The accused, identified as Arumugam, has been booked under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and laws relating to bonded labour, police said.

According to the complaint, Arumugam, who runs a timber shop in the Vellaigate area, allegedly paid Rs 20,000 as an advance to Anandhan and his wife Thenmozhi, residents of the Irular settlement at Singadivakkam, around six months ago and brought them to work at his establishment.

The couple was allegedly made to stay in a makeshift tent and was engaged in cutting wood.

On September 8, Thenmozhi, who was in the final stage of her pregnancy, reportedly developed labour pains. Her husband alleged that Arumugam prevented her from going to hospital and allegedly insisted that the couple repay the Rs 20,000 advance before she could seek medical treatment.

Thenmozhi subsequently went into labour at the tent, where both she and the newborn baby died during delivery.

Anandhan alleged that the timber shop owner had forced his wife to continue working despite her advanced pregnancy and had denied them proper wages. He further alleged that they were treated like bonded labourers.

He also alleged that Arumugam gave him Rs 2,000 and asked him not to make the incident a bigger issue.

Following the deaths, Anandhan and his relatives staged a protest at the Ponnerikarai police station, demanding action against the timber shop owner.

The District Collector ordered revenue department officials to conduct a detailed inquiry and take appropriate action.

The Kancheepuram Superintendent of Police also directed the Ponnerikarai police to submit a comprehensive inquiry report and initiate necessary legal action.

Police intensified their investigation on Thursday and registered an FIR against Arumugam in connection with the deaths and allegations that the couple had been subjected to bonded labour.

He has been booked under relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and was arrested for further investigation.

In a statement, the TVK’s IT wing questioned whether Stalin was rattled by the alleged exposure of an image of a sacrificer who went to jail that, it claimed, had been carefully built over several years.

“Is the anxiety mounting because the false image of a ‘sacrificer who went to jail’, built over several years, has been shattered?” the IT wing asked.

It also alleged that matters which the DMK leadership had sought to keep from public view had now come to light and questioned Stalin’s silence on what it called the detention.

“Despite speaking at such length, he did not utter a word about the detention copy,” the statement said.

The TVK wing further said, “Truth needs neither publicity nor explanations,” and claimed that the release of a video showing the events had exposed what it called a false image.

It also criticised Stalin’s video as containing multiple cuts and an emotionless speech, describing it as an unsuccessful attempt to make people accept what it termed another version of events.

The war of words followed CM C Joseph Vijay’s remarks in the Assembly on Stalin’s MISA detention during the Emergency. Stalin, in his video released on Thursday, recalled the alleged violence he suffered in custody and said his jaw was broken in the assault. He also referred to Chitti Babu’s death in prison and asked CM Vijay whether he had forgotten an earlier conversation between them.

“An investment decision should not get lost in a circle of approvals. Making it easier to invest also means making it easier to move from an investment decision to a functioning enterprise,” she said in a statement.

The government is pursuing this through a combination of ready infrastructure, digital land-allocation services and institutional reforms, the Minister said.

Plug-and-play industrial facilities are being developed at Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi to provide investors with ready-to-use industrial infrastructure, according to the minister.

The State is also developing a digital platform for industrial land allocation, offering information on available and upcoming plots, along with 3D visualisation to help investors assess sites.

At the institutional level, the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Commission has been established through the Tamil Nadu Business Facilitation (Amendment) Act, 2026, passed by the Assembly.

The Commission will bring multiple State laws under a common investment facilitation framework, with a 21-day timeline for applicable regulatory approvals. It will also coordinate and monitor large, strategic and high-impact investments.

The measures are intended to give investors greater certainty over land availability, regulatory clearances and project implementation, while improving coordination among government departments.

“The objective is clear: reduce the time between an investment proposal and its execution, and make Tamil Nadu a more predictable place to invest, build and grow,” Keerthana said.

In a statement, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay appealed to party functionaries and cadres to work for the candidates’ victory and secure a decisive mandate for the party.Vijay said the candidates would contest the elections on behalf of the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.

Maragatham Kumaravel, who represented Madurantakam, and Sathyabama, who represented Dharapuram, had quit the AIADMK and resigned as MLAs on May 25 before joining the TVK. Their resignations led to the two constituencies falling vacant. The Election Commission has since scheduled bypolls to both seats for October 6, with counting on October 9.

The TVK’s decision assumes significance as the two former AIADMK legislators had been widely expected to be given another opportunity to contest from the constituencies they had represented. Soon after their induction into the TVK, party sources had indicated that they could be fielded in the bypolls.

Maragatham Kumaravel is a deputy general secretary of the TVK, while Sathyabama serves as the party’s Tiruppur South-East district secretary.

The announcement comes amid preparations by the AIADMK to reclaim both seats and the DMK’s decision to field I Paranthaman in Madurantakam and S Suganya in Dharapuram. The AIADMK has also sought the support of its alliance partners, including the BJP.

The victim, a resident of RS Puram, received a phone call from unidentified persons claiming to be police officers from Mumbai. They told him that his bank transactions were under scrutiny and claimed that his account had been used to transfer money for terrorist activities.

The fraudsters then told him that he had been placed under digital arrest and instructed him not to leave his residence, speak to anyone over the phone or meet relatives and friends in person.

“The callers further claimed that armed police personnel in plain clothes were keeping watch near his residence and warned that he would be arrested unless he transferred the money in his bank account to accounts specified by them for verification,” police said.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. They subsequently told him that more money remained in his account and threatened him with arrest unless he withdrew and transferred it as well.

Acting on their instructions, the elderly man went to the bank and withdrew another Rs 3.5 crore. The unusually large withdrawals within a short period raised suspicion among bank officials, who questioned him about the transactions. He told them that the money was required for business purposes.

However, his nervous demeanour aroused further suspicion, prompting the bank officials to alert the Coimbatore city cyber crime police.

Fearing arrest, the industrialist sent Rs 5.5 crore in two instalments on September 8 and 9 to bank accounts provided by the fraudsters

A police team subsequently visited the industrialist’s residence and questioned him. On examining his mobile phone, the police found communications with the fraudsters and uncovered the digital arrest scam.

"Because of our swift action, the industrialist was stopped from transferring Rs 3.5 crore to the fraudsters," police said. Based on his complaint, the cybercrime police have launched an investigation to trace the accused.

