IPL 2025: DK Told Me To Use My Natural Hand Movement And Encouraged Me To Try It, Says Jitesh Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma credited mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik for encouraging him to back his natural ability in the IPL 2025 season. Jitesh was acquired by RCB for Rs 11 crore in last year's auction following his heroics with Punjab Kings in the last three seasons. His addition is a boost for RCB's batting depth in the season as the batter has delivered so far with cameo knocks in the death overs. Reflecting on Karthik's influence on his mindset, Jitesh acknowledged the former India wicketkeeper's contribution to his batting form. DK has pulled me out of my comfort zone and into a new space I havent been in before. Ive always had certain shots in my arsenal, but I didnt believe in them. I never worked on them because previous coaches would say, Go straight, play this way, play that way. Its true that hitting sixes in the V is my strength, but I always wanted to learn more. My mindset is - if someone is teaching and I can add a new skill, why not? DK told me to use my natural hand movement and encouraged me to try it. They picked me for those abilities, so they saw something. DK saw something, and thats how things are evolving now. This is just the beginning, he said on JioHotstar's series Gen Bold. Jitesh further added that Karthik's presence makes him feel settled in the franchise as the veteran matches his wavelength. I think Ive finally found someone I can truly work with - someone I can learn from, someone who matches my wavelength, and I match his. Someone who is just like me. And that someone is D.K. Anna (Dinesh Karthik). He is one of the biggest reasons I feel settled. He has played the same role for the Indian team and in the IPL too. I'm very comfortable talking to him. He understands my feelings and my game, and I understand what hes trying to convey. He has performed under pressure and knows what kind of risks are involved in key moments, the RCB wicketkeeper said. Earlier, I never had this kind of conversation with anyone because not many have succeeded while batting at number 6. And those who have, are playing for teams like the Chennai Super Kings or other big franchises. But now, I get to interact with DK daily. Being a wicketkeeper-batter himself, he understands me, and I understand what he expects. Ive got more freedom here. I had it in my previous team too, but now Im also learning new things and gaining insights I hadnt before, he added. Talking about Rajat Patidar's leadership, Jitesh feels securing their first win of the season at M Chinnaswamy Stadium is the big challenge for him after the side lost all three matches at the home venue so far. Rajat is a very simple person. Hes easy to talk to - you wouldnt even notice him in the dressing room. Its only when we step on the field that you realize hes the captain. Thats just his personality - calm and composed under pressure. He can assess situations from multiple angles. As a wicketkeeper, whenever I go up to him with suggestions, he engages right away, asking questions like, What can we do if this happens? It shows how calm and in control he is. Thats one big reason behind his current success. Theres still one big challenge in front of him - securing our first win at Chinnaswamy this season. But the belief in the camp is strong, he said. On what makes a successful T20 captain, Jitesh added, I think its all about believing in your instincts. The game moves so fast that you barely get time to think. Whatever decision comes to your mind, you need to back it. Your inner voice knows, and believing in that is the most important thing. Rajat is a very simple person. Hes easy to talk to - you wouldnt even notice him in the dressing room. Its only when we step on the field that you realize hes the captain. Thats just his personality - calm and composed under pressure. He can assess situations from multiple angles. As a wicketkeeper, whenever I go up to him with suggestions, he engages right away, asking questions like, What can we do if this happens? It shows how calm and in control he is. Thats one big reason behind his current success. Theres still one big challenge in front of him - securing our first win at Chinnaswamy this season. But the belief in the camp is strong, he said. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Article Source: IANS

AC Berth Train Tickets Hit Regret Status Amid Summer Rush from Hyderabad

Trains from Hyderabad to major destinations such as Delhi, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Bengaluru, and Chennai are witnessing a massive rush of passengers.

Bon voyage, baby turtles: Olive Ridley hatchlings given a warm send-off near Chennais Elliots beach

We bid farewell to a batch of baby Olive Ridley turtles, and hear from experts about the fascinating creatures that trust our shore with their new-borns every year

Madras HC clears ED's probe into Tasmac after dismissing petitions

CHENNAI: Stating that the allegations and complaint against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) are grave in nature and warrants deeper investigation, the Madras High Court on Wednesday cleared the decks for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to proceed with the probe by dismissing the petitions filed by Tasmac and the state government against the raids conducted on the retail liquor business entity. A bench of Justices S M Subramaniam and K Rajasekar negated the contentions raised by the petitioners, including non-furnishing of reasons to believe the commission of the offence, and the FIRs relied upon by the agency for proceeding under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), violations of principles of federalism, political motive and violation of human rights of employees, particularly women. The court said the fact that ED had recorded the reasons to believe the commission of the offence of generating proceeds of crime in writing, as explicitly mandated under Section 17 of PMLA, on information in possession is sufficient to conduct search. Sufficiency of adequacy of the information cannot be gone into by the court at this stage, it said On examination of Section 17, there is no explicit procedure stipulated that the copy of reasons to believe must be served on the person on whom search is conducted, it said. Stating that the court cannot order producing a copy of the reasons to believe, the bench said, Such omnibus direction that all searches must be conducted serving a copy of reason to believe might lead to concealment or destruction of evidence, thereby jeopardising the investigation. Further, it explained, Section 17 nowhere obligates giving a copy of search warrant. It is merely produced to get the authorisation of the person in-charge of the building before conducting a search. It is to be noted that prior to the 2019 amendment, Section 17 required that no search could be conducted without an FIR or a report being forwarded to a magistrate. This provision was deleted in 2019, removing the FIR requirement for conducting search and seizure under PMLA, the bench said. Referring to the argument of unlawful detention of officers, the bench said the employees, during a search, would be detained to prevent leakage of information and also to prevent destruction of evidence. Human rights violations The bench found no sound evidence or material to prove the allegations of forced confinement and human rights violations which were raised as an after thought. Noting that individuals could have approached the court if they felt aggrieved, the bench said, Neither the TN government nor Tasmac is the aggrieved party here. It is shocking that a state government filed a petition stating it has been aggrieved. This raises questions as to whether this present petition was filed to obstruct the smooth conduct of the investigation. Women as shield On examination of facts and materials, this court finds it unfortunate that women officers and employees are used as shields to prevent investigations from proceeding, the bench remarked, adding that the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution is subject to reasonable restrictions. It said the contention of the petitioners that ED has to call upon only the designated officers of the state authorised and notified under Section 54 (j) of PMLA to assist the agency is unacceptable and a completely wrong interpretation. Pointing to the contention that the search was held due to political motive, the bench asked whether a court can go and examine the political forces at play or be a partaker in the political game. Definitely not, it said. Senior counsels Vikram Chaudhari and Vikas Singh represented Tasmac and Advocate General PS Raman appeared for the state government, while Additional Solicitor Generals (ASGs) S V Raju and A R L Sundaresan appeared for the ED. Cant order to give copy of reasons to believe Stating that the court cannot order producing a copy of the reasons to believe, the bench said, Such omnibus direction that all searches must be conducted serving a copy of reason to believe might lead to concealment or destruction of evidence.

SHRC recommends action against teacher for forcing TN student to do 600 sit-ups; orders Rs 2 lakh compensation

SIVAGANGA: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has recommended the state government to take disciplinary action against a government schoolteacher for making a Class VII student to do 600 sit-ups within days of her attaining puberty in 2017 and also to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the girls mother. While giving the recommendation on Tuesday, SHRC member V Kannadasan stated that the compensation can be recovered by the government from the schoolteacher. The girls mother V Pandiselvi of Sivaganga had filed the complaint seeking appropriate action against R Chitra, the Tamil teacher (BT assistant) who had punished the girl at a government higher secondary school in SS Kottai village. In the complaint, Pandiselvi stated that Chitra had forced her daughter to do 200 sit-ups on October 24, 2017, and 400 sit-ups the next day for not doing homework. This happened within 10 days of her attaining puberty. Because of the sit-ups, my daughter had stomach pain, heavy bleeding, vomiting and severe fever. After receiving the complaint, the SHRC forwarded it to chief educational officer to inquire and send a report. The CEO in a February 2018 report recommended the joint director of School Education (Personnel), Chennai, to initiate departmental inquiry against the teacher. Based on medical documents and others, the SHRC stated it was a violation of human rights before recommending disciplinary action.

