But the decision falls short of farmers' demand for a complete loan waiver, as the TVK promised ahead of the Assembly polls.

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 demands for a comprehensive waiver of crop loans remain unresolved.

Under the revised structure, farmers with outstanding crop loans of up to Rs 75,000 will receive a complete waiver covering the principal and interest. Those whose loans exceed Rs 75,000 will be eligible for a flat waiver of Rs 75,000, with borrowers bearing the remaining liability.

Under the order, 5,90,621 farmers with loans up to Rs 75,000 will receive a full waiver, while another 7,34,260 farmers with loans above that limit will get relief of Rs 75,000 each. The two categories account for approximately 13.25 lakh beneficiaries.

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

The latest order extends the higher relief to all eligible borrowers with loans above Rs 75,000, removing the earlier distinction based on loan size.

The minister said action had been initiated against the official responsible for supplying rice to the school under the midday meal scheme.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the sale of organic agricultural products at the Uzhavar Santhai in Thanjavur, Vinoth said he had been inspecting various government schemes being implemented in the district.

During one such inspection at Panchayat Union Middle School in Cholanmaligai, he found a bag of adulterated rice among the stock supplied for the midday meal scheme. He said he brought the matter to the notice of higher officials, who were instructed to take action against the official in charge of rice distribution to schools.

"We are particular about the quality of food supplied to students and commodities distributed through PDS outlets. Action will be initiated against officials responsible for violations," he said, adding that inspections would continue and action would be taken immediately against those found flouting norms.

Meanwhile, the minister said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was keen on promoting organic food consumption to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Accordingly, the government launched weekly sales of organic agricultural products at all Uzhavar Santhais.

At the Kumbakonam Uzhavar Santhai, he said the government allotted 12 shops to sell organic products, with 1,305 kg of produce stocked for sale.

These outlets would offer traditional rice varieties, millets, pulses, vegetables, fruits, spices, honey, and other organic products, including value-added items, he added.

In a statement, Anbumani criticised the government's decision to allow six shows, starting as early as 6 am, instead of addressing the film industry's pressing issues. He said the announcement meets only the needs of the film producer associations and theatre owners without adequately considering its wider consequences.

Recalling that theatres were permitted a maximum of four shows a day until 1988, he said a fifth show was subsequently allowed during festival periods. The State later introduced special early-morning screenings on film opening days but discontinued them after a fan died in January 2023.

Anbumani alleged that extending screening hours to more than 20 hours a day could draw people away from work, reduce productivity and affect the State's economy. He also said late-night screenings could create safety risks for women and children and reduce family time.

Pointing out that nearly 2,500 Tamil films were awaiting release, he urged the government to address rising production costs and the difficulties small- and medium-scale producers face.

Trio robs couple at knifepoint

The city police arrested three men for allegedly threatening a young couple at knifepoint and robbing them at the Elliots Beach in Besant Nagar during the early hours of Friday. Officials said the trio decamped with two mobile phones and a gold chain weighing two sovereigns.

The complainant, a 23-year-old man working as a marketing executive, had come to the beach with his girlfriend around 2 am. They were sitting on the beach talking, and when it started raining at about 3.30 am, the couple moved towards a shop on the beach to take shelter.

That was when four men approached and threatened them. One of the suspects held a knife to the man’s throat while the others took two mobile phones and the woman’s gold chain. Based on the man’s complaint, the Shastri Nagar police registered a case and launched an investigation. The police identified the suspects as Arya (35) from Kerala, and Ashwin Kumar (33) and Raj (21) from Chennai.

Investigators found that the three men rode horses at Elliot’s Beach. All three of them were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Search is on for another suspect who is at large.

Man held for abusing 3 boys he lured with Deepavali gifts

A 38-year-old man was arrested by the Kasimedu police for allegedly sexually abusing three 12-year-old boys after luring them to a hotel room on the pretext of buying them Deepavali gifts.

The boys were playing in their neighbourhood when the accused, identified as Vikram, approached them and offered to buy them festival gifts. He took them to a hotel and confined them in a room.

The probe revealed that Vikram forced the boys to massage him, touch him inappropriately and consume alcohol. He also allegedly burnt them with cigarette butts before leaving them near their homes that night.

After the parents alerted the police, investigators examined CCTV footage from the areas where the children had been taken and traced Vikram. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

Tiruvallur: Guest worker from Bihar stabs 45-year-old to death over drunken brawl

A 22-year-old guest worker from Bihar was arrested for allegedly stabbing a 45-year-old construction worker to death at his house in Ayanambakkam near Tiruverkadu, on Friday night. The attack was triggered by a drunken brawl the previous night, police said.