The V Additional District and Sessions Court, Madurai, framed a murder charge under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the four accused — former Manamadurai DSP N. Shanmugasundaram, former Thiruppuvanam Inspector S.P. Ramesh Kumar, former Sub-Inspector Sivakumar and former Head Constable Ilayaraja and issued directions to remanded them.

The trial court also observed that the accused had not filed bail petitions before the court. The CBI opposed their release on bail, submitting that their release could affect the investigation in the sensitive custodial-death case.

The prosecution informed the court that the witness protection order had been arbitrarily withdrawn by the present Thiruppuvanam Inspector, Sethumani Mathavan.

The four accused had earlier approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking bail. The High Court had directed them to appear before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Madurai, and execute bonds. However, they had not filed bail petitions before the trial court.

Ajithkumar, a security guard at the Madapuram Badrakali Amman Temple, died in June 2025 after he was taken into police custody in connection with a complaint over missing jewellery. The CBI, which took over the investigation into his custodial death, subsequently arrested six police personnel and filed a chargesheet against them.

The CBI later filed a supplementary chargesheet against these four police personnel in the trail court alleging their involvement in the Ajithkumar’s death.

In a statement, Veerapandian said the amendments would encourage private and foreign universities to establish institutions in Tamil Nadu.

He pointed out that the TVK government had already granted permission for the University of Western Australia (UWA) to establish a new international branch campus in Chennai.

He said reservations were not implemented in private universities and warned that the move would therefore affect social justice and students from disadvantaged sections.

Under the amendment, the requirement of 100 acres of contiguous land for establishing a private university has been reduced to 12 acres in the Chennai metropolitan area, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 25 acres in other areas.

The requirement for a permanent endowment fund for establishing private universities has also been reduced, he said.

Veerapandian alleged that the amendments were aimed at attracting foreign direct investment into higher education.

He said the government should instead establish adequate higher education institutions, colleges and universities based on the number of eligible students, employment opportunities, scientific and technological requirements, economic growth and the need for a multidisciplinary workforce.

Increasing the number of private and foreign universities would lead to the privatisation, commercialisation and corporatisation of education, he said.

He also alleged that under the BJP-led Union government, such a trend could lead to the "saffronisation" of education.

Such a policy would be against the interests of students from disadvantaged sections, Veerapandian said.

He urged the state government to immediately withdraw the legislation, describing it as anti-student.

The PIL was filed by goldsmith G Raj, who challenged the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited's (TNMSCL) tender, floated on July 13, for procuring the gold rings for newborns and their mothers.

The tender requires to manufacture and BIS-hallmark the rings and transport them to 107 hospital hub centres across 38 districts.

Noting that Joyalukkas quoted Rs 0.01 per ring, making the total contract value Rs 4,416.67 for 4,41,667 rings, he argued that this was far below the statutory hallmarking fee of around Rs 2 crore.

Also, the mandatory hallmarking charge of Rs 45 per ring, excluding GST, would itself cost nearly Rs 2 crore, making the accepted rate mathematically impossible considering the scope of work under the tender, he added.

The petitioner had sought a stay on the August 21 award issued in favour of Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers, its quashing, and a direction to TNMSCL to conduct the procurement afresh through a competent agency at a properly determined price.

During the hearing, the petitioner also argued that the corporation was established only for procuring medical supplies and did not have the expertise to assess the quality of gold.

He also contended that the two jewellers had quoted an abnormally low price, and that it was not commercially feasible to supply the rings at such a rate.

However, a division bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan observed that the price quoted was purely a business decision taken by the individual jewellers based on the gold stocks they possessed and their willingness to reduce their profit margins.

The chief justice also questioned how Raj, a goldsmith who had not participated in the tender process, could challenge the award of the contract through a PIL.

The court further questioned how public interest would be affected when the State had awarded the contract to jewellers who offered to supply the rings at the lowest cost among the bidders.

The court dismissed the petition and said that a detailed order would be passed later.

The team led by Sunjoon Hong, team lead, global business team of HD KSOE, carried out a detailed site survey at Thoothukudi and held discussions with the Industries Minister Keerthana, the Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) S Vijayakumar, senior officials of the Directorate General of Shipping, and officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, SIPCOT, VOC Port Authority, and Thoothukudi district administration to discuss incentive structuring, the status of the DPR, and the overall project timeline. 

During their meeting with Minister Keerthana on September 9, the HD KSOE team assured that it is moving ahead with the project in Thoothukudi. In return, the minister assured the state government's full support in taking the project forward

Moving ahead with Thoothukudi project, says Hyundai team

During their meeting with Minister Keerthana in the Secretariat on September 9, the HD KSOE team assured that the company is moving ahead with the project in Thoothukudi. In return, the minister assured the state government's full support in taking the project forward.

The HD KSOE team also met senior officials of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on September 10 on the policy-level support required from the Government of India to take the project forward, the statement added. 

The State government has already issued the Government Order for the transfer of 1,700 acres of land for the first phase to SIPCOT, which will build the common infrastructure along with VOC Port Authority, the government said in a statement on Thursday (September 10).

A dedicated talent pipeline is being developed with the Tamil Nadu State Skill Development Mission, covering both blue-collar and white-collar roles, including the possibility of training in Korea followed by deployment at the Thoothukudi shipyard

Thoothukudi shipyard plan progressing to DPR stage, says TN govt

The Industries Department said Hyundai’s shipyard project in Thoothukudi, for which the State government signed an MoU with HD KSOE, is progressing into detailed project preparation.

In the first week of September, the VOC Port Authority issued the work order for the detailed feasibility report (DFR) in consultation with HD KSOE, and inception work has now begun at the proposed shipyard site.  In parallel, a request for proposal (RFP) has been floated inviting global consultants to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), it said.

Noting the mutual visits by Industries minister Keerthana to HD Hyundai's Ulsan Shipyard in June and a senior HD KSOE/HD Hyundai delegation’s meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay the same month, the statement said, “A continuous weekly coordination mechanism with HD KSOE is in place, bringing together Guidance Tamil Nadu, SIPCOT, VOC Port Authority and other stakeholders to track land, technical studies, infrastructure, approvals, localisation and other immediate project requirements.”

TN readies talent pipeline for blue-, white-collar jobs

Guidance Tamil Nadu is facilitating discussions between HD KSOE and major Indian steel producers on technical requirements and quality validation. In parallel, a dedicated talent pipeline is being developed with the Tamil Nadu State Skill Development Mission, covering both blue-collar and white-collar roles, including the possibility of training in Korea followed by deployment at the Thoothukudi shipyard.

