepavali inspire us to overcome challenges, dispel social evils, strengthen bonds of brotherhood and work together towards building a peaceful, progressive and prosperous society,” he said.

The Governor also called upon people to reaffirm their commitment to unity, mutual respect and service to humanity and contribute wholeheartedly to the vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Tamil Nadu.

Extending his greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu and Indians across the country and around the world, Arlekar wished everyone happiness, peace, good health, success and prosperity.

In an official statement, CM Vijay wished the legendary actor a long life filled with good health and happiness, hoping he continues his dedicated service to the people and achieves many more milestones in public life and the arts.

DMK chief Stalin greeted Haasan, addressing him as a dear brother and praising his efforts to enrich cinema while championing state rights and the dignity of the Tamil language in politics.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also extended his greetings to the Rajya Sabha MP, wishing him good health and a long life.

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan joined the leaders in sharing heartfelt wishes for the MNM leader.

On the personal front, his daughters, actors Shruti and Akshara Haasan, conveyed their birthday wishes on their respective social media handles.

In an emotional tribute, Shruti called him the "rarest of the rare," expressing admiration for his craft, zest for life, and enduring love for cinema.

Treating fans on the special occasion, his production house Raaj Kamal Films International announced a new project, unveiling the poster for the film 'Sandiyar', directed by SU Arun Kumar.

The government has sanctioned Rs 2,842.774 crore for implementing the scheme during 2026-27, according to a Government Order issued by the Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department on November 6.

The decision follows consultations with farmers' organisations on October 22, though their demand for a comprehensive waiver of crop loans remains unaddressed.

Under the revised scheme, farmers with outstanding crop loans of up to Rs 75,000 will receive a complete waiver covering both principal and interest. Those with loans exceeding Rs 75,000 will be eligible for a flat waiver of Rs 75,000, with the remaining liability to be borne by the borrowers.

According to the order, 5,90,621 farmers with loans of up to Rs 75,000 will receive a complete waiver, while another 7,34,260 farmers with loans exceeding the limit will receive relief of Rs 75,000 each. Together, the two categories account for approximately 13.25 lakh beneficiaries.

The latest decision follows a series of revisions to the crop loan waiver scheme announced earlier this year. In June, the government raised the full waiver limit to Rs 75,000 and offered relief of Rs 35,000 for loans exceeding that amount. In August, it further enhanced the relief for borrowers in the Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh category.

The latest order extends the enhanced relief to all eligible borrowers with loans exceeding Rs 75,000, removing the earlier distinction based on the loan amount.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday has ordered the implementation of the scheme, following which the government has issued detailed guidelines and accorded administrative approval for its execution.

Under the scheme, first- and second-year undergraduate (UG) and diploma students studying in government and government-aided colleges during the 2026-27 academic year will benefit. Students pursuing various disciplines, including Arts and Science, Engineering, Polytechnic, ITI, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Fisheries, Agriculture and Law, will be covered under the scheme.

Further, third- and fourth-year students pursuing professional courses in government and government-aided colleges, who did not benefit from the laptop distribution scheme during the 2025-26 academic year, will also be eligible.

Considering the technological requirements of engineering students, the government has decided to provide them with laptops powered by Intel Core i5 processors or equivalent higher specifications.

To ensure effective implementation and monitor the progress of the scheme without delay, a High-Level Steering Committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

The government has also accorded administrative approval to the Tamil Nadu Electronics Corporation (ELCOT) for procuring laptops while ensuring quality standards.

The government said the initiative would help students from economically weaker and middle-income families improve their technological knowledge, undertake skill-development training, pursue online education and enhance their employment opportunities in an increasingly competitive digital world.

In an order November 6, Public Secretary E Sundaravalli said the committee, constituted by the previous DMK government on April 17, 2025, had been tasked with reviewing constitutional provisions, existing laws and government orders affecting Union-State relations.

The three-member panel comprised Justice Kurian Joseph, retired IAS officer K Ashok Vardhan Shetty and former State Planning Commission vice-chairman M Naganathan. It submitted the first part of its report to then Chief Minister MK Stalin in February 2026.

The government order noted that the Tamil Nadu State Law Commission was reconstituted on August 7, 2026, with a broad mandate to examine inter-State and Centre-State relations, review existing laws and recommend improvements to the State's legal and institutional framework.

Since the Justice Kurian Joseph committee was a non-statutory body and its functions substantially overlapped with those of the State Law Commission, the government decided to discontinue its services with immediate effect.

The committee's Secretary and Committee Officer have been directed to hand over all records and relevant documents to the State Law Commission and submit a compliance report.

The committee had been facing administrative difficulties since the TVK government assumed office. Naganathan resigned from the panel, while the government did not extend the existing staff arrangements. Research scholars and office assistants were subsequently relieved, affecting work on the second part of the report.

The latest order formally brings the committee's work to an end, more than six months before the deadline for submitting its second report.

The appearance comes a day after Mannan was arrested by a special police unit for allegedly offering Rs 15 crore to Rs 30 crore to Madurai Central TVK MLA Madhar Badhruddin, also known as Mustafa.

The AIADMK propaganda deputy secretary was accused of attempting to lure the MLA to vote against the state government in the event of a future no-confidence motion or floor test. However, a local magistrate refused his remand and released him on Friday.

Following the release, the police issued fresh summons directing him to appear in person for a detailed inquiry on Saturday.

Addressing the media shortly after appearing before the CCB police here, Mannan said he answered the officials' questions, signed a printed copy of his statement, and concluded the inquiry smoothly.

"I am someone who has faced all cases politically. If this is a politically motivated case, I will face it too," he said, and added that he was questioned for approximately four hours, since 10 am.

Assuring his full cooperation, Mannan stated that he would appear for further questioning whenever summoned by the police.