The deceased was identified as Kamalakannan. He is separated from his wife and after she moved away with their two sons, his mother lived with him.

The accused, Arvind Kumar of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar, worked as a cook at a hotel in Thiruverkadu.

On Thursday, they were drinking at Kamalakannan's house when an argument broke out and Kamalakannan assaulted Arvind, leading to an enmity. To exact revenge, Arvind went to Kamalakannan's house on Friday night while under the influence of alcohol.

They entered into a fresh altercation, following which the Bihar man took out a knife and stabbed Kamalakannan repeatedly in the abdomen. He suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot.

On receiving information, the Tiruverkadu police reached the house and sent the body to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. Arvind initially went into hiding but was arrested from a hideout on Saturday morning.

The police produced him before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. Further investigations are on.

Debt-saddled IT manager turns to chain-snatching, caught by public in Tambaram

After facing a huge loss in online trading, which left him saddled with a sizeable debt, a 46-year-old project manager with an IT company took to chain-snatching to pay off his loans – only to be caught by the public, who gave him a sound thrashing before handing him over to the police in Tambaram.

Chennai: Horse-rider trio robs couple at knifepoint on Besant Nagar beach, arrested

The city police arrested three men for allegedly threatening a young couple at knifepoint and robbing them at the Elliots Beach in Besant Nagar during the early hours of Friday. Officials said the trio decamped with two mobile phones and a gold chain weighing two sovereigns.

The complainant, a 23-year-old man working as a marketing executive, had come to the beach with his girlfriend around 2 am. They were sitting on the beach talking, and when it started raining at about 3.30 am, the couple moved towards a shop on the beach to take shelter.

That was when four men approached and threatened them. One of the suspects held a knife to the man's throat while the others took two mobile phones and the woman's gold chain.

Based on the man's complaint, the Shastri Nagar police registered a case and launched an investigation. The police identified the suspects as Arya (35) from Kerala, and Ashwin Kumar (33) and Raj (21) from Chennai.

Investigators found that the three men rode horses at Elliot's Beach. All three of them were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Search is on for another suspect who is at large.

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.

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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.

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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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Veeramani, son of Subbaiah, had gone to Israel two years ago to work in construction. He last visited his village on leave six months ago before returning to work.

On October 28, he was carrying out repair work at the site after halting an elevator when it suddenly descended. He suffered severe head injuries and died on the spot.

His wife and fellow villagers then petitioned the government to bring his body home. The body reached Chennai Airport by flight on Saturday morning and was taken to Moongilpatti in a government vehicle by evening.

He is survived by his wife, Bhuvaneshwari (24) and four-year-old daughter Tejashree.

The young man’s death has cast a pall over Moongilpatti, where villagers gathered in large numbers to bid him farewell.

In a press release, the government said it had received reports from volunteers and journalists about new sky-shot firecrackers designed to be held in the hand while being lit.

Holding such crackers while igniting them could cause severe burns to the head, face and hands, loss of fingers, permanent eye damage and other life-threatening injuries, it said.

It urged parents to ensure that children do not handle them under any circumstances.

The government also said high-explosive crackers, sky-shots and rockets should never be ignited while being held in the hand, and appealed to people to refrain from using hand-held aerial firecrackers available in the market, for an accident-free festival.

In its safety advisory, it asked people to place firecrackers on the ground before lighting them and to maintain a safe distance. It cautioned against trying to relight crackers that fail to go off.

Children should burst firecrackers only under the supervision of parents or elders, and households should keep a bucket of water nearby, the release said.

Children in the villages voluntarily gave up crackers and burst only sparklers, while families, villagers said, celebrated the festival in new clothes.

The 240-acre sanctuary was established in 1996 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, and is one of 16 bird sanctuaries in the official “List of Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu”.

Unlike other bird sanctuaries in the state, the sanctuary is centred around the Periyakulam Lake tank and has no adjoining woodland.

The waterbody attracts several species of resident and migratory birds from different parts of India and abroad.

The birds typically arrive to nest and breed between March and October, but villagers said only a handful of resident and migratory birds are around now.

The sanctuary once attracted thousands of birds, many of them migratory.

Species found at the sanctuary over the years are the bar-headed goose, black-tailed godwit, Eurasian spoonbill, spot-billed pelican, Western marsh harrier and blue-tailed bee-eater.

Villagers said some families went to the homes of close relatives to celebrate, bursting a few crackers there instead of in their own neighbourhoods.