'Unable to run': Retired bank employee from Visakhapatnam falls to bullets in Pahalgam terror attack

VISAKHAPATNAM/NELLORE: Two residents of Andhra Pradesh were among the 26 civilians killed in the terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The victims have been identified as J S Chandramouli (68), a retired bank employee from Visakhapatnam, and S Madhusudan, a senior architect from Kavali in Nellore district. Chandramouli had travelled to Kashmir on April 18 with his wife, J Naga Mani, and two other family members. The group was staying in Srinagar and visiting tourist locations across the region. On April 22, they went to Pahalgam as part of their itinerary. According to Moulis brother-in-law, Kumar Raja, the group reached Pahalgam around 1:30 pm. While the others managed to flee, Mouli, who had a heart problem, could not run fast. He was chased and shot dead by the attackers, Kumar Raja said. He added that the family initially presumed him missing but later found his body at the site. Mouli is survived by his wife and two daughters, both of whom are settled in the United States. The family plans to shift the body to Kanaka Durga Hospital, near the Zilla Parishad office in Visakhapatnam. His daughters are expected to arrive by Thursday evening, and the funeral is likely to be held on Friday. Naidu announces Rs 10 lakh ex gratia to two victims of Pahalgam terror attack On Wednesday night, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu arrived at Visakhapatnam Airport to receive Moulis mortal remains and paid his respects. He also interacted with the bereaved family and others who were part of the tour. Moulis friend Seshidhar described the sequence of events. It was deeply disturbing to hear how helpless they felt, the Chief Minister said. He added, In such moments, we must stand united as a nation. We must support each other and respond to the call for national unity. Naidu announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of both victims. Union Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat, MLAs, and others were present. S Madhusudan, the other victim, was a senior architect with IBM and a native of Kavali. He had been on vacation with his family, who are based in Bengaluru. Madhusudan was the son of S Tirupalu and Padma, residents of Kavali in Nellore district. His mortal remains were flown to Chennai and are expected to reach Kavali by Wednesday evening. Given the health condition of his elderly parents, the family initially chose to withhold the news from them. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressed condolences and said he had coordinated with the Visakhapatnam District Collector to ensure proper transportation arrangements for the deceased. He directed all airlines to extend full cooperation in coordination with state governments and local authorities.

For credible Uniform Civil Code, Hindu law must first be reformed

The push for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India, exemplified by Uttarakhand's enactment, is framed as secular progress. However, critics argue true equality requires dismantling inequities within Hindu personal law first. Reform is needed in areas like inheritance, guardianship, and divorce before imposing uniformity, ensuring the UCC promotes justice rather than assimilation.

115 TN tourists caught in Pahalgam crossfire return in batches; three still under treatment

CHENNAI: As many as 115 TN tourists who were caught in the Pahalgam crossfire are returning to Chennai in three different batches taking the air and rail routes. This includes a group of 69 people, including five children, who will return in two separate flights 19 on late Wednesday night and 50 on early Thursday. They will fly from Srinagar to Chennai via Hyderabad. The 69 people had landed in Kashmir on Sunday, two days before the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Forty-six TN tourists in Srinagar will return to Chennai from Delhi by train (on Tamil Nadu Express). They are expected to reach on Friday morning. P Subramaniam, who is part of the group returning by flight, told TNIE , Our group was 20 km from the place where the attack took place. We were planning to visit Baisaran after lunch on Tuesday but our local trip supervisor got the shocking news before we reached there in our rental cars and took us back to our hotel rooms. Subramaniam said that Balachandru, who is currently admitted to a hospital there, was also with them in the car when he heard the news of the attack. He then complained of chest pain and was taken to a hospital. Balachandrus wife has stayed back with him, he added. The trip was arranged by a private association headquartered in Chennai which has members across the state. Subramaniam said that all the members of the group are natives of various places such as Madurai, Thirunchengode and Dharmapuri. Subramaniam, along with 49 others, will land in Chennai on Thursday morning, while the others would reach late Wednesday night. Balachandru is at present undergoing treatment with two others from Tamil Nadu A Parameshwar (31) and Shantnu (83). Pahalgam attack fallout: India suspends Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, shuts Wagah-Attari border

Madras HC revives DA case against Duraimurugan, orders trial to begin in six months

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday set aside a 2007 Vellore Chief Judicial Magistrate Court order discharging Minister for Water Resources and DMK general secretary Duraimurugan, his wife Santhakumari, son and Lok Sabha Member DM Kathir Anand, and daughter-in-law K Sangeetha from a disproportionate assets case. Justice P Velmurugan directed the trial court to frame charges against them and conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis and dispose of the case in six months since the check period was from 1996 to 2001. The orders were passed on review petitions filed by the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) in 2013 against the discharge order. The DA case was filed against Duraimurugan and his family members in 2002 during the AIADMK regime. The DVAC had charged Duraimurugan of amassing disproportionate assets to the tune of `3.92 crore during 1996-2001 when he was the PWD minister.

Madras HC directs TN police to act against property fraud via misuse of usufructuary mortgage deals

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu police to crack down on fraudulent agencies that deceive landlords by renting out their properties to third parties under usufructuary mortgage arrangements - without the knowledge or consent of the actual owners. The directive was issued by Justice AD Jagadish Chandira while hearing a petition related to such offences. The judge had earlier asked the DGP to initiate steps to prevent this emerging scam, prompting the DGP to issue a circular memorandum to all unit officers. Following the directions from the court, DGP Shankar Jiwal instructed the police to pay special attention to such offences and ensure thorough investigation under the supervision of designated officers to protect unsuspecting landlords and tenants from falling prey to the fraud. According to submissions made by government advocate S Santhosh recently, deputy commissioners of the Central Crime Branch in Chennai city, Tambaram and Avadi commissionerates, as well as deputy commissioners and SPs in districts, have been asked to closely monitor investigations and conduct quarterly reviews to track the progress of such cases. During the hearing on Tuesday, the government advocate submitted a compliance report to the court along with a short video created to raise awareness about such fraud. The awareness video and alert message must reach a wider audience, the judge said.

Madras HC orders case against TN minister Ponmudy over alleged hate speech

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered initiation of a suo motu case against Minister for Forests K Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory speech against Saivism, Vaishnavism and women. Justice N Anand Venkatesh slammed the state police for staying motionless for not taking action against the minister even after the court had directed the department to do so. Finding the ministers speech prima facie a hate speech, Justice Venkatesh issued the orders to initiate the suo motu case. He directed the registry to register the case and place it before the Chief Justice for further action. Justice Venkatesh said the comments made by Ponmudy are completely derogatory of women and deliberately spew venom on Saivism and Vaishnavism and wounds the religious sentiments of people of these two sects. Citing the Supreme Courts orders on hate speech and registration of automatic FIR against persons who make such speeches, the judge said police have to follow the orders of the apex court because there would be zero tolerance towards hate speech.Senior counsel P Wilson, representing TN police, told the court that a preliminary inquiry was held on two complaints and were closed after finding that no prima facie case was made out while two petitions filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court were disposed of for want of materials. Vikas Singh, another senior counsel representing Ponmudy, submitted that only a truncated version of the speech, which was delivered in a closed door meeting, was circulated and the minister was only recollecting what was spoken 40 years ago. On April 17, Justice Venkatesh issued an ultimatum to the police to register a case by April 23 and warned of taking up suo contempt of court case if the department failed to act.

Raj Bhavan denies power struggle claims; says annual VCs conference is planned academic event

CHENNAI: Raj Bhavan on Wednesday denounced as mischievous the reports which project the forthcoming annual conference of leaders of higher educational institutions including vice chancellors of universities in the state to be part of a power struggle between the Raj Bhavan and the state government. It is unfortunate that some ill-informed media reports have given this well-intentioned academic exercise a political twist. These reports are misleading and far from the truth, the Raj Bhavan said in a statement. Preparations for each years conference begins several months in advance, meetings with the vice-chancellors and eminent experts of academia and industries are held to design the structure of the conference, select the topics and themes for deliberations and identify the eminent resource persons across the country who are then approached well in advance to ensure their participation. This year, too, preparations for the conference began in January itself. Several meetings were held to make it more productive, the Raj Bhavan said. The statement also underscored the point that annual conferences of leaders of higher educational institutions are carefully planned and organised in April every year since 2022 by the governor in which eminent leaders of academia and industries from Tamil Nadu and across the country participate.