When asked about the alleged audio evidence in the horse-trading case, Mannan deflected the query, stating that the question should be directed at those making the claims.

The CCB registered the case based on a formal complaint lodged by the MLA's assistant, Kani.

According to the allegations, the multi-crore bribery offer was routed through the MLA's aides to strike a deal.

Investigating officials are currently examining call records and audio evidence to verify the horse-trading allegations and uncover the broader network behind the attempt.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami has strongly condemned the police action, calling the charges false and denying any intent by the party to poach ruling TVK MLAs to topple the government.

Mannan, who previously served in the DMK before joining the AIADMK, remains under active investigation.

After the charges blew up, Chief Minister and TVK president C Joseph Vijay lambasted the previous DMK regime, accusing the party of exploiting the names of Periyar and the Tamil language to further its corrupt practices.

Vijay alleged that the controversy over the purchase of books had exposed yet another instance of corruption under the previous DMK government, and questioned how an institution intended to serve children and students could be used for financial misconduct.

“The very people who loudly proclaim that they alone have protected Tamil soil, language and dignity, claim ownership of the Tamil language and assert that they alone possess the authority to encompass the vast ocean of Tamil literature are, in reality, an embodiment of corruption. The DMK has been exposed as the fountainhead of corruption.”

Recalling his accusation even before entering politics that the DMK was exploiting Periyar’s name for financial gain, Vijay asserted that the latest controversy had vindicated his criticism. This has added to the list of alleged corrupt activities, including in the municipal administration department, Tasmac, tender processes, and school education, Vijay added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the allegations raised by Perumal Murugan, who was a member of the committee constituted by the then DMK government to recommend books on modern literature and literary criticism, School Education, Tamil Development and Archaeology Minister Rajmohan said around 1,500 books from Akalvilakku Pathippagam had been purchased in February under the previous DMK regime. He questioned the publisher’s existence, mocking that a publishing house by that name did not exist even on planet Mars.

“The inquiry into this corruption has begun. Whoever is involved will be brought before the law, and justice will be ensured,” he said, expressing shock over the contents of some of the books.

The seven-storey Periyar Arivulagam library and science centre, spread over nearly seven acres and built at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay on October 16. The project was initiated under the previous DMK government.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Aparesh Kumar Singh admitted the appeal filed by Periyakaruppan, who challenged a Madras High Court order that rejected his election petition against Sethupathi's victory, for hearing.

The top court asked the respondents, including Sethupathi, to file counter affidavits within six weeks. It directed that in the meantime, all relevant records relating to the election shall remain intact.

Senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for the DMK leader, said that election results were declared on May 4, which showed Periyakaruppan lost by a margin of one vote. The High Court on September 28 rejected Periyakaruppan's election petition.

Sethupathi secured 83,375 votes in the Tirupattur Assembly constituency election, one more than Periyakaruppan's tally of 83,374.

"The High Court has rejected the appellant's election petition at the threshold. It is respectfully submitted that the single judge has committed a grave error by testing the election petition on proof rather than on pleadings, without considering the crucial facts," Periyakaruppan said in his plea filed in the apex court.

"In the present case, the margin was one vote, and the rejected postal ballots were 306. It is the appellant's specific case in the election petition that the Returning Officer-185, instead of re-verifying the validity of the ground on which each of the 306 postal ballots had been rejected, merely recounted the rejected ballots mechanically," the plea said.

It added that the purity of the electoral process requires that every vote lawfully cast be counted.

The nefarious plot unfolded on Thursday when two men in plain clothes arrived at the shop claiming to be personnel of the Prohibition Enforcement Wing and reportedly told Rajkumar they wanted to search his shop as they received information that he was selling ganja and banned gutka.

The two men allegedly went straight to a particular spot near the shop and retrieved concealed ganja. Suspecting foul play, Rajkumar checked the CCTV footage and found that minutes before the prohibition officers arrived, a person employed at a private bar adjoining the government liquor outlet allegedly concealing ganja in a water channel nearby.

Rajkumar copied the CCTV footage and, accompanied by others from the village, took it to the Sivaganga Superintendent of Police’s office. He submitted the footage along with a complaint and sought action against those who carried out the alleged attempt to frame him in a drugs case. In his complaint, Rajkumar alleged that the two men went straight to the spot where the ganja was concealed, retrieved it and attempted to implicate him for possessing the contraband for sale.

Rajkumar has been demanding the closure of a government-run Tasmac outlet and an adjoining private bar at Thirukalapatti, near Tirupattur.

Villagers have staged repeated protests against the outlet, alleging it has affected the local community. A road blockade was also held a few days ago under Rajkumar’s leadership.

Snehan, a resident of Pillayarpatti in Thanjavur, had approached a counselling centre for study abroad functioning near the New Bus Stand to pursue higher education in a foreign university.

The centre received an educational loan to the tune of Rs 28.27 lakh and a visa processing fee of Rs 5 lakh from the student and sent him to a university in London last year.

Upon submission of documents, the university found that Snehan had attached a fake certificate claiming to be studying in England as a supporting document for pursuing higher education. Subsequently, the university deported Snehan to India.

On reaching Thanjavur, Snehan approached the counselling centre that arranged his higher education and demanded his money back. The centre administration repaid an amount of Rs 9.13 lakh and refused to pay back the remaining amount.

Frustrated over this, Snehan lodged a complaint with the Thanjavur Medical College Police Station, which registered a case and conducted an investigation. The police found that the centre had similarly sent other aspirants to foreign universities using fake documents. Subsequently, the police seized blank cheque leaves, seals, SIM cards and other documents from the centre.