Showers triggered by a weather system lashed Chennai, its suburbs and the delta districts through the morning, but households went ahead with the day’s traditions.

The celebrations began well before sunrise, around 5 am, with “Ganga Snanam”, the ritual oil bath. Families bathed in sesame oil, a rite symbolising the washing away of negative traits and a fresh beginning.

Dressed in new clothes, they gathered before deity altars for morning pujas, seeking blessings for health, peace and prosperity. After the festive meal, many families followed the tradition of taking “Deepavali Lehiyam”, a herbal digestive paste handed down through generations.

The rain briefly delayed outdoor festivities, and people burst firecrackers during the intermittent dry spells.

The Tamil Nadu government had permitted firecrackers to be burst only between 6 am and 7 am and between 7 pm and 8 pm. The two one-hour slots were meant to curb air and noise pollution and encourage safe community celebrations.

In his Deepavali message on Saturday, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said the festival of lights symbolised the triumph of good over evil. He called upon citizens to contribute to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Tamil Nadu’ (Developed India and Developed Tamil Nadu).

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wished the people a joyous festival and appealed to them to celebrate safely and share happiness with all.

These are not late-night WhatsApp messages between friends. They are a sample of the 1,886 questions a Villupuram youth fired off in 97 petitions under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, over several months.

Not to be amused, the Tamil Nadu Information Commission has warned the youth, A Santhosh, against misusing the law, and let him off only after he agreed to seek legal remedy through a court.

Following an inquiry into appeals filed by Santhosh, Information Commissioner VPR Ilamparithi cautioned the youth against misusing the Act and warned that continued filing of such petitions could lead to a one-year restriction on submitting RTI applications. He also said Santhosh could be referred to the District Health Department for counselling.

The petitions were addressed to the Additional Superintendent of Police (SP), Cuddalore, who is also the district police's Public Information Officer (PIO), over the past eight months.

Santhosh had reportedly been in a relationship with her during their college days. When she ended it, he allegedly kept harassing her through electronic devices, then turned to the RTI Act.

The PIO rejected the petitions, and Santhosh took his case to the Commission. Hearing the appeal, Information Commissioner VPR Ilamparithi said the RTI Act was meant to empower the poor and ensure transparency and corruption-free administration. Using it to demand a woman's photograph and private details, he said, was condemnable.

He also voiced concern that public information officers were spending a substantial part of their working hours answering such queries

According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, Chennai district received the highest allocation of Rs 13.86 crore, owing to its 16 Assembly constituencies. Coimbatore district, which has 10 Assembly constituencies, secured the second-highest allocation of Rs 8.86 crore, followed by Salem district with Rs

8.75 crore. Madurai, which also has 10 Assembly constituencies, was allocated Rs 7.87 crore.

As per the allocation, district election officers, returning officers, assistant returning officers, corporation commissioners, district revenue officers and special tahsildars (elections) will receive Rs 45,000 each as honorarium. Other officials, including Revenue divisional officers, tahsildars, flying squad personnel and members of various election surveillance teams, such as Static Surveillance Teams and Video Viewing Teams, will receive Rs 30,000 each. Similarly, staff from the Revenue Department will receive Rs 20,000 each, while election data operators will be paid Rs 10,000 each.

Around three lakh government employees and teachers were engaged in election-related duties, including election administration, enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, surveillance, monitoring and polling arrangements, for nearly two months, from mid-March to the first week of May.

The victim, identified as Kuttimari (35) of Kadayanallur, was allegedly strangled by her brotherin-law after allegedly objecting to her affair out of wedlock. The three allegedly took her body on a motorcycle and set it on fire to conceal the crime.

The body was discovered on Thursday by a worker who had gone to irrigate a banana plantation owned by Sundar, along the road connecting Kadayanallur and Sundarapandiapuram. The worker alerted the plantation owner, who informed the Surandai police.

Initially unable to identify the victim, police formed three special teams under the leadership of Alangulam Deputy Superintendent of Police Gladson Jose. The teams examined missing-person complaints and CCTV footage from Surandai, Sundarapandiapuram and neighbouring areas.

The investigation established that the deceased was Kuttimari of Indira Nagar in Melakadayanallur. She worked at a petrol bunk in Kadayanallur, while her husband, Murugan, brotherin-law, Ravi, and mother-in-law, Sivakami, sold clothes door-todoor and stayed at a lodge in Surandai for their business.

According to police, Kuttimari had allegedly been in an affair with a man from her locality for a long time. Her husband had reportedly objected to the relationship and asked her to end it. Ravi was also aware of the matter.