The State government is strongly working with HD KSOE, Union government, and all other stakeholders to establish Thoothukudi as a global shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing hub. The shipyard is expected to anchor a wider industrial ecosystem in Southern Tamil Nadu, bringing investment, technology transfer, skilled employment, supplier development, localisation and integration into global shipbuilding value chains to the region, the statement added.

The recognition came on the back of TVK's performance in its maiden electoral contest, in which it won 108 seats and secured 34.92 per cent of the votes to emerge as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Thanking the voters and party workers for their support, TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph noted in a statement that the party had entered politics only 27 months ago.

The recognition and allotment of the common symbol was the result of a silent democratic revolution created by the people, Vijay said, and promised that the party would continue to work for the people who placed their faith in it.

"Our service to all the people who trust us, based on the principles of secularism and social justice, will continue forever," Vijay said, while also expressing gratitude to party functionaries and workers for their efforts.

The ECI had allotted the whistle to TVK as its common symbol ahead of the 2026 Assembly election.

Vijay had launched the party in 2024 and contested its first election this year. Its recognition marks a significant organisational milestone for the ruling party, which formed the government after winning 108 seats and securing the support of its post-poll allies.

In a post on X, Wilson questioned whether the government’s decision to construct the complex amounted to a breach of an undertaking given before the Madras High Court.

What did P Wilson say about the Foreshore Estate land?

Wilson said the Tamil Nadu Housing Board had earlier evicted government servants from flats at Foreshore Estate after assuring the Madras High Court that multi-storey residential apartments would be constructed and the employees would be rehoused there after completion. "The High Court had also been promised a share of the allotment for its staff after construction," he added.

Wilson questioned whether the site was being chosen simply because it was near Chief Minister Vijay’s residence.

What concerns did Wilson raise over the proposed Secretariat project?

Wilson said the designated site falls within the CRZ-II zone and the FSI could be less than 1.97. "Whether a large-scale project costs Rs 1,200 crore and covering 20 lakh sq ft could be accommodated on narrow roads, potentially causing traffic problems and encroaching on fishermen’s territory," Wilson questioned.

Why did Wilson question the choice of location?

According to GO, the new Secretariat complex will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore in 25.55 acre plot mainly owned by Tamil Nadu Housing Board.

This proposal has drawn strong opposition from fishermen and environmental activists, who have raised concerns over the project's impact on coastal livelihoods, and public access to the beach.

Flaying Vijay for raising decades-old corruption allegations citing the Sarkaria Commission report, Stalin dismissed them as "politically motivated lies" spread by those who held long-standing grudges against former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Clarifying his history during the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) period, the former Chief Minister in a video posted on "X", acknowledged that Vijay was correct regarding the MISA history, recounting the suppression during the Emergency, including his own arrest on January 31, 1976, after Karunanidhi protested against the MISA law.

Stalin detailed the harsh conditions he faced in prison, including abuse, which led to the death of his colleague Chitti Babu and injuries to himself.

"I realise that some controversies that occurred in the recently concluded Legislative Assembly session have caused anger and dissatisfaction among the Tamil people and our brethren. Since my prison history is a key part of this controversy, I wish to clarify it. Brother Vijay, what you said is true; it is not a lie. During the Emergency, our leader Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) held a massive meeting at Marina Beach to oppose it and harshly criticised the MISA," Stalin said in the video.

Following this, the then-Union Government dismissed the DMK government on January 31, 1976. The very next second, the police came to his Gopalapuram residence to arrest him under the MISA act.

"I was not home that day, as I had gone for a campaign. Our leader told them, 'my son has gone for a campaign. He will return tomorrow. Once he comes, I will call you myself; come and arrest him.' The next day, when I returned, he himself asked the police to come and arrest me," Stalin said.

In a statement, the DMK alleged that Vijay had come to power by using his popularity and glamour from the film industry, creating a ‘false image’ through social media and making false promises to voters.

The DMK accused Vijay of using the Assembly as a platform for political speeches to divert attention from the alleged failures of his government. It strongly condemned his remarks concerning Stalin’s political history and his imprisonment under the MISA during the Emergency.

DMK strongly condemned CHief Minister Vijay’s remarks concerning Stalin’s political history and his imprisonment under the MISA during the Emergency

The party said the Chief Minister’s remarks had lowered the dignity and traditions of the Assembly. It also alleged that some ministers deliberately made controversial remarks in the House, circulated them as memes and reels through social media and subsequently had them removed from the Assembly records.

As part of the protest, demonstrations will be held at the headquarters of all revenue districts across Tamil Nadu at 10.30 am on September 12. The protests will be led by the respective DMK district secretaries.

Though the State government had urged the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to instruct the Karnataka government to release 17,000 cusecs, the committee ordered the release of just 6,000 cusecs. However, the Karnataka government has cited inadequate storage in their four reservoirs to meet the state’s drinking water needs.

The discharge from Grand Anicut (Kallanai) to the Cauvery and Vennaru increased to 1,700 cusecs each on Wednesday; it was 1,009 and 1,005 cusecs, respectively, on Tuesday.

Delta farmers worry that the declining inflow into Mettur would further deteriorate storage and threaten cultivation.

“The CWRC, which convenes meetings once in 15 days during critical times, have notoriously favoured Karnataka, and they have done it again,” said Mahadanapuram Rajaram, a senior farmer and president, Cauvery Water Irrigation Farmers Welfare Association.

Rajaram claimed that the Karnataka government has been making every effort to ensure zero discharge to Tamil Nadu. And the Chief Minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar has been trying to challenge the CWRC order, which only adds fuel to the fire.

The government order in this regard did not specify the exact location where the Rs 1,200-crore structure would come up.

According to the GO issued by Public Department Secretary E Sundaravalli, the government would fulfil Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s announcement in the Assembly to construct a new Secretariat and Assembly complex with 20 lakh sq ft of built-up area at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore.

“The government has identified 25.55 acres belonging to four departments Tamil Nadu Housing Board (22.89 acres), Greater Chennai Corporation (0.93 acre) and the Revenue Department (1.73 acres). The government has proposed to accord in-principle approval for the construction of a new Secretariat and Assembly building complex,” Sundaravalli said.

The order also directed the Public Works Department to submit a detailed project report (DPR), along with estimates, within three months.