TN transport undertakings' daily loss rises to Rs 18.9 crore; CNG buses to cut fuel costs and emissions

CHENNAI: The daily loss incurred by the eight state transport undertakings has increased from Rs 17.7 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 18.9 crore in 2024-25 (up to February). The mounting debts are primarily attributed to not revising ticket fare since January 2018, which is cheapest in south India, increasing operational cost and fuel expenses, salaries to employees and other benefits. Meanwhile, the transport department has decided to procure 746 buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is 12-14% cheaper than high-speed diesel. Additionally, 1,000 diesel buses will be retrofitted to operate on CNG. The move to run 1,746 CNG buses will not only build an eco-friendly transportation network but also is projected to yield annual savings of Rs 116 crore towards fuel expenses. The switch to CNG is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emission by approximately 37,190 tonnes annually, contributing to environmental sustainability and potentially generating revenue through carbon credits, as per the documents presented in the Assembly. Last year, the transport department conducted a pilot project converting 21 diesel buses in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and six other transport corporations to CNG. The trial revealed that CNG buses are both environmental friendly and more cost-effective, achieving a mileage of 6.5 to 7 km compared to the 5.3 to 5.6 km in diesel buses. During the Assembly session on grants for his department on Wednesday, Transport Minister SS Sivasankar announced that 3,755 new buses have already been added to the fleet, and another 8,175 buses will be introduced by March 2026. This includes the 746 CNG buses and AC buses funded by the World Bank and other agencies, which are expected to hit Chennai roads starting June. Official data further indicate that the corporations registered a revenue loss of Rs 6,077.89 crore in 2022-23, which rose to Rs 6,380.83 crore in 2023-24. However, the loss stood at Rs 6,228.79 crore in 2024-25 (up to February). This means, the average daily loss increased from Rs 16.83 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 17.7 crore in 2023-24, and further to Rs 18.9 crore in 2024-25 (till February). During 2024-25, the transport department recorded earnings of Rs 13,035.06 crore, while total expenditure stood at Rs 19,263.86 crore. Of this expenditure, Rs 10,401.65 crore (54%) was allocated for salary, wages, provident fund, pension and other employee benefits. High-speed diesel expenses accounted for Rs 4,943.9 crore (25.66%), while Rs 2,332 crore (12.11%) went towards interest payments on loans. An additional Rs 232.32 crore (1.06%) was spent on motor vehicle taxes for buses, with the remaining Rs 1,353 crore (8.17%) covering maintenance, vehicle depreciation, toll fees, provident fund losses and accident compensation. The fleet capacity of the transport corporation is 20,508 buses, of which 18,674 are being operated on 10,121 routes every day. The buses run for 82.27 lakh kilometers per day and carry 1.8 crore commuters a day.

Physical eligibility criteria relaxed for 67 of 76 woman conductors: TN transport minister

CHENNAI: Transport Minister SS Sivasankar informed the Assembly that out of 1,024 persons appointed on compassionate grounds, 76 are women. Of these, 67 women were recruited by relaxing the physical eligibility criteria. He explained while womens average height is generally lower than men, the recruitment rules had mandated a minimum height of 160 cm for conductor posts. In several cases where transport employees died while on duty, the only eligible family members were women. To support such families, we lowered the minimum height requirement for female conductors from 160 cm to 150 cm, Sivasankar said. The minister also said 1,800 permits have been issued for operating mini-buses across, with the scheme set to launch in the second week of May. He added an extension of one kilometre beyond the 25 km route limit would be allowed if a hospital, college, temple, or other key public institution falls just outside the designated route. Key announcements Introduction of a driver monitoring system in 500 buses. Installation of 360-degree view cameras in 4,000 buses to enhance driver visibility, with Rs 15 crore allocated for the initiative Modernisation of 50 maintenance depots at a cost of Rs 75 crore. Upgrading five Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) into model RTOs with improved facilities to curb the influence of touts

Udhayanidhi Stalin credits Naan Mudhalvan scheme for rise in TN candidates clearing UPSC exams

CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday said the number of candidates clearing the civil services examinations from Tamil Nadu has been steadily going up since 2023 due to the Naan Mudhalvan scheme. During the zero hour in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi said until 2016, an average of 100 students from Tamil Nadu were clearing the UPSC examinations. However, after 2016, the number declined, and in 2021, only 27 from TN cleared the tests. To reverse this, the competition examination section under Naan Mudhalvan scheme was launched in 2023. Under this programme, 1,000 aspirants preparing for the UPSC preliminary examination were provided with a monthly stipend of Rs 7,500 for 10 months based on a selection test. Similarly, candidates preparing for the mains received Rs 25,000, he said. In the first year of launching the scheme (2023-24), a total of 47 candidates from Tamil Nadu cleared the examination, marking an increase of nearly 30% compared to the previous years. This year, 57 candidates from the state have cleared the examination. Of them, 50 had received financial assistance under the scheme, Udhayanidhi said. Sivachandran, a beneficiary of the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, secured the first rank in Tamil Nadu in the UPSC exam and the 23rd rank at the national level. Similarly, Monica achieved the 39th rank at the national level, the deputy CM said, adding that `50,000 per candidate would be given for travelling to New Delhi for the interview.

EPS hosts dinner for party MLAs after AIADMK-BJP alliance; justifies decision for alliance

CHENNAI: Ahead of the AIADMK district secretaries meeting on April 25 and executive committee meeting on May 2, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami hosted a dinner for party MLAs at his residence on Wednesday. All MLAs, except senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, were present on the occasion. One MLA could not attend due to personal reasons. Palaniswami hosted the dinner after the AIADMK and the BJP revived their alliance on April 11. After the revival of ties with the BJP a few senior leaders had expressed displeasure over this development during internal meetings of the party. Palaniswami, on Wednesday, is believed to have explained the reasons behind his decision to revive the alliance with the BJP. It may be noted that Palaniswami had been reiterating that unseating the DMK government in the 2026 Assembly election is the sole objective of the AIADMK, and to achieve this, he would align with all like-minded parties to consolidate anti-DMK votes. AIADMK presidium chairman Thamizhmagan Hussain, senior leaders M Thambidurai, CVe Shanmugam, B Valarmathi and others were present.

'It could have been us, either lying dead or weeping for our kin': Tamil Nadu tourists, just yards away from Pahalgam terror attack, react with shock and horror

Tourists in Kashmir share their experiences after a terror attack. A family from Chennai narrowly escaped gunfire near Baisaran meadow. Another group from Adyar cut short their trip. A large contingent from Tamil Nadu was turned back by police. Many tourists noted the varying levels of security across different regions.

Temporary sanitation workers welfare help desks launched by Chennai Corporation

Identity cards and information booklets were also distributed to registered members of the Board

TN leads India with USD 14.65 billion in electronics exports in FY25, driven by PLI scheme: Industries minister Rajaa

CHENNAI: The state has established itself as Indias electronics export powerhouse, recording shipments worth USD 14.65 billion in the financial year 2024-25, according to Industries Minister Dr TRB Rajaa. The state accounted for 41.3% of the countrys total electronics exports during the year, highlighting its growing dominance in a sector that is increasingly central to Indias manufacturing strategy. In comparison, Tamil Nadu recorded USD 9.56 billion in electronics exports during the previous financial year, 2023-24. Karnataka, ranked second, registered USD 7.85 billion in exports - 22.09% of the national total. Combined, these two southern states contributed approximately 64% of Indias total electronics exports. These figures underscore Tamil Nadus expanding role in the global electronics supply chain, as both state and national policymakers work to position India as a competitive alternative to China in manufacturing. The surge in exports has been fuelled by increased investment from multinational corporations and targeted incentives provided under Indias Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Of particular note is the Rs 25,000 crore PLI scheme for manufacturing electronic components, which Dr Rajaa highlighted in a post on social media platform X. He described it as a strong endorsement of Tamil Nadus long-standing strategy to move up the electronics value chain, particularly by expanding into component manufacturing. The PLI scheme aims to boost domestic production of critical electronic components - such as batteries, displays, camera modules, and printed circuit boards (PCBs) - to strengthen Indias electronics ecosystem and reduce reliance on imports.

Chennai Metro to acquire 60 acres for AirportKilambakkam corridor; double-decker flyover planned along GST Road

CHENNAI: Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will kick off the process of acquiring 60 acres of land for its latest expansion - a 15.5km southern corridor that will connect Chennai Airport with the Kilambakkam bus terminus (KCBT). The move comes after the state granted in-principle approval for the Phase-I extension on April 17. The tracks in this corridor will be built as a double-decker flyover - an elevated road on the first level with the metro line above it. The alignment will largely follow GST Road in an attempt to minimise disruption and reduce the need for extensive land acquisition. CMRL has confirmed that 28 acres required for the project is privately owned, while the remaining 30 acres belong to various government departments. Officials are expected to negotiate with private landowners near Pallavaram and Perungulathur, and with central authorities for access to defence land near the airport. A senior CMRL official said the land acquisition process will commence once the state releases the necessary funds. A land plan will then be prepared, and property owners will be informed through public advertisements. The extension is part of a revised project report submitted by CMRL, and increases the original estimate to `9,335 crore due to the added complexity and integrated design of the route. The Kilambakkam bus terminus-already in operation-is emerging as a key transport hub in the southern corridor, handling a growing volume of long-distance bus traffic. Once linked by metro, it is expected to play a central role in Chennais broader transit ecosystem. Although the final clearance from the centre is pending, the state has authorised CMRL to begin technical surveys and other preparatory activities to keep up momentum. The proposal has been forwarded to the centre under a cost-sharing model commonly used for large-scale urban transport projects in India.