Police said Kuttimari went to the Surandai lodge from Kadayanallur around 7 pm on Wednesday. An argument reportedly broke out between her and Ravi, during which he allegedly strangled her with a piece of cloth.

This prompted fans from Tamil Nadu to travel across State borders to catch the first-day-first-show (FDFS) of their favourite stars. The absence of early shows also affected producers and exhibitors, as reviews and reactions from neighbouring states began circulating on social media even before the first show commenced in Tamil Nadu, potentially influencing audience expectations and opening-day collections.

That is why the decision by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led government to permit 6 am screenings and up to six shows a day during the first seven days of a film's release is a special gift from the actor-turned-politician to the film fraternity, that too right in time for Deepavali.

This has brought major relief to the industry, particularly for Suriya's ‘Scene’, Nayanthara-starrer ‘Mookuthi Amman 2’, and mega-budget project ‘Ramayana’, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.

Outside a Chennai theatre screening Suriya’s ‘Scene’, movie buff Kudiyarasu, who had previously travelled to neighbouring states to catch the FDFS of his favourite stars’ films, welcomed the return of early morning shows. “We used to travel long distances, mostly to Nagari, and even miss a day’s work just to watch the FDFS. But the theatres near the border areas are not always up to the mark. While the celebrations were there, the experience could never match watching a film alongside fellow fans in our own city, Chennai. The return of 6 am shows is a huge relief, as I can now enjoy the first-day-first-show experience in my own city,” he said.

‘Govt responsive to industry’s needs, demands’

Dr G Dhananjayan, treasurer of the Tamil Film Active Producers Council, said the early morning screenings had received an encouraging response, particularly for ‘Scene’, which reportedly had around 400-500 shows across Tamil Nadu. “The film released simultaneously across the world, allowing audiences here to experience it at the same time as moviegoers elsewhere. From a business perspective, all the shows together generate approximately Rs 10 crore a day. Over seven days, that could translate into additional revenue of around Rs 70 crore. Apart from producers, the resulting GST and other tax collections will also benefit the government,” he said.

Speaking about the government’s response to the film industry’s requests, Dhananjayan said, “The present TVK government has been responsive to the industry’s concerns. Recently, Rs 15.68 crore in long-pending film subsidies for 224 films, which had remained unpaid for seven years, was released. The permission for 6 am shows is another positive step. Our current request is for the removal of the 4% local body entertainment tax; we hope the government will review the matter and arrive at a favourable decision.”

Sakthivelan B of Sakthi Film Factory, which is distributing ‘Scene’, said the early morning screenings had benefited not just fans but also working professionals who often find it difficult to watch films during regular show timings.

“‘Scene’ received a tremendous response for its 6 am shows, and it feels good that the film has released simultaneously across all centres. One important aspect is that working-class audiences who wish to watch a film often find it difficult to get time during their work schedules. With 6 am screenings, they can watch the film before heading to work, making it more convenient for them. This is a welcome move for movie lovers,” he said.

Appreciating the government’s decision, he added, “The Chief Minister and ministers understand the issues and requests raised by the film industry.”

The decision has brought cheer to the entire film exhibition industry, with theatre owners describing it as a timely 'Deepavali gift'. The move addresses a long-pending demand of the industry, according to the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association.

Delayed screening posed risks, say theatre owners

Association president Tirupur Subramaniam pointed out that films being released early in neighbouring states had consequences beyond audience convenience, particularly in an era when social media and digital platforms can influence a film's prospects even before its first screening in the State.

"When screenings commenced at 9 am in Tamil Nadu, audiences across other southern states were completing their shows by 8.15 am to 8.30 am," Subramaniam said. In today's fast-paced digital media environment, public reviews and box-office verdict reach audiences before the first show even begins in Tamil Nadu, dampening viewer enthusiasm and severely impacting the opening collections of film producers, he added.

"We placed these operational difficulties before the Chief Minister (C Joseph Vijay), who immediately issued orders allowing early morning 6 am screenings," said Subramaniam.

The association also expects the decision to translate into higher revenue for the government. Highlighting the economic implications, Subramaniam said increasing the daily screening limit from the earlier four-to-five shows to six could raise commercial entertainment tax receipts by an estimated 20 per cent.

Subramaniam added that digital monitoring of ticket sales and revenue operations by the State government would ensure that the additional business generated through the extended screenings is accounted for, without revenue leakage.

Beyond the change in screening timings, the industry is also seeking an overhaul of the regulatory framework governing cinema theatres in the State. Subramaniam disclosed that joint industry bodies had urged the government to revisit outdated provisions under the Tamil Nadu Cinemas (Regulation) Act of 1952, which have remained in place for more than seven decades.