The government has also constituted three committees to select the architectural firm and finalise the preliminary and final-stage drawings and designs for the new Secretariat and Assembly complex.

After reports said that the sprawling structure would come up at Pattinapakkam, a section of fishermen has raised objections stating that it would affect the livelihood of scores of people who have been living in the area much before Madras became a town, much less a capital city.

Vijay is the third chief minister to make an attempt to construct a new Secretariat and Assembly complex. While AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was forced to give up her plans to demolish the Queen Mary's College to build the structure, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi succeeded in constructing the building, only for it to be converted into what is now the Omandurar Multi Super Speciality Hospital.

S Suresh, general secretary of the association, said that the amendments passed during the Assembly session on September 8 would make it easier for private institutions to establish universities.

Under the Act, institutions seeking to establish a private university are required to have 100 acres of land and maintain a fixed deposit of Rs 50 crore.

The new amended provisions reduced the land requirement to 12 acres within Chennai Corporation limits, 18 acres in other corporations and municipalities, and 50 acres in other areas.

The mandatory fixed deposit has also been reduced to Rs 25 crore.

“These changes are encouraging private investment in higher education at a time when State universities are facing a shortage of funds,” Suresh said. “Permanent teachers have not been appointed in State universities for more than a decade. A lot of funds through the UGC have also been stopped.”

He also alleged that PhD programmes had not been permitted in government arts and science colleges and aided colleges for the past five years, while opportunities for faculty career advancement had not been provided despite a government order on the matter.

“Previous governments have failed to adequately strengthen public higher education institutions. That’s why we want the government to withdraw new amendments, as it can lead to the commercialisation of higher education and affect affordable higher education for poor and marginalised students,” opined Suresh.

Rupa was suspended after Melur police registered an FIR against her under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint lodged by a cleanliness worker, T Sasikala.

The complaint alleged that Rupa had forced her to bring her slippers by hand, humiliated her by referring to her caste and followed a two-tumbler system in the panchayat.

Sasikala also attempted to die by suicide, alleging that local leaders were forcing her to withdraw the complaint.

However, villagers claimed that Sasikala filed the complaint at the instigation of a former panchayat secretary, Vadivel.

They further claimed that people of various communities from six hamlets under Kambur panchayat are living peacefully.

The residents noted that Vadivel was transferred to another panchayat following a complaint submitted against him to the Collector.

Since Rupa joined, Vadivel has allegedly been creating problems for Rupa and other staff, the residents claimed.

The villagers further alleged that people living in Kumbur Colony staged a road blockade on August 19 demanding restoration of drinking water, allegedly at Vadivel’s instigation, and that he was behind the complaint against Rupa.

They urged the Collector to conduct a thorough inquiry into the issue and drop the action against Rupa. They also demanded action against Vadivel.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, in its Compliance Audit Report on Commercial Enterprises for the year ended March 31, 2023, noted that 22 public sector undertakings had suffered complete erosion of capital.

The report was tabled in the State Legislative Assembly on September 8. The report primarily covers the accounts of SPSEs for the financial year 2022-23. It also includes observations relating to earlier years that could not be reported previously.

According to the report, the combined net worth of the 22 enterprises was negative at Rs 1,93,132.98 crore against an equity capital of Rs 33,263.46 crore. At the same time, the accumulated losses of 36 government companies had crossed Rs 2.26 lakh crore.

The single largest financial irregularity was detected in the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation, which incurred a direct revenue loss of Rs 2,518.55 crore and suffered a shortfall in Central subsidy receipts of Rs 218.38 crore, taking the total financial impact to Rs 2,736.93 crore.

Audit scrutiny revealed that TNCSC violated Government of India directives issued in May 2019 on appointing transport contractors for paddy and Custom Milled Rice.

The state power utility, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited, incurred multi-crore losses due to lapses in billing and procurement, it said.

Tangedco incurred an avoidable revenue loss of Rs 385.53 crore between 2020-21 and 2022-23 by short-billing 553 High Tension consumers.

The utility recorded consumption for dedicated feeders at the consumer end instead of at the feeding substations, resulting in 592.34 million units of distribution losses being absorbed by the utility instead of being borne by the consumers.

The power utility incurred avoidable expenditure of Rs 48.94 crore due to delays by its Board-level Tender Committee in finalising a January 2021 tender for AAA Rabbit conductors (distribution cable).

Highlighting unviable capital expenditure, the CAG noted that the Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation Limited incurred an unfruitful expenditure of Rs 2.99 crore on procuring a 100-tonne-per-hour salt washery in 2017 without conducting a feasibility study.

Analysing the overall financial health of 73 functioning SPSEs, the report noted that total state investment stood at Rs 50,131.13 crore.

While 37 enterprises earned a combined profit of Rs 2,060.28 crore, 32 incurred combined losses of Rs 16,045.21 crore.

Tangedco alone reported losses of Rs 9,192.25 crore, followed by eight state transport undertakings with combined losses of Rs 6,077.86 crore. The power utility's long-term borrowings of Rs 1,04,165.16 crore accounted for 67.85 per cent of the total debt liabilities of SPSEs.

IN BAD HEALTH

• Rs 1,93,132.98 cr: Combined net worth of the 22 enterprises in negative against equity capital of Rs 33,263.46 crore

• Rs 2.26 lakh-cr: Accumulated losses of 36 government companies

• Rs 2,518.55 cr: Revenue loss incurred from the single largest financial irregularity detected in TNCSC

• Rs 218.38 cr: Shortfall in Central subsidy receipts

• Rs 2,736.93 cr: Total financial impact on TNCSC

• Rs 385.53 cr: Avoidable revenue loss incurred by Tangedco between 2020-21 and 2022-23 by short-billing 553 high-tension consumers

• Rs 9,192.25 cr: Losses reported by Tangedco alone

• Rs 6,077.86 cr: Combined losses reported by eight state transport undertakings

The State is planning to set up a Semiconductor Electronics Manufacturing Park at Madhuramangalam in Kancheepuram district through SIPCOT at a cost of Rs 175 crore to attract large-scale investments in the sector, which is high on the agenda of all state governments across the country.

A notice issued by Commissioner of Land Administration Rajesh Lakhoni said that around 8.3820 hectares of land was required for industrial purposes. In the notification, he added the lands to be acquired were classified as dry lands, and contained neem and coconut trees.