Tiruvallur launches road accident audit after 188 crashes, 49 deaths in February; safety lapses under review

CHENNAI: Tiruvallur, a rapidly developing logistics and residential corridor on the northwestern outskirts of Chennai, has initiated a comprehensive audit of both fatal and non-fatal road accidents. Task forces comprising officials from the transport, police, and revenue departments are conducting field investigations in high-incidence areas such as Red Hills, Poonamallee, and Tiruvallur town. Collector M Prathap has ordered the audit following 188 crashes, including 49 fatalities, that were reported in February alone. I have asked officials to analyse data in the last five years to determine whether road geometry or other factors are contributing to these accidents. If corrective measures are needed, we will implement them, Prathap told TNIE. Tiruvallurs road network includes several state highways, major district roads, and three National Highways - NH-716, NH-16, and NH-48. Earlier this month, Avadi City Police Commissioner K Shankar narrowly escaped injury when a maxi truck rear-ended his official vehicle on the Grand Northern Trunk (GNT) Road near Sholavaram. Data reviewed by TNIE and corroborated by state officials have revealed several high-risk blackspots on NH-205. Danger zones have been identified between Arcotkuppam Junction and Canara Bank, from Arcotkuppam Bridge to Pudhur Bus Stand, and between Pudhur Junction and Narayanapuram Road. These stretches are now being subject to urgent interventions such as installation of speed-calming methods and improved lighting. However, safety concerns are not limited to these blackspots. Roads like the one from Mappedu to Sunguvarchatram lack basic infrastructure, including street lighting and warning signs; the Tiruvallur-Tiruttani corridor, which local police describe as a continuous danger zone is set to receive safety upgrades; in Poonamallee, the Palivakkam signal on the Chennai-Bengaluru route has become an accident prone area due to damaged service roads and potholes. Meanwhile, persistent issues like the non-functional high-mast light at Thirumazhisai junction remain unresolved, pending a power connection from the state electricity board. At Red Hills Padiyanallur signal on the Chennai-Kolkata highway, heavy vehicles continue to make U-turns due to the lack of a cloverleaf interchange on the Outer Ring Road, resulting in frequent multi-vehicle collisions. Experts are now calling for a shift from reactive to predictive, data-driven safety strategies. P S Reashma, Mobility and Road Safety Specialist at Street Matrix, emphasised the importance of systematic crash investigations and identifying grey spots. In the long-term, NHAI has announced the construction of an access-controlled, four-lane highway for the region, scheduled for completion by December 2026.

Duo lets pet dog bite elder brother in Chennai, held - dtnext

Duo lets pet dog bite elder brother in Chennai, held dtnext

The ebb and flow of RISE

Our greatest glory isnot in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. Confucius This ancient line, spoken over 2,500 years ago, took root in the mind of musician Ganesh B Kumar on an ordinary day in Chennai. He wasnt searching for inspiration. I just chanced upon it, he says. Suddenly, it struck me. I dont know how, but it felt like it was meant for Beethoven, as if Confucius had written it for him thousands of years before he was born. This moment of resonance between a Chinese philosopher and a German composer grew into RISE: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Ganeshs debut orchestral work. This symphony will have its world premiere in Budapest, Hungary, in the grand Ceremonial Hall of the Pesti Vigad, conducted by Viennese maestro Anthony Armore and performed by the celebrated Budapest Symphony Orchestra on April 27. Im absolutely humbled to be premiered alongside the legends of classical music. It is anybodys dream, you see?, he says. For Ganesh, who holds a rare dual licentiate in both performance and theory from Trinity College of Music, London, this premiere isnt just a personal achievement. Its a culmination of history, of introspection, and of a long, winding creative process that began in 2018 and weathered the storms of a global pandemic. The birth of RISE The heartbeat of RISE and its namesake isnt just about Beethovens music, but about his resilience. Everyone remembers the ta-ta-ta-ta Beethovens Fifth, Ganesh says. Thats a falling third. But I turned it into ascending fifths. Thats the grip with which he encountered the tragedies. Ascending fifths always pronounce an onward march. In Ganeshs hands, this iconic motif becomes a symbol of refusal to yield. It opens the symphony not with despair, but with strength. Ive always adored Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, he says. But Beethoven his life was the embodiment of Confuciuss words. Thats what moved me. The second movement of the symphony is titled Introspection. Beethoven didnt just go deaf, Ganesh explains. He had more than a dozen ailments. People forget that. They ask, How did he still write music? That is the introspection. To suffer like that and still create it makes you reflect on your own place in the world. Markus Fischer, conductor, Choir of the Opera Halle, with Ganesh Composed for a 91-piece orchestra a size Ganesh calls humongous even by Western standards the work was written with great ambition and attention to tradition. It features full woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano, harp, and a massive string section. This is a full-size orchestra, he notes. But the road to this premiere was far from linear. The piece was written in 2018, recorded the following year in Germany, and set for release in 2020 just as the pandemic silenced stages worldwide. Believe me, when I composed it, I had no idea that 2020 would be the 250th year of Beethovens birth. Or the 75th year since the Nazis surrendered to the Allies. None of it was planned. It just happened. Gods hand, maybe, shares Ganesh. What was planned, initially, was a premiere in Poland, at a concert hall near the Russian border. That fell through as the world shut down. They said, lets not wait. This is something beyond us. Let it be released now, he says. And it was released, virtually. Bernd Ruf, conductor of RISE - Symphony No.1 in D minor The ongoing journey Now, five years later, RISE will finally reach a live audience. Its fitting that it arrives in spring, during Budapests annual Spring Festival, a season of rebirth. What else can we expect there? A debut composer, selected for such a grand concert, on the banks of the Danube, in one of the most prestigious halls, he says. Though his name may now be linked with grand concert halls, Ganeshs beginnings were far more intimate. From my second or third standard, I was drawn towards music, he recalls. His grandfather encouraged the spark. He used to give me an instrument every time I passed the year. The first was a mouth organ. I had to compose my own tune when I was in the second standard. That was my first. Radio also played a formative role. Ganesh grew up listening to choral music, Western classical broadcasts, and golden-era Hindi and Tamil songs. So perhaps its only fitting that the final note of RISE this symphony rooted in history, hardship, and hope comes not from the grandeur of Western tradition alone, but from the quiet beginnings of a young boy in Chennai, holding a mouth organ, listening to the world, and hearing in itmusic.

The originality of creation

Pablo Picasso once famously quoted, Good artists copy, great artists steal. What he probably meant was that artists imitate and get inspired by existing works. All of us have possibly resorted to some form of copying in our childhood years. Most teenage boys from the age before the Internet would admit to secretly borrowing verses of love from dusty old library books, to pass them off as their own in declarations to their sweethearts. With copying taking on a very sophisticated sheen in todays times, this may sound ancient indeed. The act is now uncomplicated, and with the click of a button, the worlds resources are at ones fingertips. Adolescence may be reason enough to ignore these transgressions committed for school assignments and matters of the heart, but what if this persists well into ones professional life? The Indian art world has been hit by a controversy this week involving an act of plagiarism with a reputed gallery, an acclaimed visual artist, and a poet being in the thick of the action. A poem which was widely used as a protest anthem during the anti-CAA rallies was used by the artist in her artworks, which were displayed as a part of her show at the Delhi gallery. Consent from the poet was, of course, never sought. The lyrics first shot to fame after the writer shared them on social media in 2020 when the movement against the Citizenship Amendment Act was raging. It went on to become so popular as powerful words of resistance that it was even read out by Pink Floyd during one of their concerts in London. The poet has now sent a legal notice claiming that his words, which belonged to the masses, have been misappropriated, placed in an elite space, and monetised by attaching a price tag to them. He went on to further claim that he soon discovered that the artist had been using his poem for years by converting it into her art. Although the artist agreed to an ethical lapse from her side, stating that she was merely paying homage to his words, and the gallery has since announced that the artworks were not for sale, the matter remains unresolved. There have been several cases of plagiarism in art that have gone to court. Celebrated artist Andy Warhol was sued by a photographer for using her original image in his 1964 series titled Flowers. The case was settled when Warhol agreed to pay her a royalty for each painting sold and also gave her two paintings in exchange for the right to continue to use the image. Artist Jeff Koons has also been embroiled in six cases of plagiarism, of which he lost three, while the rest concluded in out-of-court settlements. Plagiarism is definitely not a new concept and has been around as long as creativity has, and history provides enough proof. With the advent of AI, originality may become a precious commodity, perhaps. Ultimately, it is up to our conscience to guide us to live with our principles intact, even when blatantly ripping off someone elses work becomes the easiest thing to do.