Further investigation revealed that the centre had also cheated around 50 such aspirants from Coimbatore, Madurai, Namakkal and Karaikudi. On Friday, police registered a case against five persons, including the centre owner Natarajan. Further investigations are on.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Salem zone chairman P Boopalan said the immediate priority should be to implement the first phase of expansion. “Upgrading the airport would help increase its handling capacity, attract more airlines and restore connectivity to important business destinations,” he said.

The airport expansion proposal has remained pending for years owing to opposition to land acquisition. After successive proposals in 2018 and 2022 failed to progress amid protests by farmers, the state government approved the acquisition of 206.17 acres in the first phase on November 17, 2025, at an estimated cost of Rs 364.85 crore. However, the acquisition process is yet to be completed.

Boopalan said developing the airport was essential to positioning Salem as a world-class industrial and transit hub by 2035. He also pointed out that Salem houses a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved flying training organisation, the only one of its kind in Tamil Nadu.

Spread over 136 acres at Kamalapuram, Salem airport has a runway measuring around 1,800 metres and can accommodate only ATR and Bombardier-type aircraft. Its operational capacity is limited to approximately one flight an hour.

“Night-landing facilities are crucial to expanding flight operations and improving connectivity. However, they can be introduced only after extending the existing runway and upgrading navigation infrastructure. This would enable airlines to operate early-morning and late-evening flights, offering greater scheduling flexibility and making the airport more viable for new services,” said H Ragavan, an entrepreneur and frequent flyer.

An expanded airport would serve not just Salem but also industrial and commercial centres in neighbouring districts, including Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. Improved facilities could open up opportunities for cargo handling, particularly for industries and agricultural producers, besides facilitating tourism to destinations such as Yercaud.

Salem Airport Director I Noushad said steps had been initiated to expand the terminal building for Rs 50 crore, while the proposed runway expansion and facilities for night operations would be taken up after the state government hands over the required land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

He said the airport's development would be implemented in two phases, with runway widening and infrastructure for night operations prioritised in the first phase, followed by other infrastructure works in the second phase.

"Initially, we sought 170 acres for the expansion. However, the state government has issued orders for the allocation of around 210 acres, but the land is yet to be handed over to the AAI. The acquisition process has been delayed due to issues raised by landowners," he said.

On the suspension of flight services, Noushad said there was no provision to renew the scheme for the same routes once its tenure ended.

However, he said private airlines could explore operating flights on commercially viable routes, particularly between Salem and Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where services had earlier been operated under UDAN.

THE GAP

• Spread over 136 acres with a 1,800-metre runway, airport can accommodate only ATR and Bombardier-type aircraft

• Operational capacity limited to approximately one flight an hour

• State approved acquisition of 206.17 acres at Rs 364.85 cr in November 2025

• Terminal expansion plan at Rs 50 crore initiated

• AAI awaits handover of the land from the State government for expansion works and night operations

Justice K Kumaresh Babu observed that allegations, including the use of children during the election campaign in violation of Election Commission instructions, must be examined during the trial.

Vijayakumar of the TVK won the Thiruverumbur constituency by a margin of 8,705 votes, securing 89,837 votes. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi finished second with 81,132 votes.

Challenging Vijayakumar's victory, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi filed an election petition before the Madras High Court, seeking to have his election declared invalid.

The TVK MLA also filed petitions seeking dismissal of the election petitions filed against him.

During the hearing, Viji argued that Mahesh had not specified in the election petition how the alleged violations materially affected the election result and that, without such details, the petition need not be taken up for trial.

He further contended that a mere violation of the Election Commission's instructions prohibiting the use of children in election campaigning could not be a ground to set aside the election, as the instructions did not specify the consequences of such violations, which could at most constitute an election offence.

After hearing the plea, the Court observed that the application seeking rejection of the election petition was based on the grounds that no specific pleading explained how the alleged violations materially affected the election and that the Election Commission's instructions relied upon by the petitioner had no statutory force.

However, in the present case, the court could examine whether the alleged violations materially affected the election only after the petitioner substantiated the grounds raised. One ground was that instructions had been issued prohibiting the engagement of children during the election campaign.

Finding the application devoid of merit, the judge dismissed it and directed Vijayakumar to file his reply to the election petition within four weeks.

Mannan was arrested by the Central Crime Branch police on a complaint that he had offered money to a TVK MLA to vote against the government in a no-confidence motion.

The judge asked the police why they arrested Mannan on Friday when they issued him a summons to appear for questioning on Saturday.

The CCB police arrested Mannan after questioning him for hours, based on a complaint filed by TVK’s Madurai Central MLA Madar Badhurudeen, popularly known as Mustafa. Mustafa alleged he had received phone calls from Mannan with an offer of Rs 30 crore to be paid in two installments of Rs 15 crore each to vote in a no-confidence motion to be moved in the Assembly.

MP Diya, deputy commissioner of police (Headquarters), Madurai City, assistant commissioner Arokiyaraj and inspector Veerammal questioned him from 6 am on Friday and examined the call details on his mobile phone. The police had also summoned Kaniraj, the MLA’s personal assistant.

The police had earlier issued a notice to Mannan, directing him to appear before the assistant commissioner of police, Central Crime Branch-II, Madurai City, at 10 am on Saturday.

However, they brought him in a day earlier and, after the questioning and a medical examination, produced him before the judge at his residence, as the court was closed for a local holiday. The judge refused to remand him and ordered his release on a personal bond of Rs 25,000.

Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leaders, including former ministers Sellur K Raju and RP Udhayakumar and former MLA Rajan Chellappa, met Mannan at the CCB office. They condemned the police for filing false charges and said the party had no intention of buying TVK MLAs to topple the government.

In separate statements, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam and CPI state secretary M Veerapandian questioned the transparency of the procurement process and sought immediate action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities.