"None of our pending demands entail any revenue loss to the government. The administration has assured us that after Deepavali, existing outdated laws will be re-examined and aligned with modern requirements. With regulatory relaxation, we anticipate that the number of functional movie screens in Tamil Nadu could double from the current 1,200 by 2026-27, creating vital theatrical space for both big-budget productions and small-scale films," he said.

From Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan to Vijay and Ajith, a Deepavali release was once considered a matter of prestige, offering filmmakers the perfect occasion to bring their most anticipated projects to audiences. However, the trend seems to have changed in recent years. With Rajinikanth’s Annaatthe (2021) being the last Deepavali release among these four superstars, their continued absence from the festive box office raises an interesting question: What has changed, and why are the industry’s biggest names no longer treating Deepavali as a priority release date?

While fans may miss watching their favourite superstars on the big screen during the festival, industry veteran and film producer Chitra Lakshman believes the equation between stars and festival releases has evolved. “Movies were initially planned around festivals because people had holidays and films were expected to perform well at the box office. However, stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay and Ajith have gone beyond that stage. Whenever their films release, it is Deepavali for their fans, who celebrate the occasion like a festival,” he says.

Lakshman feels that the absence of big-star releases during the festive window creates opportunities for films featuring smaller stars. “When big stars stay away from Deepavali, smaller stars get space for their films. Big stars can generate revenue whenever their films release, while smaller stars benefit from getting festival dates and the potential for good collections. In that sense, this trend is good for the industry,” he adds.

The changing release pattern could also point to a larger shift in the way the Tamil film industry approaches theatrical releases. With big-budget films involving longer production schedules, extensive promotions and releases across multiple languages, fixing a date solely around a festival may no longer be a priority. Producers and distributors also have to consider competition, theatre availability and the commercial prospects of a release before locking a date.

Ultimately, Deepavali may no longer be the exclusive playground of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, but that does not necessarily diminish its importance. If the absence of superstar vehicles gives smaller films and emerging stars an opportunity to enjoy the festive spotlight, it could bring greater diversity to the box office. And as Chitra Lakshman points out, for fans of the biggest stars, the celebration is no longer confined to a calendar date — their arrival in theatres is a festival in itself.

PS Masilamani of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (CPI) said farmers had repeatedly protested and held several rounds of talks with ministers, demanding fulfilment of the poll promise.

He said the latest announcement had raised the allocation for crop loan waiver from Rs 2,044 crore to Rs 6,220 crore, with an additional Rs 2,842 crore sanctioned. It also covered farmers who had repaid their loans.

However, the associations had sought a minimum waiver of Rs 1 lakh covering all farmers, he said. "While the government cites financial constraints, it has failed to understand the crisis faced by farmers. Crop loan waiver is not a waste of money but an investment in food production," Masilamani said, adding that the government should honour its poll promise to farmers.

As many as 65 workers engaged through a private firm collect garbage door to door in the municipality. The workers, who were informed that the reduced bonus would be disbursed on Saturday, boycotted work and staged a protest on the municipality premises.

Rural Development Workers Union district president M Subramanian presided over the protest and spoke about the wage distribution. The workers also raised slogans against the municipal administration, demanding the restoration of the previous year's bonus.

Following the protest, the Municipal Commissioner visited the spot and assured the workers that their demand would be discussed with the private firm and that steps would be taken to resolve the issue by Tuesday.

The workers dispersed following the assurance but warned that they would resume the protest on Tuesday if their demand was not met

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

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

"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.

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.

Speaking to reporters, he said the fishermen's families had raised allegations against the TVK-led government, claiming officials failed to act immediately even after the relatives of missing fishermen lodged complaints with the Fisheries Department.

"It is unfortunate that the government took action only after the relatives of the missing fishermen staged a protest. During the DMK-led regime, priority was given to the safety of fishermen," Udhayanidhi said. He said his regime didn't allow fishermen to venture out during rough seas, alleging that the TVK regime failed in its duty to prevent such a tragedy.

He alleged that the TVK-led government should have suspended fishing activities during the cyclone but failed to do so, thereby putting fishermen's lives at risk.

Udhayanidhi said the State government's solatium was inadequate and urged it to increase compensation to Rs 25 lakh for each family of the deceased fishermen. "The government should provide a job to one person in the family and provide adequate insurance facilities to fishermen," said Udhay.