Unpolluted stretch of the Cooum to get one more check dam; residents call for action against sewage pollution

Sithalapakkam residents complain of sewage being let out on vast, open land

Residents irked by foul stench, say they are unable to use bore wells. Sithalapakkam panchayat president claims he has warned those who were dumping the sewage

Disability rights group launch campaign to raise allowance for PwDs

Court sentences 16 persons, including Sivagiri Jamin legal heirs, to one day in prison for land grab

TN bans mayonnaise made from raw eggs

VCs meet given a political twist

Sanitation workers protest salary delays

HC sets aside discharge of Durai Murugan in corruption case

Two-wheelers cross 3cr, TN pushes for green transport

Centre puts city metro first, allocates 8,446cr

HC quashes NLC protest case against Anbumani

Govt yet to appoint V-C search committees despite SC order

Stray dogs hound IMH patients, three bitten in three days

Andhra cuts supply to Poondi to repair canal

Seeni Viswanathan, the Man Who Archived Bharati's Legacy

Renault opens new design centre, marking beginning of renault. rethink transformation strategy in India

HT Bureau GUWAHATI, April 23: Renault India has announced the launch of its new brand transformation strategy, renault. rethink, marking a significant shift in the French carmakers approach to the Indian market. According to an official statement, the initiative has been unveiled alongside the inauguration of Renaults new design centre in Chennai, now its largest []

ANRF will have key role in shaping Indias innovation, human capital

Madurai goes green: bamboo bins debut at meenakshi temple for chithirai festival

Police foil revenge murder plan; arrest 4

Three held for peddling meth

India To Add 100-150 Satellites To Enhance Safety In Three Years, Says ISRO Chief

Chennai, Apr 23 (PTI) India would add another 100-150 satellites to cover the entire country over the next three years as part of enhancing border security and coastal surveillance, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said here on Wednesday.

India to add 100-150 satellites to enhance safety, security in 3 yrs: ISRO Chief

Chennai, Apr 23 : India would add another 100-150 satellites to cover the entire country over the next three years as part of enhancing border security and coastal surveillance, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said here on Wednesday. Currently, India operates about 55 satellites and for a country which has a vast border and 7,500 km of shoreline, it is not sufficient, he said. Narayanan, also the Secretary, Department of Space, said it was for these reasons Prime Minister Narendra Modi [] The post India to add 100-150 satellites to enhance safety, security in 3 yrs: ISRO Chief appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Genrobotics launches legal proceedings against Chennai-based start-up

A sweet makeover

A thick creamy concoction of rice, milk, and sugar or jaggery, was once only part of religious offerings in temples. But today, those recipes have trickled through the walls of every kitchen, called by different names in different parts of the country: kheer in the north and fondly called payasam in the south. But, who would have thought that coffee, chocolate, or avocado had the potential to be the main character in payasam ? With cultures travelling across and beyond the country, people have been borrowing and embracing new culinary heritage and customs, adding a dollop of innovation and garnishing with the richness of tradition. Payasam is indeed a toast to new beginnings, a perfect ending after a hearty meal, a token of love on celebrations, a bowl of nostalgia. AVOCADO PAYASAM Ingredients Ripe avocado: 1 large (or 2 small), peeled and mashed/pureed Full-fat milk: 2 cups Condensed milk: 1/2 cup (adjust to taste) Sugar: 2 to 3 tbsp (optional, depending on sweetness level) Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp Ghee: 1 tbsp Cashew nuts: 10 Raisins: 8-10 Saffron for garnish Method In a heavy-bottomed pan, bring the milk to a boil. Simmer on low until it reduces slightly (about 10 mins), stirring often. Stir in the condensed milk and sugar (if using). Simmer for 23 more minutes. While the milk is cooling slightly, blend the ripe avocado into a smooth, lump-free pure. Do not add to very hot milk to avoid curdling. Once the milk is warm (not hot), gently fold in the avocado puree. Mix until fully incorporated and creamy. Add cardamom powder. For garnishing, heat ghee in a small pan. Fry cashews and raisins until golden. Add to the payasam. Garnish with fried cashew nuts, raisins and saffron. JACKFRUIT PAYASAM Ingredients Jackfruit paste: 1.5 cup Jaggery: as needed First coconut milk: 3/4 cup Second coconut milk: 1.5 cup Cardamom powder: 1 tsp Ghee: 2 tbsp Cashew nuts, raisins and fried coconut for seasoning Method Choose a well-ripened jackfruit. Remove the seeds, and grind the flesh into a fine paste. Add the jackfruit paste, jaggery syrup, 1 tbsp ghee into a thick bottom pan. Mix well and cook until it gets thickened. Add the second coconut milk and cook until it starts thickening. Then add the first coconut milk and stir in low flame. Add some cardamom powder and fried coconut pieces. Splutter some cashew nuts and raisins in ghee and sprinkle it on top of payasam before serving. COFFEE PAYASAM (By Gnanaselvi) A delightful twist on a traditional South Indian dessert, Coffee Payasam blends the creamy richness of vermicelli payasam with the bold flavour of coffee. Perfect for coffee lovers looking to try something unique and indulgent! Ingredients Milk: 500 ml Water: 500 ml Vermicelli: 100 g Ghee: 2 tsp Cashew nuts: 15 Instant coffee powder: 4 g Sugar: 100 g Method Heat ghee in a pan and fry the cashew nuts until golden brown. Remove and set aside. In the same ghee, roast the vermicelli until golden and fragrant. Add hot milk to the vermicelli and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring continuously. Pour in the water and continue stirring to prevent lumps. Dissolve the coffee powder in a little warm water, then add it to the pan. Stir on a low flame. In a separate pan, melt the sugar and allow it to caramelise gently. Add the caramelised sugar to the vermicelli-coffee mixture. Stir well on low heat for another 23 minutes. Mix in the fried cashew nuts and simmer briefly. Serve warm or chilled, based on your preference. CHOCOLATE PAYASAM (By Gnanasingh Arputhadas) A luscious fusion of Indian tradition and chocolatey indulgence, Chocolate Payasam is a rich and comforting dessert made with sago, cocoa, and milk. Its a treat thats perfect for festive occasions or whenever your sweet tooth craves a chocolaty twist! Ingredients Milk: 250 ml Water: 500 ml Sago: 100 g Cocoa powder: 2 tsp Sugar: 8 tsp Method In a pan, bring water to a boil. Add sago and cook for about 10 minutes until they begin to turn translucent. Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring gently. In a small bowl, dissolve cocoa powder in a bit of warm water, then add it to the pan. Pour in the hot milk and add sugar. Mix well and let it simmer for a 2-3 minutes. Serve warm or chilled, depending on your mood and the weather. MANGO PAYASAM (by chef Arun Vijayan) Ingredients Raw rice: 1/4 cup (about 50g) Ripe mango pulp: 1 cup (about 200 ml; use Alphonso or any sweet variety) Full cream milk: 2 cups (500 ml) Water: 1 cup (250 ml) Sugar: 1/2 cup (100 g) or adjust to taste Cardamom powder: 1/2 tsp Ghee: 1 tbsp Almonds: 10-12 (sliced) Saffron strands: a few (optional) Condensed milk: 2 tbsp (optional, for extra richness) Method Wash and soak rice for 20 minutes. In a pan, boil 1 cup of water and 1 cup of milk. Add soaked rice and cook on low flame until rice is soft and fully cooked. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking. Once rice is cooked, add the remaining 1 cup milk and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Add sugar and stir well until it dissolves. Add cardamom powder and saffron (if using). Optionally, add condensed milk for extra richness and flavour. Add mango pulp, when the mixture gets slightly cool (lukewarm or room temp), then stir. Never add the pulp to hot milk it can curdle. Now, garnish the payasam with chopped mango cubes and sliced almonds.

Sivakarthikeyan Adopts Lion, Tiger At Chennais Vandalur Zoo

Sivakarthikeyan has adopted a lion named Shreyar and a tiger named Yuga from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, Chennai.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra presented with The Hindus Trailblazers in Tech award.