Shanmugam said the allegations pointed to large-scale, planned irregularities in book procurement, with prescribed government rules and guidelines allegedly not followed. He said the alleged misuse of public money was compounded by including books with questionable content, amounting to intellectual fraud.

Questioning the procurement process, he sought details of the committee that recommended the books, the basis on which it approved the purchase of allegedly substandard and fake publications, those responsible for the irregularities, and the dates on which tenders were floated and purchases made.

Veerapandian said the factual inaccuracies and historical errors in the books called into question the library's credibility. He warned that students and candidates preparing for competitive examinations using these books could be seriously misled.

The CPM demanded that the government constitute a panel of Tamil scholars to scrutinise all books in the library and remove those found to be fake. It also sought a special investigation team to probe the alleged financial irregularities and take action against those responsible.

Veerapandian, too, urged the government to order an immediate inquiry into the allegations.

Describing the ruling as path-breaking, Wilson told reporters here that the court clarified that parents' salary income could not be the sole basis for determining whether an OBC candidate belonged to the creamy layer.

He said the Supreme Court, while clarifying its March 11, 2026 judgment on Friday, rejected the Centre's request for two years to implement the ruling and granted an additional eight weeks. The Court also clarified that it would not reopen settled seniority and promotions, he added.

Wilson welcomed the ruling, saying it would help eligible OBC candidates secure their rightful reservation benefits.

The DMK asked the TVK government to disclose full details, including the purchase order date, the selection committee's recommended list, whether it procured only the recommended books, and the dates of receipt, inspection, and payment.

It questioned why some books published by Agal Vilakku Publications bore Periyar Arivulagam's date stamp on June 22. The dates raise questions about when the procurement was ordered and completed, and why only books from Agal Vilakku and Phoenix Publications bore June date stamps.

In a statement, former DMK Minister Govi Chezhiaan alleged that the ruling party was using the controversy to target the DMK. He also criticised School Education Minister Rajmohan and what he described as TVK's online supporters for making allegations against the DMK over the issue.

Chezhiaan said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who had the authority to review government files, should have examined the matter. However, he alleged that the Chief Minister had failed to do so.

Recalling the book procurement policy introduced during the previous DMK regime to ensure transparency in public library purchases, he accused the TVK government of withholding relevant information and spreading allegations against the DMK.

He said the DMK-led government established the Anna and Kalaignar libraries and claimed no similar complaints emerged during its tenure. "Therefore, it is necessary to examine whether there was any ulterior motive or conspiracy behind the issue," he said.

Chezhiaan urged the government to make public the details of the books procured, their authors and publishers. He said legal action should be taken against those found responsible.

Before blaming the previous regime, the present government must account for every action taken during its tenure. Only complete, date-wise disclosure of procurement records, from the purchase order to the final payment, can establish the facts, the statement said.

AK Kareem of TNPWAA visited the facility on Friday to examine its book collection, saying he came after seeing a social media post by writer Perumal Murugan.

He claimed to have found more than 2,000 books published by ‘Agal Vilakku’, most priced at Rs 1,500 or more despite containing only 250 to 300 pages. “Such books had been specially produced for the library. More than 50 books carried titles beginning with the prefix 'Thamarai', followed by different names. He said several publications' contents were simplistic and appeared to have been generated using ChatGPT.

Demanding the removal of the books in question, Kareem said a detailed examination of the entire collection could take at least 10 days and might reveal further irregularities. The controversy has also triggered apprehension among youngsters preparing for competitive examinations at the facility.

"We come here expecting reliable study materials to prepare for competitive examinations. Such allegations have made us question the credibility of the books available here. The authorities should ensure that only authentic and quality publications are retained," said H Giridharan, an IAS aspirant who had just passed out of college.

Spread across 6.98 acres, Periyar Arivulagam has a built-up area of 1.98 lakh sq ft. Of the Rs 300-crore project, Rs 245 crore was allocated for construction, Rs 50 crore for procuring 1.25 lakh books and Rs 5 crore for e-books.

The then Chief Minister, MK Stalin, announced the project in 2024 and laid its foundation stone in November that year. The facility was subsequently completed and inaugurated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay last month.

The three services, introduced under the Centre's Regional Connectivity Scheme, were discontinued last month following the completion of a three-year subsidy period. The withdrawal has particularly affected business travellers, IT professionals and industrial establishments in Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Namakkal districts.

“Flights on these routes enjoyed good patronage with an average passenger occupancy of around 80 per cent. Travellers from Salem used to fly to Bengaluru, which offers better international connectivity to several destinations, including Tokyo and the UK, through direct flights. It also provided convenient connections to major Indian cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai,” said K Mariappan, founder-president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

Further, he pointed out that operating regional routes without government subsidies and fare caps was commercially unviable for airlines because of the high operational costs.

Alliance Air first withdrew its Kochi and Bengaluru services, followed by IndiGo discontinuing its flights connecting Salem with Bengaluru and Hyderabad. However, IndiGo has increased its Salem-Chennai service from once to twice daily, providing some relief to business travellers who need to visit Chennai and return the same day.

The loss of the Bengaluru connection has made travel particularly cumbersome for industrialists and business delegates. Though Bengaluru can be reached by road from Salem through Hosur in about two hours, the onward road journey from Hosur to Bengaluru can take more than three hours due to heavy traffic congestion.

“Several international delegates, particularly from countries such as Japan and Singapore, used to visit Dharmapuri, which has a significant concentration of granite mines and industries. The lack of convenient air connectivity has made such visits difficult. While there are adequate train services to Kochi, the loss of the Bengaluru connection is a major setback,” Mariappan said.

Highlighting the impact on IT professionals, a frequent air traveller SS Yuvaraj, director of India Operations at Hong Kong-based E7 Entertainment Limited, said the flight services remained a boon to professionals from Salem, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Namakkal working in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi.