DMK legal wing joint secretary I Paranthamen submitted a petition to the DVAC, raising nine queries and seeking an investigation into the procurement of books allegedly generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI). He also sought details of the officials who issued purchase orders for the books.

The DMK alleged that large quantities of books published by Agal Vilakku and Phoenix Publications were supplied to Periyar Arivulagam without International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN).

In his petition, Paranthamen urged DVAC to investigate the authors who wrote books under the names Trisha Vijay, Sangeetha Vijay, Thamarai Panneer, Thamarai Murali, Monica Ravi and others.

Highlighting the importance of public libraries, he alleged that government funds had been spent on AI-generated and substandard books, causing wrongful loss to the State exchequer.

He also urged the DVAC to immediately secure procurement files, purchase orders and payment records to prevent their alteration or destruction during inquiry.

The agency should take appropriate legal action against those involved in any wrongdoing in accordance with the law, he said.

Accusing the previous DMK government of orchestrating a multi-crore scam involving the procurement of AI-generated and fake books for public libraries across Tamil Nadu, Rajmohan said, “The scam has unfolded in district libraries located in Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Tiruchy. This is an AI scam done by the DMK, which the TVK government will thoroughly investigate.”

Rajmohan said a special committee would be constituted to examine the books purchased for government libraries.

He alleged that the books were purchased as works by fictitious authors and demanded an unconditional apology from the DMK to students, readers and the literary community.

Addressing reporters at Anna Centenary Library, Rajmohan alleged that the procurement involved more than 2,000 titles from Agal Vilakku Publications for the Periyar Knowledge Centre in Coimbatore alone. He claimed that the government had issued a purchase order on February 14, 2026, directing the publisher to supply the books within seven days.

Displaying the copies of the purchase order, emails and committee records, he said the books had been delivered in more than 40 cartons and were subsequently arranged on library shelves. The books were stamped with June dates when they were catalogued, which, he said, was being misrepresented by the DMK as evidence that the procurement had taken place under the present government.

"The purchase order was issued on February 14 and the payment was released from the government treasury on March 14, during the DMK regime. The books were arranged on the shelves only after the election process. The date on which the books were stamped cannot be treated as the date of procurement," he said.

The minister said his department had lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), seeking a detailed investigation. He alleged that the case would attract provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and that all those involved, including publishers, political functionaries and officials, would be brought under the ambit of the investigation if evidence established their complicity.

He also urged Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna to examine the construction quality of the large library complexes, alleging that irregularities in book procurement warranted scrutiny of building expenditure as well.

The allegations followed a report by noted Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, who highlighted several books containing factual inaccuracies, questionable historical references and unusually high prices.

Murugan had also questioned the authenticity of authors' identities and ISBN numbers printed on the publications. Several books reportedly carried price tags exceeding Rs 1,000, considerably higher than comparable titles.

Minister claimed that Rs 50 crore had been earmarked for each of these libraries and alleged that the procurement of printed books and e-books, for which another Rs 5 crore had been planned, pointed to a larger scam involving public funds.

Referring to the selection process, the minister said a committee comprising 137 members had been constituted, of whom 112 participated in the deliberations. A higher-level committee had subsequently approved the list of books recommended for procurement.

He alleged that the committees had been influenced to clear questionable titles and that the scale of the procurement could not have been possible without political interference. He said the role of committee members and officials would also be examined.

Rajmohan further said the government would examine the procurement of books from more than 20 publishers and investigate possible links between publishers and political functionaries of the previous regime.

The minister named several authors whose identities he said were questionable. They included Kamalambal Karunanidhi, Pavithra Karunanidhi, Thamarai Murali, Thamarai Ravi, Thamarai Panneer, Monica Ravi, Aishwarya, Jyothi Haraharan and Lakshmi Mohan. He alleged that artificial intelligence had been used to generate books under fictitious names and that the practice involved appropriating the names of established writers and public figures.

Citing examples from the disputed titles, he questioned the quality and credibility of the content, including a book that allegedly described Naladiyar as a philosopher and contained questionable descriptions. He also alleged that names associated with political leaders had been used in the titles and authorship of certain books.

Responding to questions about the involvement of eminent writers in the book selection committee, including Perumal Murugan, Rajmohan said the writer had been involved in recommending books in specific categories, including modern literature and literary criticism. He claimed that the disputed titles belonged to other categories and had not been recommended by Perumal Murugan.

The minister said he had personally contacted Perumal Murugan and thanked him for bringing the issue to light. He described the writer as a whistleblower whose observations had prompted a wider examination of the procurement process.