TN considers captive breeding of state animal Nilgiri tahr to ensure its long-term survival

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu forest department is considering captive breeding of the Nilgiri tahr, which is the state animal, to ensure long-term survivability. With the species now confined largely to two meta-populations in Grass Hills National Park and Mukurthi National Park, officials see scientific breeding as a critical strategy for long-term survival. A comprehensive four-day synchronised survey of the Nilgiri tahr begins on April 24, covering Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra, speaking at the survey's launch in Coimbatore, said: When I was DFO in Ooty, we did preliminary work and identified a site for captive breeding, but the project never materialised. Now, it's imperative we pursue scientific captive breeding, Dogra told The New Indian Express . This will support our relocation efforts. The Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation is assessing habitat suitability, and captive-bred tahrs can be integrated with wild populations to repopulate suitable habitats, he added. The survey, flagged off by Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Supriya Sahu, involves multiple teams traversing 176 blocks in Tamil Nadu -- up from 140 last year due to new tahr sightings. Kerala will simultaneously survey 89 blocks. Sahu said, Captive breeding, backed by scientific expertise and partnerships with Indian and international institutions, is a path we must explore to ensure the Nilgiri tahr's survival. Yash Veer Bhatnagar, IUCN country representative, told TNIE the revival of the Przewalski's horse and Arabian oryx are examples of successful captive breeding. Przewalski's horses, the world's only wild horse species, went extinct in the wild. Pure breeds from Western zoos were used for captive breeding, and today, they thrive in Mongolia. The Arabian oryx followed a similar path, he said. The survey employs advanced methods like the bounded count and double observer techniques, tailored for fragmented and contiguous habitats near the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. It includes threat assessments, carnivore faecal sampling, and field observations, with specially designed datasheets for accuracy. Field staff underwent training from April 15 to 20. Experts from IUCN-India, the Wildlife Institute of India, and Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University support this effort, spanning 233 sq.km from Ashambu Mottai to Thavalamalai. In January, a field team in Peyyanar Varaiyattu Mottai, Courtallam range of Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, recorded direct tahr sightings -- the first in decades. The team also collected fresh tahr pellets, now under analysis at the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation for faecal parasites and DNA to study population genetics. The Varaiyattu Mottai habitat, with moist mixed-deciduous forests, bamboo, teak, cliffs, and rocky outcrops, is ideal for the tahr, which thrives in grassy, rugged terrains, said MG Ganesan, Director of Project Nilgiri Tahr. This data will help us understand the population's health and genetic diversity, he added. Last year's survey estimated Tamil Nadu's tahr population at 1,031, with 552 in fragmented habitats and 479 in contiguous landscapes. Combined with Kerala's 827 tahrs, the total was 1,858. Launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin in October 2023, Project Nilgiri Tahr aims to reverse these losses through surveys, grassland restoration, and invasive species control, offering hope for the species' survival.

On the tail of a tagged Curlew sandpiper

At the end of every wintering season, one can have only a broad idea about where a migratory bird would breed, unless it is tagged. The latest illustration of how bird tagging helps conservation efforts comes from Kelambakkam backwaters on the southern rim of Chennai

TN approves 9,335 crore Chennai Metro Rail AirportKilambakkam project

The DPR will be sent to the Centre for its approval and funding under equity sharing basis

Can Dhoni Script Chennai's Turnaround? Here's What CSK's CEO Said

CSK have lost a record five games in a row this season and more than halfway into the tournament, find themselves at the bottom of the points table with six losses in eight games.

Ciklum looks to double India presence; expand Chennai and Pune centres

The company helps its customers ideate and build products that can help them generate revenue

Central government employee arrested for cheating, sexually harassing woman in Anna Nagar

Tamil Nadu will stand by GOI's steps to prevent terrorist attacks in J&K: CM Stalin

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday urged the Government of India to take steps to prevent the recurrence of terror attacks on tourists and assured that Tamil Nadu and its people would stand by such efforts. The terror attack in Kashmir has shaken our conscience. In 2017, eight pilgrims were killed on their way to Amarnath and in 2019, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the Pulwama attack. The Pahalgam attack has taken place now as a continuation of these attacks, the CM said during the zero hour. There is no place for terrorist attacks in Indian democracy. Our duty does not end with just condemning this attack. We have to prevent this from happening in future, CM added. Top LeT Commander identified as mastermind behind Pahalgam attack; security agencies release sketches of 3 militants Stating that a terrorist organisation has owned responsibility for this attack, the CM said, This shows the worst, dreadful and terrifying situation prevailing there. Irrespective of their motives, terrorist and extremist outfits must be crushed with an iron hand. The CM said on Tuesday that terrorists entered Pahalgam from Baisaran hill areas and mercilessly attacked the tourists gathered there. According to the reports so far, 26 people have lost their lives. Recalling the statement of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that this was the biggest terrorist attack on the public in recent years, the CM said, errorist attacks of this kind on innocent people are highly condemnable. Recalling the immediate steps taken to help the tourists from Tamil Nadu who sustained injuries in the terror attack, the CM said the Tamil Nadu government is taking all steps to ensure that affected tourists from Tamil Nadu receive appropriate treatment and reach their native places safely. On request from the CM, the members of the House observed silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls. Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, BJP floor leader Nainar Nagenthran, Aloor Shanavas (VCK), V Nagai Maali (CPM), T Ramachandran (CPI), ER Eswaran (KMDK), T Velmurugan (TVK) and Poovai S Jeganmoorthy (Puratchi Bharatham) condemned the terrorist attack on tourists. Heaven on earth turned to hell: Families in grief, horror after Pahalgam terror attack

Madras HC upholds EDs search on TASMAC, dismisses states plea

The search were held at TASMACs headquarters in Chennai between March 6 and 8

Industrial & warehousing demand surges 15% YoY in Q1 2025, touches 9 mn sq ft across top 8 cities

India's industrial and warehousing market began 2025 strongly, with leasing activity up 15% YoY across top cities, led by Delhi NCR and Chennai. Engineering and e-commerce sectors surpassed 3PL in demand, driving large-sized deals. New supply mirrored leasing levels, while vacancy rates increased slightly, and average rentals edged higher in key industrial hubs.

Pahalgam terror attack: Bharath Bhushans bedridden mother unaware of sons death

BENGALURU: A bedridden Bharat Bhushans mother was unaware that her son had been killed in the terrorist attack that took place on Tuesday in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Three residents of Bengaluru were among the victims of the terror attack that struck a tourist group in Pahalgam. Around 11 people from Karnataka had gone on a trip to Kashmir with their families. Bharat Bhushan from Bengaluru and Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga were killed in the terror attack, while nine Kannadigas are expected to return to Bengaluru and Shivamogga today. Speaking to TNIE, Bhushans neighbours said that his parents are elderly, and his mother has been suffering from heat-related health issues. She is not yet aware that her son was killed in the attack. Just a week ago, she was discharged from the hospital. Bhushans father, a retired Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), was informed about the tragic news in the morning. They added that his brother Preetam, left immediately after hearing about the incident. According to police, Bhushan and his family had gone on the trip on April 18 through a tour operator. He was previously employed as a software engineer and was currently running a diagnostic centre in Bengaluru. Madhusudan Rao, a resident of Ramamurthy Nagar and a native of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, was also killed in the attack. His neighbour, Babu, told reporters that Madhusudan had gone to Kashmir with his wife, daughter and son. As vacation for his children. Madhusudan, who worked as a software engineer in the city, had been living in Bengaluru for the past 15 years. His family members informed Babu about the incident. Babu added that Madhusudan was a good person, known for his kind and helpful nature. Bhushans body is being flown back to Bengaluru on flights. Bhushans wife Sujatha, son Havish, brother Preetham Chennaveerappa, and others, including Narasim, K. J. Chandrashekhar, Srihari Prasad N., M. Deepu, and M. S. Rahul, were also part of the travel group. Manjunath Rao, a resident of Shivamogga, was also killed in the attack. His body is being brought to Shivamogga, and his wife Pallavi R. (40) and son Abhijaya are also returning. Madhusudans body is brought back to Chennai. His wife Venkata, daughter Medha, and son Mukund are also returning. Top LeT Commander identified as mastermind behind Pahalgam attack; security agencies release sketches of 3 militants

Real estate company DRA reports 525 crore revenue in FY25

The company, which was launched 10 years ago, also said in a release that the brand has seen traction in fast-growing corridors in Chennai such as Medavakkam, Sholinganallur, Madhavaram, Avadi and Navalur

Discover Erode-style delights at Satti Kari in Chennai

Raj Bhavan denounces reports linking VCs Meet with recent SC verdict

CHENNAI: The Raj Bhavan on Wednesday strongly denounced what it termed scandalous media reports linking the upcoming annual conference of vice-chancellors in the State with the recent Supreme Court judgment, dismissing the connection as baseless and politically motivated. A statement from the Raj Bhavan said, These reports are scandalous and far from the truth. It further clarified that the conference was a well-planned academic exercise aimed at improving the quality of higher education and had nothing to do with any political tussle. Preparations for each years conference begin several months in advance. Meetings with the vice-chancellors and eminent experts from academia and industry are held to design the structure of the conference, select topics and themes for deliberation, and identify the eminent resource persons across the country who are then approached well in advance to ensure their participation. This year too, preparations for the conference began in January itself. Several meetings were held to make it more productive, the Raj Bhavan pointed out. It is unfortunate that some ill-informed media reports have given this well-intentioned academic exercise, aimed at achieving excellence in teaching, learning, innovation and enterprise, a political twist, wrongly linking it with the recent court judgment and trying to project it as a power struggle between the Raj Bhavan and the State government, it added. The statement also highlighted how past isolation among institutions was detrimental to student growth: Earlier, our institutions, especially the State universitiesnever interacted with each other and functioned largely in their respective silos, to the disadvantage of our students and the growth of our institutions. The Raj Bhavan further noted that these annual conferences of higher education leaders have been carefully planned and held in April each year since 2022. They are organised by the Governor and attended by eminent leaders of academia and industry from Tamil Nadu and across the country who share their ideas and experiences with our higher educational institutions.