“The flights provided a safe, cost-effective and faster mode of travel for a large number of IT professionals. With their withdrawal, passengers are now forced to undertake tedious journeys by omni buses, as securing train tickets is not always easy,” he said.

He added that passengers travelling to Delhi, Mumbai and other major destinations now had to spend several hours travelling by road to Bengaluru or Coimbatore before boarding connecting flights. “Efforts should be made to restore the services to these destinations, as they were useful to passengers and had recorded good patronage,” Yuvaraj said.

Salem was the first airport in Tamil Nadu to be developed under the UDAN scheme, with flight operations to regional destinations. The airport, which had remained largely dormant for several years, was brought back into operation under UDAN-I in 2018. Services were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and subsequently resumed under UDAN 5.0 in 2023.

TN'S 1ST AIRPORT UNDER UDAN SCHEME

Facility bounced back in 2018 after remaining largely dormant for several years

Services suspended during COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 resumed under UDAN 5.0 in 2023

Routes recorded around 80% passenger occupancy

Salem–Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi flights were withdrawn as UDAN subsidy period ended

IndiGo doubles Salem–Chennai services to twice daily

“Rescuing workers and identifying them as bonded labourers is only part of the process. To secure a conviction, investigators must prove how the workers were exploited and establish the role of each accused. But gaps in evidence, missing documents and unrecorded witness statements are weakening several cases,” said M Raja, a lawyer, Madras High Court.

In March 2025, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Chengalpattu acquitted the owner of a rice mill in Guduvanchery, where six persons belonging to the Irular community were employed as bonded labourers. The prosecution examined 15 witnesses and marked eight documents, but the court found the evidence insufficient to establish the charges.

The alleged advance payments had not been adequately proved. The Tahsildar admitted that she had not recorded the workers’ statements during inspection. The court also questioned aspects of the inspection, while the Revenue Inspector failed to produce his pocket diary, which he said he ordinarily maintained.

Another bonded labour case from Pondavakkam village in Tiruvallur, involving workers from Odisha employed at a brick chamber, had a different outcome. The defence questioned the absence of direct police complaints from the workers and the failure of investigators to record the Revenue Divisional Officer’s statement.

However, the Ponneri court found the workers’ testimony, backed by official records of their identification and release, sufficient to convict the accused under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

“Police often fail to collect all relevant documents during investigation, including bonded labour inquiry forms, release certificates issued by revenue officials, inspection records and correspondence between the Revenue Divisional Officer and the District Collector. Statements of the rescued workers and government officials involved in the operation must also be recorded,” Raja pointed out.

The problems continue even after the investigation. Some cases take 6-7 years to conclude, leaving a long gap between the workers’ rescue and their appearance in court. “During this period, rescued workers may migrate to their origin or other places in search of employment and settle there, making it difficult for investigators and courts to secure their attendance,” said Advocate Dennison.

By the time the trial begins, victims may also struggle to recall details of their exploitation. “Some survivors are so intimidated by court proceedings that they find it difficult even to testify. Even a well-read person will struggle to stand in the witness box,” Raja said, while recalling an instance in which a victim urinated out of fear while standing in the witness box.

Between 2022 and 2026, as many as 25 bonded labour cases resulted in convictions involving 32 persons, while 19 cases ended in acquittal involving 19 persons. Four other cases were abated, according to figures shared by the advocates who are involved in bonded labour cases.

Efforts are under way to reduce delays and strengthen prosecutions. District-level panel advocates have been appointed to follow up on cases, coordinate with victims, ensure they appear in court and help the prosecution submit documents that may have been left out.

Legal orientation programmes are also being held to explain court summons, the importance of attending hearings and how to give evidence to rescued workers.

“Several rumours are being spread about me, with claims that certain people are behind me and others are on my side. God is directing me; my fans are behind me and the people are by my side. The people are with me. ‘Ennam Pol Vazhkai’ (Life is shaped by one’s thoughts),” he said.

Speaking at the audio launch of his upcoming film OM here, Dhanush appeared to address the political jibes branding him the BJP’s ‘B-team’ or ‘C-team’ and allegations that the party was pulling the strings behind him.

“Whatever we say, people will have something to say. We cannot remain silent either. So, let us speak,” he remarked.

Explaining the significance of the film’s title, he said ‘Om’ was the sound associated with the creation of the universe, adding that every new creation was accompanied by such a sound.

On his career, Dhanush said his immediate focus was on his forthcoming films, making no announcement about any political plans.

Separately, outlining the welfare initiatives of the Dhanush Narpani Iyakkam, he announced plans to launch four free tuition centres within a fortnight — three in Chennai and one in Kanniyakumari.

The centres would be fully air-conditioned and equipped with structured facilities to support students’ academic development, he said. The initiative would be expanded across Tamil Nadu within two years, he added.

South Zone Inspector General of Police Vijayendra Bidari said a special police team arrested Mahender Singh Bisht (48), a college dropout and a key coordinator in the dispatch of the consignments who operated from a computer spare parts shop in Ambala Cantonment in Haryana, and Sunil Kumar (43), based in Jammu, who facilitated the supply of the tablets to Tamil Nadu. Both were arrested in Ambala on November 2.

Sunil Kumar is a BSc Chemistry graduate who runs a coaching centre in Jammu and Kashmir for students preparing for competitive examinations. “They conducted the entire operation through WhatsApp. We have seized several mobile SIM cards from them,” said the IG.

The investigation revealed that the accused had used fictitious identities, including Aatish Bhardwaj, Azeez Bharadwaj and Ashish Bharadwaj, along with false sender addresses, to conceal their identities and evade detection while dispatching the consignments.