Udhayanidhi condemned the government for disbanding the committee, which the previous DMK regime had constituted to review Centre-State relations. DMK leader Kanimozhi said the TVK's move aimed to pacify the BJP, calling it a burial of state autonomy.

Calling Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay a dummy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi accused the government of betraying Tamil Nadu by dissolving the committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, that included experts in administration, law and economics.

Questioning the government's decision, he said the Tamil Nadu State Law Commission had been entrusted with similar responsibilities and asked what concrete plans the government had to safeguard the rights of states. "What is the plan of this government to protect the rights of States?" he asked.

Meanwhile, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi also criticised the government's decision. She alleged that the TVK-led government might have taken the decision to maintain cordial relations with the BJP-led Union government.

She said the move reflected the State government's lack of concern for the rights and autonomy of States.

Kanimozhi further alleged that the ruling government dismantled the committee because of its apprehensions

Inspecting the burns ward at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, the State's apex centre for burn treatment, he said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had directed the department to ensure uninterrupted medical care for people injured while bursting firecrackers. All government and medical college hospitals have been instructed to remain prepared, with emergency services available round the clock, he said.

Citing last year's figures, Arunraj said the 108 ambulance service received 20,367 calls on Deepavali, against its daily average of 12,500, marking a 63 per cent increase. Emergency calls also rose to 8,333 from the usual 5,500, registering a 52 per cent increase.

The State recorded 2,480 vehicle accidents during the period last year, while 208 calls relating to other accidents were received on Deepavali. Chennai alone accounted for 675 calls related to Deepavali accidents and others, including 33 cases involving burns, he said.

The government has identified accident-prone locations and stationed ambulances at these hotspots to ensure timely medical assistance. The Kilpauk hospital has earmarked 75 beds exclusively for burn victims, while 132 emergency units have been kept ready across the State, Arunraj added.

According to the minister, generators have been arranged at hospitals and ambulance call centre to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The Health Department is also coordinating with the Energy Department to prevent disruptions. Doctors from KMC are imparting specialised training to medical personnel across the State to equip them to handle burn injuries.

Urging people to celebrate safely, he advised them against bursting crackers in their hands and experimenting with fancy or newly introduced varieties. Those injured in firecracker incidents on Saturday were stable and under medical observation, he added.

The stretch was opened just as thousands of people from Chennai and its neighbourhoods began travelling to their hometowns ahead of Deepavali on Sunday.

The VUP, a flyover in common parlance, is one of three such projects being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) between Chengalpattu and Tindivanam to ease traffic congestion and provide a permanent solution to accident-prone stretches. Constructed at a cost of Rs 24 crore, the underpass is expected to eliminate a major bottleneck on the busy highway.

Two more vehicular underpasses, one at Pukkathurai-Uthiramerur Road-GST Road junction and the other in Maduranthagam, are expected to be completed by the end of November. A flyover at the Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai highway junction is scheduled for completion by May next year. The four projects are being executed at a combined cost of Rs 106 crore.

Construction of the VUPs has caused traffic congestion on GST Road, particularly during festival periods and weekends when large numbers of people travel from Chennai to their native places. The works, taken up in 2024, were delayed due to restrictions imposed on construction activities amid heavy vehicular movement.

The 100-km Tambaram-Tindivanam section has eight lanes between Perungalathur and Chettipunniyam but narrows to four lanes beyond that stretch up to Tindivanam. Though some stretches have been widened to six lanes, the existing road infrastructure remains inadequate to handle the growing traffic volume on this key corridor connecting Chennai with Tiruchy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, and other southern districts.

Addressing reporters at Anna Arivalayam here, he questioned why the government had not ordered a departmental inquiry or withdrawn the disputed books. He sought details of the procurement orders, purchase dates, payments and publishers involved.

Referring to a book titled after the author, Trisha Vijay, he questioned its authenticity and said the DMK would not have recommended such a title. He also alleged that certain letters circulated on social media were part of a politically motivated campaign.

Paranthaman said writer Perumal Murugan, who was reportedly part of the book-selection committee, was also unaware of the disputed purchase. He demanded a transparent inquiry and said the DMK was ready to face the consequences if wrongdoing was established.

Paranthamen said the previous DMK government had introduced a transparent book procurement policy in 2024, with committees to select books and fix prices. He demanded that the government release the relevant government orders and committee recommendations.

Questioning School Education Minister Rajmohan, he asked why the government had approached the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption instead of ordering a departmental inquiry. He also demanded that a committee be formed to investigate the alleged irregularities and action taken against those responsible.