T.N. government approves Chennai Metro Rails Airport-Kilambakkam project, forwards proposal to Centre

The project would significantly improve the commute for those residing in the citys southern areas, such as Chromepet, Pallavaram, Tambaram, and Perungalathur

Madras HC dismisses petitions against raids on TASMAC premises, gives ED free hand to probe

CHENNAI: In a significant blow to the Tamil Nadu government and its liquor retailing arm, the Madras High Court has dismissed petitions seeking to declare the Enforcement Directorates (ED) search and seizure at TASMAC premises illegal, observing that the entity attempted to misuse human rights concerns to shield itself from investigation. A division bench of Justices S M Subramaniam and K Rajasekar said the allegations against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) were grave in nature and required deeper investigation. The court granted ED a free hand to proceed with the probe into possible generation of proceeds of crime and their laundering. It is without doubt that the prima facie allegations and complaints against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) are grave in nature. It definitely warrants deeper investigation, the bench noted. Disapproving of the argument that ED officials detained TASMAC employees till midnight, violating their human rights, the court observed, The offence of money laundering is a crime against the people of our Nation. The arguments of officers being detained for hours during search and being sent home at odd hours when a search is in progress is inadequate and highly disproportional, when compared to the rights of millions of people of our Great Nation. The judges added, It is the mandate of the Constitution to secure to all its citizens Economic Justice. And legislations such as PMLA serve this object by ensuring that offences which jeopardise our National economic growth is dealt with strictly by law. Responding to the petitioners' claims of political vendetta, the bench observed that courts cannot examine political motives. The parties in power and in the opposition usually blame each other with political vendetta the people would be the best judges and not the courts. The bench pointed out a strong disconnection between the averments and the relief sought in the petitions. It added, It is imperative that a broader view of the issue needs to be taken at times, where the rights of people at large will be affected. It is without doubt that the prima facie allegations and complaints against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) are grave in nature. It definitely warrants deeper investigation. The court rejected TASMACs argument that the monetary threshold for offences listed under Part-B of the PMLA schedule would bar investigation. The bench said the claim was ex facie inapplicable. Coming down heavily on TASMAC for accusing ED of violating human rights, the court said such a move challenges the very ethos of the criminal justice system. If this court accepts that such a search conducted by an investigating agency is harassment, then it can lead to a floodgate of litigations where each and every citizen of this country bound by the rule of law start alleging harassment on every procedure detailed under our criminal procedure system, the bench said. It further added, It is unfortunate that women officers and employees are used as shields to prevent investigations from proceeding. Questioning the maintainability of the petitions, the bench said, But it is unfortunate that in the present case, a mere search was conducted and the petitioners with complete whimsical arguments have approached this Court seeking for declaring the search itself as illegal. How can a procedure established by law be termed as harassment? It termed as illogical and bereft of conscience the argument that consent from the state government is a precondition for central agencies to conduct searches. The court ruled that invoking federalism in a PMLA-related case concerning national economic offences is untenable and unjustifiable. The petitioners are embarking on a mission to defeat the very core of PMLA and the criminal justice system, the court stated, adding, Our Constitution is quasi-federal in nature but the traces of federalism are applied only for the benefit of the people and not to their detriment. It concluded that the state government should, in fact, be open to allow any investigating agency to root out offences affecting the state. The court also dismissed impleading petitions filed by S Muralidharan, A Mohandoss, A Sridharan and S Karthick Ragunath.

World Book Day: Discover TOLO, Chennais free book exchange project

A free book exchange project, TOLO (Take One Leave One) aims to remind one of the joy of delving into the pages of a book, anytime and anywhere

Man held for stabbing his father to deathin Chennai

'Trust Thala': CSK CEO's reassuring message to anxious supporters

Chennai Super Kings, a five-time IPL champion, is currently struggling in IPL 2025, sitting at the bottom of the table with only two wins. Following a defeat by Mumbai Indians, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan acknowledged the team's poor performance but expressed hope for a turnaround.

Chennai police arrest two from Maharashtra for smuggling drugs, seize 300 kg of ganja

They allegedly smuggled ganja from Andhra Pradesh, the police said

Train derails at Beach station, services disrupted

CHENNAI: Train services on the Chennai Beach-Royapuram section were disrupted for two hours on Tuesday after an EMU train heading to Tiruvallur from Chennai Beach derailed at the Chennai Beach station. The derailment caused the wheels to run over concrete sleepers, damaging about 150m of the track. Around 150 passengers who were on board returned to the platform by jumping off the train. The incident occurred around 11.05 am, when the train was on platform 7 and heading towards Royapuram. While switching tracks to enter the mainline, two pairs of wheels from the fourth coach (counted from the rear) derailed a few metres after the last coach had exited the platform. Railway officials said the train was running at 15 kmph. Following this, the railway officials rushed to the spot and engaged in restoration works. The derailed coach was detached, and the train was reconfigured by joining the front and rear sections, allowing it to continue its journey to Tiruvallur. The derailed wheels were re-railed by about 1.30 pm. Railway officials said that no trains were cancelled and no injuries were reported.

Madras HC throws out criminal case against Chitlapakkam locals

CHENNAI: Almost seven years after Chennai Police registered a case of rioting and assault against four residents of Chitlapakkam near Tambaram for questioning a storm water drain project, the Madras High Court on April 4 quashed the case against them. Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan said that the allegations raised against the four residents were trivial, even if taken at face value. On October 21, 2018, the Chitlapakkam police arrested R Balachander and Kumara Subramanian in a case where Sunil Jayaraman and Sivakumar were also the accused. The police booked them for deterring officials from discharging their duty and threatening them. However, the residents, part of a citizen group Chitlapakkam Rising, said the adverse action was because they questioned a cut-and-cover drain project in the locality which was started before tenders were finalised. Curiously, Sunil was in the US at the time when the alleged incident took place. Balachander and Kumar were in jail for a week. The four had filed a case before the Madras High Court seeking quashing of the trial. Seeking information regarding alleged irregularities in a public project was not a criminal offense, the court said. It is clear that allegations of disturbing the de facto complainant (local body) while discharging official duties lack sufficient merit, particularly in light of the broader public concern regarding the project in question, the order stated. In addition, the trial had been moving at a slow pace since 2018 which strengthened the case for quashing the proceedings. Based on this, the court order quashed the proceedings against the petitioners in the criminal case pending before the Judicial Magistrate-II, Tambaram.

At Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand's Chennai home, a 27-kg chess set is the real Most Valuable Player. His wife agrees

Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand's home houses a remarkable collection of chess sets, each with a unique story. From a hefty copper and bronze set acquired in Mexico, insisted upon by his wife, to gifts from the Tamil Nadu government and a mysterious revolving set, Anand's collection reflects his victories, travels, and personal connections.

Dr Shanta museum opened at Adyar Cancer Institute

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin unveiled the statue and museum dedicated to late Dr V Shanta, renowned oncologist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute, on Monday. Dr Shanta dedicated more than six decades of her life to cancer treatment. Her room at the institute has now been transformed into a museum, according to a release. Taking to X, Stalin said, What began as a humble journey under the guidance of Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, the pioneering founder of the Adyar Cancer Institute, blossomed into an institution of extraordinary service as Dr V Shanta became a towering figure in the field of oncology. Today, I unveiled Dr Shanthas statue and museum at the very place where she devoted her entire life to serving the needy patients. The museum, filled with her belongings and ideals, left me deeply moved and inspired.

A weight loss journey sans a nutritionist, gym, and a coach: How it all worked out

Consistency, a self-made diet plan, and overcoming mental challenges helped Chennai-based Niraj Jha lose 57 kilos. He shares his story, and what it takes to be patient and keep at it

TASMAC versus ED case: Madras High Court dismisses pleas against search and seizure operation

Justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekarsay people would be the best judges to decide whether there is any political motive behind the search operation

Oscar Winner A R Rahman discloses his strategy to beat traffic!