Based on intelligence inputs about drug trafficking through an inter-state courier network, Bidari initiated Operation Deep Source in July 2026 to dismantle the entire network.

“We have sensitised postal authorities and courier agencies to help identify suspicious consignments originating from outside the State,” said the IG.

The investigation gained momentum after a suspicious postal parcel was seized at Kandamanur in Theni on August 18. Subsequent seizures in Dindigul and Madurai revealed a common pattern, with the consignments consistently traced to Ambala Cantonment.

“An investigation of customer accounts at Ambala Cantonment revealed that 588 suspicious parcels had been booked over the past year to 19 states and union territories, of which 11 appeared to have been destined for Tamil Nadu, indicating a much wider inter-state distribution network,” said Bidari.

Seven criminal cases have been registered in Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts over the last three months following the interception of suspicious consignments containing Tapentadol tablets, including those marketed under the brand name Tydol. Police have so far seized 4,400 tablets and arrested 18 others in these cases.

After obtaining a transit warrant from the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ambala, the team brought the two accused to Tamil Nadu. They were subsequently remanded in judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate Court, Vadipatti, in Madurai district. “We will soon seek their police custody,” said the IG.

According to a Government Order issued by Rural Development Secretary Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, the scheme aims to provide concrete houses to poor families living in huts across rural Tamil Nadu.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries will receive Rs 5 lakh each to construct houses measuring 360 to 500 sq ft, with a kitchen and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roofing. The beneficiaries will have to undertake the construction themselves.

The assistance will be disbursed directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts in four instalments based on the completion of the foundation, window-level construction, roofing and the entire building. Those with insufficient land can construct houses with ground and first floors. A separate assistance of Rs 12,000 will be provided for toilet construction to beneficiaries without toilet facilities.

Under the scheme, beneficiaries will receive Rs 5 lakh each to construct houses measuring 360 to 500 sq ft, with a kitchen and reinforced cement concrete roofing

Beneficiaries will be identified through existing houseless family lists, re-surveys and a fresh hut census. Families living in huts, mud-walled houses and houses with weak roofing will be eligible, provided they possess a patta or other ownership document.

Families with an annual income exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh and those who have already benefited from government housing schemes will be excluded. Widows, destitute women, transpersons and ex-servicemen will receive priority.

Five per cent of the houses will be reserved for persons with disabilities and another five per cent under the District Collector's discretionary quota. Forty per cent of the allocation will be earmarked for SC/ST beneficiaries and 60 per cent for others.

Beneficiaries can also avail themselves of bank loans up to Rs 1 lakh, with a three per cent interest subsidy for those who repay the loan regularly, for a maximum period of 15 years.

The beneficiary list will be displayed at panchayat offices and on the Rural Development Department website tnrd.tn.gov.in.

DMK leader and former School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, arrested on October 26, 2026, in connection with a case involving alleged cheating of private schools worth over Rs 100 crore, has had his judicial custody extended till November 18.

Anbil Mahesh was arrested in connection with the case on October 26 and lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.

Meanwhile, as his judicial custody was due to expire on Friday, prison authorities produced him before Special Judge LS Sathiyamurthy of the Special Court for cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act through video conference from Puzhal prison.

The judge then extended his judicial custody till November 18.

The hearing on his bail petition has concluded, and the court has reserved its orders for November 10.

"He said strong winds and heavy rain had damaged their boat and that its engine had stopped working. They even contacted nearby boats seeking rescue," recalled Balan. Soon afterwards, before help could come, their boat capsized after being caught in Cyclone Murasu.

The bodies of seven of the nine missing fishermen have been found, while the whereabouts of the remaining two, Rajesh of Thiruchinankuppam and Narayanan of Samiyarpettai in Cuddalore district, remain unknown. Five bodies were handed over to their families in Kasimedu on Friday, while two more are being brought from Andhra Pradesh.

The fishermen had also contacted the boat owner, Selvalagan, and informed him about the strong winds and engine failure, Balan said. "Now, our family cannot even see his face," he said. He alleged that the fishing boat did not have the required permit or insurance and that four of the nine fishermen were new to the profession.

The bodies that were recovered and brought to Kasimedu were identified as Mohan (47) and Pakkirisamy alias Suriya (49) of Kasimedu; Murugan (48) of Vinayagapuram; and Kuppusamy (57) of Othavadai and Kuppan (48) of Pallavan Nagar.

Relatives of Pakkirisamy alias Suriya (49), who was the boat's driver, said he had informed the boat owner about the strong winds, engine failure and seawater entering the boat's hull. He had also sought help for their rescue.

Suriya had spoken to his wife, Parvathi, but did not reveal the seriousness of the situation. Instead, he assured her that he would return home to celebrate Deepavali with the family, his relatives said.

The families of the deceased accused the boat owner and the Indian Coast Guard of failing to ensure the fishermen's safety, alleging that timely intervention could have saved their lives.

Fisheries Department Director K Vijayakarthikeyan said the government had ordered search and rescue operations as soon as it learnt about the fishermen's disappearance. The Coast Guard had conducted two helicopter patrols and deployed personnel for search operations, he said, adding that the department had records and evidence of the operations.

However, the families disputed the government's claims, maintaining that adequate and timely action could have ensured the safe rescue of the fishermen.

Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister A Srinath and department officials visited the bereaved families, paid their respects and handed over compensation cheques.

On Thursday, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had announced a solatium of Rs 7 lakh each to the families of fishermen whose bodies were found along the Andhra Pradesh coast.

Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, Vijay said he has directed officials to expedite search operations to trace the remaining missing fishermen. "Of the total solatium of Rs 7 lakh, Rs 2 lakh will be provided immediately. The bodies will be brought back to Tamil Nadu at the government's expense," he said.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Tagore drew attention to the library's functioning, constructed during the previous DMK regime and inaugurated on October 16. He said the seven-storey facility was conceived as a major centre for knowledge and learning, but alleged that aspects of its book collection and procurement process warranted scrutiny.