"The plans of the lands are kept at the office of the Special District Revenue Officer and Special Tahsildar and may be inspected on any day during office hours, " Lakhoni said.

The notification comes close on the heels of the announcement by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay under Rule 110 in the Assembly, stating that the proposed park would house semiconductor industries along with research and development facilities.

The project is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 5,000 people, giving a major boost to Tamil Nadu's electronics and semiconductor ecosystem.

In the notification, Commissioner of Land Administration Rajesh Lakhoni said the lands to be acquired were classified as dry lands, and contained neem and coconut trees

Incidentally, Madhuramangalam is not far from Parandur and Eganapuram, where the villagers opposed acquisition of their farmlands for the second airport for Chennai. While the then DMK government went ahead with the plan despite the stiff opposition from the people and acquired around 1,700 acres of land, the TVK had expressed support to them ahead of the Assembly election, and scrapped the project after coming to power.

The decision on formalising the alliance and christening it was taken at a two-hour meeting chaired by Vijay at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, which was attended by the party’s post-poll allies Congress, IUML, VCK and MDMK, but was skipped by the CPI and CPM, which are supporting the government from outside.

While the grouping finally got a name, the key constituents, TVK and Congress, are yet to agree on a face – that of the prime ministerial candidate for the next Lok Sabha elections in 2029.

Addressing the press conference after the meeting, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore said the new alliance would function in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, implying that it is different from the INDIA bloc that his party is heading nationally.

"During the Parliament election in 2029, the INDIA bloc will announce its prime ministerial candidate. Chief Minister Vijay will campaign fully for the candidate," he said in words tinged with optimism.

However, influential TVK leader and minister Aadhav Arjuna was not so forthcoming about backing the INDIA bloc candidate – Rahul Gandhi, if anyone has any doubts.

Asked whether Vijay would be projected as the prime ministerial candidate in the 2029 election, Aadhav said every State had its own aspirations regarding key national positions and every political party had the right to seek them, but added that there were no contradictions within the alliance.

Recalling his earlier statement that the next prime minister would be from Tamil Nadu, Aadhav said it was made in the context of the possible increase in the number of Lok Sabha constituencies by 50% after the proposed (and much opposed) delimitation. "If the number of seats increases by 50%, five or six northern states could decide who becomes the prime minister," he said.

Thanking the CPI and CPM for supporting the TVK-led government, Aadhav said his party had always respected the Left parties and expressed hope that they would join the alliance in the future.

VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said the alliance's primary objectives were secularism and social justice, and added that it was not formed merely for electoral purposes, but to protect the principles of the Constitution – comments that were similar to what he said when the party was with the DMK.

IUML national leader KM Kader Mohideen and MDMK general secretary Vaiko also spoke, explaining the significance of the alliance.

The works include the 77 km Arakkonam–Renigunta 3rd and 4th line project, 147 km Hosur–Omalur doubling project and 159 km Salem–Karur–Dindigul doubling project.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Arakkonam-Renigunta 3rd and 4th line has been completed and submitted to the Railway Board for approval. The project proposes extending the additional railway lines beyond the existing four-line Chennai-Arakkonam section. At present, the Chennai-Arakkonam stretch has four railway lines. Extending the additional lines up to Renigunta is expected to strengthen freight movement towards Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The Hosur-Omalur doubling will be a crucial link connecting industries in Krishnagiri and Salem districts with Bengaluru and Chennai. Salem–Karur–Dindigul sections will be doubled to facilitate smoother movement of passenger and freight trains. The works are planned for completion by 2029-30.

The projects will also improve connectivity to several tourist and religious destinations in Tamil Nadu, including Tiruttani, Kolar Gold Fields, Hogenakkal Falls, Hosur Fort, Mettur Dam, Kodaikanal Hills, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Namakkal and Dindigul.

During the lunch break, around 35 students were inside a Class 11 classroom. At that time, Joy Mercy (15) was arranging her books when a portion of the concrete plaster on the ceiling suddenly crashed down with a loud noise. On impact, Mercy suffered injuries to her head and started to bleed.

Teachers and other students rushed the girl to a nearby private hospital. Alarmed parents rushed to school on news of students trapped under the collapsed ceiling and took their children home. The Somangalam police visited the school and began an inquiry.

Education department officials have also inspected the classroom. Authorities are investigating when the school building was constructed and what caused the concrete plaster to suddenly detach and fall from the classroom ceiling.

The petition was filed by S Anbumani, a Tirupur district executive committee member of the Hindu Munnani, seeking a direction to the Tirupur District Superintendent of Police to consider his application for permission to install a Vinayagar idol and conduct a procession in Kattupalayam from September 14 to 17 as part of the Vinayagar Chathurthi celebrations.

When the case came up for hearing before Justice V Lakshminarayanan, the government counsel argued that the petitioner had initially sought permission only to use amplifiers. However, he had now sought permission to install a Vinayagar idol in Yasin Babu Nagar, an area where a large number of Muslims reside.

The government counsel further submitted that no Vinayagar idol had been installed in Yasin Babu Nagar in recent years and that two mosques were located in the area.

Subsequently, the petitioner and a police official visited the locality in person to identify a suitable place for installing the Vinayagar idol. Based on the inspection, a spot was identified on the 8th Cross Street in Yasin Babu Nagar, which was accepted by the petitioner.

Following this, Justice observed that worship is a fundamental right and directed the district police to grant permission for installing the idol at the identified location.

The supplementary counselling was conducted for 18,548 eligible students. Choice filling was held from September 4 and 5.

As many as 56,530 engineering seats were available for allotment. Of these, 53,668 seats were under academic general, 2,731 under vocational general, 31 under academic government and 100 under vocational government categories.

With the supplementary counselling allotments, the total number of provisional allotments issued include special reservation, general counselling and supplementary counselling, has reached 1,53,280.

The Directorate of Technical Education has also announced that choice filling for SCA-to-SC conversion counselling will begin today (September 10).

The conversion counselling is aimed at filling seats reserved for Scheduled Caste (Arunthathiyar) candidates that remain vacant so far.

According to the police, the history-sheeter, Raja alias Chinnalapatti Raja of Chinnalapatti, has 22 criminal cases, including theft, robbery, murder and attempt to murder, registered against him.

A trial court, in April 2025, had sentenced three persons, including Raja, to life imprisonment in connection with a 2021 murder case. However, Raja was later released on interim bail following an appeal before the High Court.