However, the improvement in profitability has done little to ease the utility's massive debt burden, with its total borrowings crossing Rs 1.07 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026.

According to the corporation's 17th annual report for 2025-26, TNPDCL's total borrowings stood at Rs 1,07,523 crore, comprising long-term borrowings of Rs 77,565 crore. This was higher than the Rs 1,01,782 crore recorded at the end of the previous financial year.

The company's finance costs also increased substantially, rising 21.4% from Rs 10,517 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 12,770 crore in 2025-26.

The corporation's total income stood at Rs 1,02,037 crore, against Rs 1,00,417 crore in 2024-25 with nearly 32% of income coming from government support (subsidy and grants).

Power purchase continued to be the biggest expenditure component, although the cost declined to Rs 72,348 crore from Rs 75,960 crore. Employee benefit expenses increased to Rs 9,587 crore from Rs 8,976 crore, while depreciation and amortisation expenses stood at Rs 2,256 crore.

Despite the increase in finance costs, the reduction in power purchase expenditure helped the corporation improve its profitability. Total expenses declined marginally to Rs 97,977 crore from Rs 98,344 crore.

Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation said chargesheets in two of the eight cases against granite baron R Veeramani will be filed before the special court next week.

In the eight cases registered so far in connection with alleged sexual abuse of minor girls, Veeramani has been arrested in all eight cases. Among his accomplices, Shanthi has been arrested in three cases, Mahendrasimhan in two cases, Lazar in five cases, Ganesan in two cases, and the other accused - Srinivasan, Sakthivel, Babu and Parthiban - in one case each. All of them have been lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.

Lazar, Babu, and Parthiban were long-time drivers of Veeramani and had allegedly ferried the minor girls.

Ganesan and Sakthivel were former employers who were aware of the crime but did not inform the authorities. Srinivasan, who was the last to be arrested, was a security guard who allegedly disconnected power supply to CCTVs and changed camera angles whenever minor girls visited the house.

Driver Lazar was taken into one-day police custody recently and interrogated. Based on his interrogation, a car allegedly used in the crime was identified and seized.

Further, in one of the cases, the Pocso court judge has ordered the State government to provide a relief fund of Rs 2 lakh to the survivor, said the police.

Officials added that efforts were under way to expedite the chargesheets in other cases too.

In a letter to Modi, Vijay said the visit by Union government officials had raised concerns among farmers in Tamil Nadu, who were already struggling during the current deficit water year because Karnataka had failed to release Tamil Nadu's due share of Cauvery water.

Recalling the legal battles successive Tamil Nadu governments fought against the proposed Mekedatu dam, Vijay said the matter still stands before the Supreme Court.

He stressed that the rights of lower riparian States such as Tamil Nadu, particularly regarding the quantum of water and the regulated monthly release schedule, must be fully protected.

"At this juncture, it would be inappropriate for the Union government to consider or examine the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed project," he said.

Seeking the Prime Minister's intervention, Vijay urged him to direct Union government departments, including the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to refrain from conducting site inspections, technical evaluations or granting statutory clearances without the consent of the lower riparian States.

He also appealed to Modi to advise the Karnataka government against proceeding with the project without the consent of the co-basin states.

In a statement, Dhinakaran said allegations by writer Perumal Murugan, who was part of the committee constituted to recommend, select, and purchase books for the library, raised serious doubts about the procurement process.

Dhinakaran questioned the State government's decision to send a Minister to the State Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to lodge a complaint, saying the government itself could disclose the purchase orders, the officials involved, and the expenditure incurred.

He asked why officials and Ministers who inspected the Arivulagam's construction work after the TVK government assumed office had not examined the books.

Citing documents indicating that an order was issued in February directing suppliers to deliver books recommended by the selection committee within a week of the purchase order, Dhinakaran asked how the allegedly fake books reached the facility in June and on what basis their prices were fixed.

Stressing that the controversy concerned the future of students and young people, he said only a probe by central agencies, or under the direct supervision of the High Court, could establish the full facts.

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 dated November 6, Public Secretary E Sundaravalli said the committee, constituted by the previous DMK government on April 17, 2025, has become redundant after the Tamil Nadu State Law Commission was reconstituted on August 7, 2026, with a broad mandate to examine inter-State and Centre-State relations. The Law Commission will 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 said it 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 has faced administrative difficulties since the TVK government assumed office. Naganathan resigned from the panel, while the government did not extend the existing staff arrangements. The committee subsequently relieved research scholars and office assistants, affecting work on the second part of the report.

The latest order formally ends the committee's work, more than six months before the deadline to submit its second report.

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 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.