Seeking the Chief Minister's intervention, Tagore called for a committee of scholars and subject experts to examine the books, verify their contents, and assess the pricing and procurement process. He also sought appropriate action against those found responsible for any irregularities.

Tagore pointed out that the library had placed around 1,800 books published by Agal Vilakku Publications on the fourth floor. Raising concerns over their pricing, he said books of around 300 pages, previously priced between Rs 300 and Rs 400, were now being sold at much higher rates. He alleged that some were priced at more than Rs 1,400, despite containing material available in other publications at lower prices.

He also questioned the procurement process and suspected irregularities in the book purchases. Since public money had been spent on developing the library and acquiring its collection, he said the matter required a detailed examination.

He said the government should ensure transparency in library management and prevent the misuse of public funds.

G Chandeesh, who was serving as Ramanathapuram SP, has been transferred as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), South, Greater Chennai Police, replacing K Muthu Kumar.

K Muthu Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), South, Greater Chennai Police, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Avadi Police Commissionerate, replacing T Eswaran.

T Eswaran, who was serving in the Traffic wing of Avadi Police Commissionerate, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pallikaranai, Tambaram Police Commissionerate, in an existing vacancy.

According to the schedule, the Class 10 examinations will be held from February 16 to March 9, 2027, while the Class 12 examinations will begin on February 16 and conclude on April 9, 2027.

Students of Class 10 will appear for examinations in 83 subjects, while those in Class 12 will take examinations in 121 subjects. The detailed timetable is available on the board's official website, cbse.gov.in.

"The date sheets are being released 101 days in advance of the commencement of examinations," CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said.

The board had earlier announced the schedule for practical examinations and internal assessments for the 2026-27 academic session. These will be conducted from January 1 to February 13, 2027, in all affiliated schools in India and abroad.

In winter-bound schools, practical examinations for Classes 10 and 12 will be held earlier, from November 9 to December 19.

He said libraries are public assets that ensure equal access to knowledge, especially for students who cannot afford books and youngsters preparing for competitive examinations, including those conducted by the TNPSC.

"If public money allocated for such a library has been misused, it is not merely financial misconduct but a betrayal of the next generation's education and intellectual development," he said in a statement.

Questioning the procurement process under the previous DMK regime, Annamalai sought the complete list of recommended books and details on whether all titles were purchased. He also demanded disclosure of how many books were procured, their ISBNs, purchase and delivery dates, and the officials who verified receipt.

Calling for transparency, he sought publication of the committee's report, purchase orders, invoices, delivery records, and verification reports, as well as an independent probe into the quality, pricing, and delivery of the books. He said everyone responsible must be brought to justice, irrespective of their position.

The alleged irregularities resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 1,427 crore to the government, according to the DVAC release. The loss was calculated in respect of four of the 28 quarries. The case was registered by the DVAC headquarters based on complaints received from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Chennai, S Tamilselvan and Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam.

As part of the investigation, DVAC officials on Friday conducted searches at 34 places across Chennai, Pudukkottai, Tiruchy, Karur, Vellore, Madurai, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal and Puducherry. The searches were linked to alleged irregularities in sand mining operations in 28 quarries across the State.

The complaints alleged that contracts were awarded through limited tenders instead of open tenders, allowing irregularities in the allocation of mining rights. They also alleged that sand was mined beyond the approved mining plans, fake vouchers were fabricated in the name of permit slips and used as genuine documents, and sand was transported illegally.

According to the DVAC, irregularities in four of the 28 quarries resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 1,427 crore to the government

During Friday's searches, officials seized 825 incriminating documents, 11 electronic gadgets and three bank locker keys connected to the case. The other accused include A Muthaiya and Ramamoorthi, both retired chief engineers, besides 14 public servants of the Water Resources Department and 10 private individuals and firms. The investigation is ongoing.

Palani (70), from Karlambakkam village in Pallipattu taluk of Tiruvallur district, works as a document writer at the Pallipattu Sub-Registrar's Office. On October 30 last year, he was out of the town with his family. At midnight, unidentified persons broke the locks, entered his house and stole 86.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery. Pallipattu police registered a case and began an investigation. A special police team was also formed.

Meanwhile, a jewellery shop in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, was burgled. In connection with that case, Chittoor district police arrested some suspects and lodged them in a prison in Andhra Pradesh. Pallipattu police received information that two of them were involved in the robbery at the document writer's house in Karlambakkam village.

With permission from the Chittoor district Chief Judicial Magistrate, Pallipattu police took the two suspects into custody and brought them for questioning. The duo was identified as Dinesh (27), from Kannikapuram village near Balasamudram in Chittoor district, and Chiranjeevi (34), from Kondapuram village near RK Pet.

The police found that Porchezhiyan (23), from Ammaiyarkuppam village near RK Pet, was also involved in the jewellery robbery.

Following this, police arrested the trio and recovered the stolen jewellery from them. All three were lodged in Puzhal prison.

In a statement on Friday, Duraimurugan explained the circumstances that led to the Vedic wedding. He said his granddaughter, who had studied abroad, told him she was in love with someone from another caste and wanted the wedding conducted by priests with Sanskrit chants.

"I had to accept my granddaughter's wish due to her insistence. I regret the incident. No one needs to make this a political issue or turn it into a subject of debate," Duraimurugan said.

Recalling his own wedding and his son Kathir Anand's, he said the then DMK president, M Karunanidhi, conducted both ceremonies.

The Central Crime Branch’s Anti-Vice Squad registered a case on October 7, 2025, based on a complaint lodged by a social activist. However, action was delayed for several months.