According to the police, Raja had allegedly threatened a key witness in the murder case. Following this, Dindigul Superintendent of Police S Jeyakumar directed a special team headed by Sub-Inspector Arun Prasad to take action against him.

On Wednesday morning, the police received information that Raja was staying at his sister’s farmhouse near N Kovilpatti, close to Batlagundu. A special police team went to the spot to secure him.

When Raja spotted the police, he allegedly took out a machete and threatened them with dire consequences if they attempted to arrest him. Immediately, Sub-Inspector Arun Prasad fired three rounds into the air and warned him to surrender. Instead, Raja allegedly ran towards the Sub-Inspector and attacked him with the machete, following which the Sub-Inspector fired at Raja’s leg in self-defence.

Raja was subsequently arrested and admitted to the Nilakottai Government Hospital. He was later shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital. Sub-Inspector Arun Prasad was also treated at the Nilakottai Government Hospital. The police recovered the machete from the spot.

The forest department, under the guidance of Conservator of Forests R Kanchana and District Forest Officer S Krithika, organised an awareness programme on the importance of butterflies, their habitats, their role in the environment, and the need for biodiversity conservation at the TBC.

Spread over 25 acres and located between the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers, the TBC is home to more than 450 plant species and 131 butterfly species.

The students took part in various activities, and various butterfly species were introduced to them during the Butterfly Walk.

They were taught methods to identify butterflies based on colour, wing structure, patterns, and distinctive identification markings.

Meanwhile, to mark the Butterfly Month, the commonly sighted butterfly species like the Plain Tiger, Common Mormon, Common Emigrant, Blue Tiger and Striped Tiger, reared through the Butterfly Breeding Laboratory of the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory were released into the natural environment of the Conservatory in the presence of the students.

"Similar educational and awareness programmes will be conducted every week this month," said the DFO Krithika.

The primary objective of this series of programmes is to reach a larger number of school students, teachers and members of the public and create awareness about butterflies, their habitats, host plants, nectar plants and biodiversity conservation, Krithika added.

The 1,600MW Uppur Supercritical Thermal Power Project, 1,320MW Ennore SEZ project, 660MW Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) Expansion and 1,320MW Udangudi Supercritical Thermal Power Project were intended to augment the state's generation capacity.

Even though the land for the project had not been secured entirely, Tangedco awarded the main EPC contract at Uppur to BHEL for Rs 5,852 crore and the balance-of-plant contract to Reliance Infrastructure for Rs 3,647 crore. Acquisition of 5.34 acres of temple land within the plant area remained pending.

The project was subsequently stalled after residents approached the National Green Tribunal over obstruction of natural drainage. The CAG noted that Tangedco had failed to identify watercourses in the project area despite the environmental clearance specifically requiring natural drainage systems to be protected.

Reliance Infrastructure made only 1 per cent progress before its contract was closed. BHEL had supplied equipment and material worth about Rs 2,325 crore, but only 13 per cent of it was used, leaving material worth around Rs 2,020 crore idle for years. Tangedco's decision to put the project on hold in 2021 also left it with a sunk cost of more than Rs 7,500 crore, according to the audit.

The ETPS Expansion project exposed weaknesses in contractor selection. Tangedco awarded the Rs 3,960.63-crore contract to LANCO despite indicators of serious financial stress in the company's accounts. The project stalled after 37 months with just 17 per cent progress, and the contract was terminated.

Tangedco then awarded the balance work to BGRESL for Rs 4,442.70 crore. The contractor failed to furnish the required bank guarantee and the contract was cancelled. Despite this, Tangedco later revived the project and reinstated BGRESL without conducting a fresh assessment of its financial position. BGRESL's losses had risen to Rs 475.27 crore by 2020-21. It subsequently completed just 0.60 per cent of the work in 20 months.

At Ennore SEZ, the 1,320MW project, awarded to BHEL for Rs 7,814 crore, was scheduled for completion in March 2018 but remained only 69 per cent complete after a 72-month delay.

The coal conveyor became a major bottleneck. Tangedco obtained environmental clearance for a straight route but had not secured right of way through a private coal stockyard. It subsequently approved a closed pipe conveyor through the Kosasthalaiyar river and mangrove area without fresh environmental clearance.

The NGT ordered removal of the structures after objections over the altered route. Tangedco had to pay Rs 4.12 crore as compensation and Rs 50 lakh to the TNPCB. The coal-handling system also remained incomplete, while equipment worth Rs 169.53 crore was left idle for over three years.

At Udangudi, the 1,320MW project scheduled for commissioning in June 2021 had achieved only 82 per cent progress by March 2024. The CAG attributed the delay to improper planning, delayed drawings, changes in the control system, delayed land handover and ineffective execution.

Approval of project drawings took more than 50 months after Tangedco had to replace its engineering consultant. Tangedco subsequently changed the control-system requirement, taking another 38 months to finalise it. Land required for the seawater intake and outfall system was handed over to BHEL only in February 2021, more than three years late.

Udangudi was also repeatedly hit by flooding. Though the government and environmental clearance had required a surplus water channel from the Ellappanaicken tank, Tangedco failed to provide it. Flooding in 2019 forced construction to stop for more than 15 months, with waterlogging affecting work during subsequent monsoons.

The CAG has recommended stronger financial due diligence before awarding contracts, timely completion of land and statutory clearances, strict adherence to environmental conditions and specific action plans to revive Uppur and complete the delayed projects.

The police suspect that the deceased, identified as Thenmozhi who belonged to a tribal community in Singadivakkam panchayat in Kancheepuram, was working as a bonded labourer.

According to the police, Thenmozhi and her husband Anandhan (40) had been staying and working at a timber logging site near Vellagate on the Kancheepuram-Arakkonam road for the past six months. The couple had borrowed Rs 20,000 from the owner of the unit.

When Thenmozhi developed severe labour pain on Tuesday, the couple requested permission to take her to a hospital. "I called the owner (Arumugham) on his phone. Despite ringing him many times he failed to answer my call. And when he finally answered and arranged for an ambulance, it was too late," Anandan said in his police complaint. By the time a paramedical team arrived, both the mother and the baby were dead, the police said.

In the past, when the couple had sought permission to go to hospital, the owner had refused to let them leave the premises until his debt wasn’t paid. On Tuesday, with no immediate medical assistance available, Thenmozhi went into labour at a shelter on the worksite. Only half of the baby was delivered, with the other half trapped inside, and she suffered severe pain and bleeding. Both the mother and the newborn died during the delivery.