The case was subsequently transferred to the ITPU, which arrested R Veeramani, Mahendra Simhan and Shanthi on August 29 in connection with the alleged sexual assault of minor girls. They were booked under Sections 7, 8, 15 (1) and 21 (1) of the POCSO Act; Sections 354 (A), 354 (C), 201 and 120 (B) of the IPC; and Sections 66 (E) and 67 (B) of the Information Technology Act.

So far, 8 Pocso cases have been registered against Veeramani on allegations of sexually assaulting minor girls. Veeramani, Shanthi and Simhan, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody in connection with the cases. Following information that several girls had allegedly been victimised by Veeramani, the DGP constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the cases. The SIT has informed the Madras High Court that charge-sheets would be filed in the cases shortly.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government on Friday issued an order appointing KR Sankaran, Swami Subramanian and M Sandhiya as Special Public Prosecutors under Section 32 (1) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, to conduct the prosecution in the cases investigated by the SIT and any other related cases or matters investigated by the team.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s extended-range forecast, an upper-air cyclonic circulation is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Sea around November 11. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the southeast Bay of Bengal around November 13.

The IMD has also indicated a low probability of the system intensifying into a depression. Before that, Tamil Nadu is likely to witness widespread rainfall on November 7 and 8, with isolated heavy rainfall forecast over several districts. While Theni, Dindigul and Madurai are under a heavy rain warning on Saturday, rainfall activity is expected to extend across the Cauvery delta and southern coastal districts on Sunday, including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari.

The heavy rain warning will continue into Monday, particularly over the delta districts, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram, as well as Karaikal. By Tuesday, the warning is confined to Ramanathapuram and Thoothukudi. Chennai might experience partly cloudy skies, with light rain accompanied by thunder and lightning in some areas on Saturday.

The rainfall activity may persist beyond the weekend. Isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu between November 9 and 11. Between November 12 and 18, rainfall activity is expected to be above normal over south peninsular India during the first half of this period.

The inspections were carried out on the orders of City Police Commissioner A Amalraj in areas including Teynampet, Vepery, Nungambakkam, Egmore, Anna Salai, Mylapore and Royapettah.

Police and Health Department officials checked whether the establishments had valid licences to operate and were complying with government regulations. They also inspected the premises to check for the use of banned tobacco products and narcotic substances.

Based on suspected violations, police registered 13 cases against those operating the hookah bars and seized materials used for smoking hookah. The seized materials will be sent to a forensic science laboratory for examination.

In a statement, the Greater Chennai Police cautioned the public, particularly youngsters, against using banned tobacco products and narcotic substances, warning that they could adversely affect their health.

The police also warned that surprise inspections would continue in coordination with the Health Department and that legal action would be taken against hookah bars found operating illegally or violating regulations.

In a statement, Vijay alleged that the book-purchase controversy exposed yet another instance of corruption under the previous DMK government. He questioned how an institution intended to serve children and students had become embroiled in allegations of financial misconduct.

Taking a dig at the DMK's claims of being the guardian of Tamil identity and heritage, Vijay said, "The very people who loudly proclaim that they alone have protected Tamil soil, language and dignity, claim ownership of the Tamil language and assert that they alone possess the authority to encompass the vast ocean of Tamil literature are, in reality, an embodiment of corruption. The DMK has been exposed as the fountainhead of corruption."

He cited writer Perumal Murugan's revelations about alleged irregularities in book procurement, noting that the writer was a member of the committee constituted to recommend books on modern literature and literary criticism. The government formed the committee under a Government Order dated November 5, 2025, during the previous DMK regime.

Vijay recalled that he had accused the DMK of exploiting Periyar's name for financial gain even before entering politics, asserting that the latest controversy had vindicated his criticism.

Listing alleged corruption in the municipal administration department, Tasmac, tender processes and school education, he accused the DMK of allowing corruption to permeate various government departments.

Expressing anguish over the alleged misuse of public money, Vijay warned that future generations would not forgive the DMK and said the party would face the political consequences of exploiting the names of Periyar and Tamil for financial gain.

The CCB police have been conducting an inquiry with Mannan since 6 a.m. on Friday, based on a complaint filed by TVK MLA Madhar Badhurudeen, popularly known as Mustafa, alleging that he was offered money to vote against the government in a proposed no-confidence motion.

Speaking to reporters after he met Mannan at the CCB office, Raju said that Mannan and Mustafa are long-time close friends and address each other as “maman” and “maithunar” (terms for maternal uncle and brother-in-law).

Explaining the conversation Mannan allegedly had with Mustafa, Raju said that Mannan had called him to enquire about social media posts alleging that a TVK functionary, Kaniraj (Mustafa’s personal assistant), had demanded money for providing party posts in the Madurai Central constituency. Mustafa had responded that he would talk to Mannan later, as he was travelling on a train, Raju clarified, adding that this was the only conversation Mannan had with the MLA and that he had not indulged in horse-trading, as the latter claimed.

He further alleged that the TVK government was resorting to such tactics to divert criticism instead of addressing people’s issues.

Raju said, “Our General Secretary had no such thought. The AIADMK has won votes by meeting the people directly and telling them about the achievements of its 31 years in power. Even now, we have won votes by contesting alone. Therefore, we have no intention of capturing power through shortcuts.”

Commenting on the way the police were treating Mannan, he said that Mannan had already undergone bypass surgery and had health problems.

Raju said the Police Commissioner had sent a notice to Mannan on November 5, asking him to appear in person on November 7 to explain a complaint. “Then why have the police taken him away in the wee hours of November 6? He is neither a terrorist nor a drug smuggler. He has served the people. They are keeping him as if they were confining a terrorist,” he said.