The family has further claimed that when the representatives of the wood-cutting unit arrived later that evening, they instructed the family not to disclose the incident and allegedly gave them Rs 2,000 before sending the bodies to the tribal community at Singadivakkam.

Makkal Mandram, an organisation working for the rights of tribal communities, took up the matter and a complaint was lodged at the Ponneri Karai police station in Kancheepuram. Further investigations are ongoing.

According to the GO, the new Secretariat complex will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore on a 25.55-acre plot mainly owned by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. Pointing out that the location is unsuitable for an important structure meant for the State administration, several political leaders and environmental activists have opposed the proposal.

Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman told DT Next that the selected location is vulnerable to changing weather patterns and the impact of climate change. "Sea levels are expected to rise in the future, and the more important issue is that this project will definitely affect fishing activities along the seashore," he said.

He noted that fishermen living in Nochikuppam, Dummingkuppam and Pattinapakkam are small-scale fishermen who depend heavily on the nearby seashore. "They are not like the fishermen of Kasimedu. They depend on this beach for their livelihood. Without free access to the seashore, their livelihood will be severely affected," he said.

Neithal Makkal Katchi leader K Bharathi said, "We will never leave our land. The land and the seashore are our birthright."

Recalling past struggles, he said that in 1985, then Chief Minister MG Ramachandran had attempted to relocate the fishermen and seize their boats and fishing nets overnight. "Our predecessors protested on the beachfront for over a month. The then government had ordered police firing, which killed seven, but we withstood," he said.

Bharathi said fishermen had continued to resist relocation attempts over the years. He recalled that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had proposed in 2003 to build an integrated embassy complex for Singapore, Malaysia and other countries, along with a Secretariat, but the project was eventually withdrawn following fishermen protests.

He also recalled that former DMK Union Minister TR Baalu had proposed an elevated road connecting Chennai Kamarajar Port with the outer city. "We fought against that project too, and it was eventually dropped. Later, the Maduravoyal - Kamarajar Port elevated corridor project was taken up," he said.

"Our fishing villages have existed here for thousands of years. Even the British rulers tried to take our land, but we stood our ground. Now, if Vijay has come with a proposal based on his astrologer's advice, we are ready to face it," Bharathi said.

Fish vendor Kanniyammal questioned why fishermen were repeatedly being asked to relocate. "Why always us? Why does every government want to relocate us?" she asked.

She said the Blue Flag Beach beautification project had already affected their livelihood. "Some VIPs travelled on Loop Road in their cars and complained about the smell of fish. Following this, the government shut down our shops and shifted us to the new fish market," she said.

"Now, if the new Secretariat comes up, the police may try to evict us, citing security concerns. I am not here to beg anyone. I am here to work hard and live with self-respect. If you want healthy, tasty and good fish curry on your dining table, I have to be here with the smell of fish," she said.

However, it is difficult for people to obtain these books from the government publishing house, as the sale section does not have a digital payment facility at the Stationery and Printing Department.

As per Rule 283 of the Assembly, a paper, document or report can be printed, published, distributed or sold through the government machinery.

Under the rule, all debates that have taken place in the Assembly, after being approved by the Speaker, are published in book format. It may be of proceedings of one day, one week or of a particular subject.

"Proceedings of each session of the Assembly have been printed verbatim and sold through the Stationery and Printing Department, which is owned by the Tamil Nadu government, for Rs 3, even when they contain 300 or 500 pages of Assembly debates, " an official said in the Assembly.

However, people interested in the Assembly debates are facing difficulties in obtaining copies of the books.

"While buying a book from the Stationery and Printing Department, we can pay only through digital mode. But the sales section does not have a facility for digital payment. The facility is available in other sections, so interested persons have to go there and make the payment. After paying through digital mode, a manual receipt is also issued by the department. This process takes more time for people buying it, " a buyer, who had come from Kodambakkam, said.

Officials from the Stationery and Printing Department said the sales section has copies of Assembly debates up to January 2026.

"Readers can buy all the Assembly debates. The digital payment facility in the section has been faulty for a few days. It will be rectified soon, " the official said.

From Kilambakkam terminus, 585 special buses will be operated on Thursday, 1,255 on Friday, 1,030 on Saturday and 650 on Sunday to Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Tirupur.

From Koyambedu, 240 special buses each will operate on Friday and Saturday, and 105 on Sunday, to Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, Velankanni, Hosur and Bengaluru. Services will also be operated from these destinations towards Chennai. Another 200 special buses will be operated from Bengaluru, Tirupur, Erode and Coimbatore to various destinations.

From Madhavaram terminus, 110 special buses will be operated each day from Friday to Sunday to Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchy, Kumbakonam, Vellore, Hosur and Puducherry. To facilitate the return journey to Chennai and Bengaluru on Monday, 765 special buses will be operated from various locations based on passenger demand.

According to the Managing Director of the State Express Transport Corporation, 8,666 passengers have booked tickets for Thursday, 32,171 for Friday, 18,772 for Saturday, 11,177 for Sunday and 23,740 for Monday. The numbers are expected to increase further.

Long-distance passengers have been advised to book their tickets in advance through www.tnstc.in or the TNSTC mobile app to avoid overcrowding.

Sources said that, on Tuesday (September 8), a video of collecting an additional amount of Rs 10 per bottle surfaced on social media and customers were seen complaining about the collection of additional cost at a Tasmac outlet functioning at Kurichi near Tiruvidaimarudur in Thanjavur (Shop No 8069) and demanded action against the employees.

After the video went viral, the Tasmac district manager Aishwarya conducted an inquiry and confirmed that the employees of the particular outlet were collecting an extra amount of Rs 10 per bottle.

Subsequently, the supervisors Senthil Kumar, Sekar and Saravanan and the salesmen Durai Prakash, Mathiyazhagan and Veerasamy.

Meanwhile, the officials found that the employees of the particular outlet had deployed an outsider who was identified as Manickan Sarath Kumar (25) from Kumbakonam for the collection of extra costs.

Based on the complaint by the district manager, Panthanallur police registered a case and arrested Sarath Kumar.

KR Raja of Madurai filed a PIL before the Madurai Bench seeking affordable and equitable telephone and video-call facilities for prisoners in Tamil Nadu prisons.

He sought directions to reduce the telephone charges collected from prisoners and fix a reasonable tariff in line with market rates.

He also sought free telephone facilities for poor, elderly, mentally ill and differently abled prisoners, free communication with lawyers for legal consultation, and constitution of an expert committee to review prison communication policies.

It was also submitted that prisoners were being charged Rs. 28 for 10 minutes of telephone usage, amounting to Rs. 280 per month.

He alleged that the government had failed to release Cauvery water on time for kuruvai cultivation, and so the farmers were unable to take up the cultivation.

He also accused the government of failing to fulfil its promise of complete waiver of farm loans.

He noted that the government had claimed that it would restore law and order, but crime incidents continued to increase.

EPS alleged that the lack of administration and inexperience has affected the administration.

He pointed out that though he had raised the issue of delay in paddy procurement during the previous Assembly session, the government failed to take suitable action.

He also alleged that thousands of paddy bags brought to centres in Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, as well as Cuddalore and Erode, were not procured and were damaged by rain.

He urged the government to immediately procure the entire stock and protect farmers from further losses.

The district administration had suspended coracle rides on August 16 after the inflow at Biligundlu, the entry point of the Cauvery into Tamil Nadu, surged following heavy rains in the river’s catchment areas in Karnataka.

The inflow stood at around 5,000 cusecs at 6 am on Wednesday and declined further subsequently. Taking note of the receding water flow, Dharmapuri Collector V Saravanan ordered the lifting of the ban on coracle rides.

The resumption brought relief to tourists who thronged Hogenakkal.

Visitors enjoyed coracle rides with family and friends and took baths at the waterfalls and designated stretches of the river.

Meanwhile, the water level at the Mettur dam has also begun to decline following the drop in inflow.

As of 8 am on Wednesday, the reservoir level stood at 91.28 feet, against its full reservoir level of 120 feet.

The inflow was recorded at 3,718 cusecs, while 12,400 cusecs were being released from the dam for irrigation in the Cauvery Delta.

The court issued the direction on a petition filed by Kadhir of Othakadai, Madurai, seeking directions to identify the families of soldiers who died while on duty in 14 districts, including Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga, and expedite the provision of welfare benefits and compassionate employment to their families.

The police identified the deceased as Deepakumar Borde, a native of Chhattisgarh, who was working as a teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Ooty. He was living with his family in government residential quarters.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that Deepakumar, who was already struggling with mounting debts, had recently turned to online gaming in the hope of making quick money to clear his liabilities.

However, he suffered substantial losses, leaving him with debts running into several lakhs of rupees.

Police said, “As Deepakumar continued to play online games despite the losses, his wife had advised him not to risk losing any more money. He subsequently ended his life by hanging at the residence on Tuesday.”

His body was sent to his native place after a post-mortem examination at a government hospital.

The Pudumund police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

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

Transport Commissioner Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan, in an affidavit filed before a Division Bench comprising Justice CV Karthikeyan and Justice Sakthivel, stated that the State government had constituted a seven-member committee headed by Joint Transport Commissioner Pon Senthilnathan, with a data analyst from IIT Madras/Anna University as one of its members.

The committee has been tasked with studying vehicle categories, fare structures, practices in other States, dynamic pricing, pooling services, aggregator-driver agreements and monitoring mechanisms, and recommending a fair and transparent fare regime for incorporation into the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Aggregator Rules, 2025.

The affidavit stated that after receiving the expert committee’s report, the State government would take a policy decision and finalise the appropriate regulatory framework in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

It added that a comprehensive statement containing the details and the government’s decision would thereafter be placed before the court.

The State government filed the response pursuant to the court’s direction at the previous hearing of a petition filed by Naveen Kumar of Madurai, who sought a legal framework for bike-taxi services in the State.

The petitioner submitted that digital platform-based bike-taxi services such as Rapido, Ola and Uber were increasing in Tamil Nadu.

However, the State did not have any policy or rules to regulate these services, he stated.

He further contended that bike-taxi services could not operate independently like autorickshaws and rental cars.

A resident of Mettur in Salem district, Padmarajan filed his nomination for the 256th time. Since 1988, he has filed nominations for parliamentary, assembly and local-body elections, often taking on prominent political leaders.

“My only objective is to have my name featured in the Guinness World Records and the Limca Book of Records. I have never been driven by the desire to win an election,” he said to the media after filing his nomination.

The nomination process began at the Revenue Divisional Officer’s (RDO) office in Dharapuram on Wednesday. As part of security arrangements, barricades were erected around the premises and restrictions imposed to prevent crowding and maintain law and order. Armed police personnel were deployed at the RDO office to ensure that the nomination process proceeded peacefully.

The VCK leader’s remarks came amid criticism of Vijay’s gestures, which were seen as mocking DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin.

The criticism had earlier been voiced by CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on September 7, who said it was irresponsible for the Chief Minister to mock Stalin, who was subjected to police brutality during the Emergency.

“History knows that major struggles were held across India to protect democracy during the Emergency, followed by repression and excesses. During the Emergency, former Chief Minister MK Stalin was severely assaulted by the police and his jaw was fractured. Whoever speaks in a manner that mocks his appearance deserves condemnation. For the Chief Minister himself to have done so is irresponsible,” Shanmugam had said.

Vijay subsequently clarified that his body language while replying to the police demands on September 7 was spontaneous and had no ulterior motive.

He said it should not be interpreted as an act intended to hurt anyone personally.

Thirumavalavan, however, said the clarification did not alter the VCK’s position that such body language was not a dignified approach.

“Reducing or hurting a person’s self-respect under any circumstances is not civilised. Political criticism of an individual is different from criticism that personally hurts a person’s dignity,” he said.

He said even an ordinary person without social, economic or political power should not be subjected to an approach that could hurt his dignity.

“Respecting elders in the Assembly is one of the highest forms of human dignity. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the Chief Minister, who holds a position of great responsibility, to be extremely careful about his body language in the future,” Thirumavalavan said.

He also criticised remarks made by the Law Minister during a discussion on the following day, when the DMK sought the removal of certain portions of the Chief Minister’s speech from the Assembly records.

Thirumavalavan described the minister’s remarks concerning the MISA period and the DMK leadership as a “historical error”.

“The nature of State repression during the MISA period is known to the entire country. Recording completely erroneous views about the DMK president, who was subjected to that brutal repression, is condemnable,” he said.

Thirumavalavan urged the Law Minister to announce the withdrawal of the remarks.