Chennai: Oscar winner A R Rahman, who often shuttles between cities for work, has now disclosed his strategy to handle traffic in Mumbai. During his interview to a media entity, the ace music director was asked if he had ever felt exasperated in traffic. To this, Rahman said with a chuckle, I never travel during Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Madras High Court voids SI selection list, orders reassessment

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside the provisional selection list released by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) for the appointment of 621 sub-inspectors to the police department. The revised list published on October 10, 2024, is set aside, Justice CV Karthikeyan said in the order, asking TNUSRB to rework the selection process by following the Supreme Court judgment (Tamil Nadu and others Vs K Shobana and others), with the help of a retired chief justice of a HC. He directed the respondents to follow three steps - fill 31% of the merit list on the basis of total marks obtained, irrespective of caste, community or religion; fill the backlog vacancies with the merit list for the particular community first; and then apply the reservation for the other communities. Care must be taken that meritorious reserved candidates are fitted in the general turn, the judge ordered. The judge appointed former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir HC Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar to supervise the fitting of candidates based on the materials available in the written examination and the marks in the physical endurance test and viva voce. The court also ordered appointing a nodal officer in the rank of SP to assist the former CJ. He granted the former CJ three months to complete the exercise.

Madras high court dismisses Tamil Nadu govt, TASMAC's pleas against ED raids

The Madras High Court rejected petitions from Tamil Nadu government and TASMAC. These petitions challenged the legality of Enforcement Directorate raids. The ED alleged financial irregularities and overpricing of liquor bottles. The alleged amount is around Rs 1,000 crore. TASMAC claimed harassment during the raids. The ED denied these allegations.

Disabled people protest in Chennai for hike in monthly aid

CHENNAI: Demanding an increase in financial assistance for persons with disabilities (PwDs) and employment under the MGNREGA scheme, members of the Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) staged protest in Chennai on Tuesday. Protesters were detained by the police in marriage halls, while many others were placed under preventive detention in various districts to prevent them from reaching Chennai. The monthly financial aid for PwDs in TN starts from Rs 1,500, whereas in Andhra Pradesh, it begins from Rs 6,000. We want the state government to increase the amount on a par with AP Additionally, over one lakh applications submitted to the revenue and differently-abled departments are still awaiting approval, said S Namburajan, state vice-president of TARATDAC. The association also urged the government to ensure 100 days of employment to PwDs under the MGNREGA and revoke the recent order mandating eight hours of work. Namburajan said over 6,000 protesters were detained in halls without adequate water and toilet facilities. The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled condemned the detentions, calling the move insensitive. This action by the TN police is utterly reprehensible, the organisation said in a statement. The CPM also slammed the polices alleged high-handedness in handling the protest.

AIADMK stages walkout twice after speaker denies nod to raise issues

CHENNAI: AIADMK MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly twice on Tuesday over different issues. During the discussion on the demand for grants for the electricity department, leader of the opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami tried to raise an issue regarding Tasmac. However, Speaker M Appavu denied permission, saying AIADMK MLA Natham R Viswanathan or another MLA from the party who is taking part in the discussion could raise the issue. Since Appavu firmly said he would not allow Palaniswami to speak, the latter led his party legislators to a walkout. Outside the Assembly, Palaniswami said as the leader of the opposition, he could raise any issue but the speaker denied him permission. Later, towards the end of the discussion, deputy leader of the opposition RB Udhayakumar sought to raise certain issues. However, Appavu denied permission, saying two AIADMK members had already exceeded the time allotted for them. The speakers decision led to a protest from AIADMK MLAs, and shortly thereafter, most of them staged a walkout, ahead of Electricity Minister V Senthil Balajis reply.

Gang of four robs family at knifepoint in Chennai

CHENNAI: The Korukkupet police arrested four history sheeters who allegedly barged into a house and robbed a man and his son at knifepoint on Sunday evening. The gang had attacked the mans wife when she tried to protect her son from them. The gang stole Rs 70,000 in cash, a watch and wallet. According to the police, the arrested men have been identified as V Santhosh alias Biscuit Santhosh (24), R Manikandan alias Bottle Mani (29), D Murugan alias Chiyaan Murugan (26), and R Ranjith alias Anil Ranjith (25). The police said that three of the arrested went into the house when the victim V Venkatesan, his wife and son were in the house. Based on a complaint from Venkatesan, the police started an inquiry and analysed CCTV footage from the locality. The gang was traced to Triplicane, the police said. Of the stolen items, the police recovered Rs 20,000 in cash, the wallet and watch. The police said that all four had multiple pending cases against them. While Santhosh had eight cases, Manikandan had 15, Murugan had 16, and Ranjith had four, the police said.

Dont let opponents take advantage of your eloquence, Stalin advises PTR

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin offered pointed advice to IT minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan during the launch of a biography of the latters grandfather PT Rajan, stating his words should not add fuel to the opponents attempts to slander. Addressing the launch in which senior ministers and MLAs took part, the CM said PTR is skillful in making strong and intellectually sound arguments. I would like to advise him that his eloquence should be his strength, not his weakness, the CM said, adding the minister exactly knew why he is saying this. Our opponents have the strange ability to make a fuss over nothing. Your words should not become fodder for them, Stalin said. The CM added that he is duty bound to advise the minister not only in his capacity as party president but also as someone who cares for PTR. I hope Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, who always heeds my advice, will surely understand the meaning and the depth in my advice, Stalin said. The CMs advice came in the backdrop of PTRs remarks in the Assembly on Monday over fund allocation. Pointing to the events invitation mentioning PT Rajan as the last leader of the Justice Party, Stalin said the party did not cease to exist and the present DMK government is an extension of the Justice Party government. Earlier, in his welcome address, PTR said the country is now surrounded by the darkness of authoritarianism and Chief Minister Stalin is fighting to protect the state rights.

100 sportspersons will get government jobs this year: Dy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin

CHENNAI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday said under the 3% reservation in government employment for sportspersons, 100 people will be given jobs in government and public sector undertakings during the current year like how 104 got jobs last year. Replying to questions raised by N Sinthanai Selvan (VCK), Udhayanidhi said under the 3% quota, sportspersons have also been appointed as police personnel. Last year, of the 104 who were given jobs, 11 were appointed as constables. Now, the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu has called for applications for 32 vacancies for sub-inspectors. Very soon, similar applications will be invited for the post of constables. Besides, five differently abled sportspersons have been given government jobs. In the current year, of the 100 sportspersons to be appointed, there will be at least 25 differently abled persons. The Deputy CM also explained the assistance given to differently abled in the sports sector. So far, 198 para players have received `4.5 crore assistance from the Champions Foundation. Cash incentives to the tune of `27 crore have also been given to 196 para players.

Will decide on old pension scheme at right time: Finance Minister Thennarasu

CHENNAI: Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Tuesday said the state government will take decisions about the demands of its employees and teachers, including the one about reverting to old pension scheme, at an appropriate time, in consultation with Chief Minister MK Stalin. Thennarasu said this while responding to a query from AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel as to whether the government would come forward to fulfil its promise on reverting to the old pension scheme. Responding, Thennarasu said the CM is very much concerned about the welfare of government employees. In the budget for 2025-26, I have made many announcements for government employees. As far as the pension scheme is concerned, the government has formed a committee headed by rural development secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi. The government has specified the terms of reference and deadline for submitting the report. The unions of government employees have also expressed their views about this committee. Appropriate decisions will be taken in consultation with the CM. Meanwhile, government employees and teachers took out processions across the state on Tuesday pressing for their demand. The JACTTO-GEO had said the government should fulfil the demands of the employees, including reverting to the old pension scheme by April 30, or else they would intensify their agitation.

After SC rap, Governor okays Bill to recognise Tamil Nadu private universities

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has notified the Tamil Nadu Private Universities (Amendment) Act of 2024, thereby bringing eight private universities in alignment with how a university is recognised as per Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act. The notification followed Governor R N Ravi granting assent to the Bill, one day after the Supreme Court, in its ruling on April 8, reproached him for sitting on bills for long and granted deemed assent to 10 other bills . The eight universities included in the amendment are Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan (Tiruchy), Sree Anusuya (Villupuram), Sri Venkateswaraa (Thoothukudi), NMV (Virudhunagar), Takshashila (Villupuram), Joy (Tirunelveli), Jeppiaar (Chennai) and St Joseph (Villupuram). A Bill to amend the original Tamil Nadu Private Universities (TNPU) Act, 2019, was first passed by the Assembly in October 2023 to bring seven private universities in line with the UGC Act, but it did not receive the governors assent. In December 2024, the Assembly passed a fresh amendment to the TNPU Act to bring eight universities in line with the UGC Act, including one that had come into existence in March 2024. However, this was also pending with the governor until the SC verdict. Though intended for the same purpose, the 2024 Bill differed from the 2023 Bill as it further fine-tuned the TNPU Act in defining how a new private university can be recognised under the Act solely through an act of legislature. Recognition necessary to get UGC grants Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act states that the establishment of an university, be it private or state-run, should be through an act of legislature. The TNPU Act had, however, allowed a new private university to be recognised merely through a notification to include it in the list of universities in the Act. The UGC had objected to this and the commissions website does not list all these private universities under the category of State Private Universities recognised under Section 2 (f). This recognition is necessary not only to ensure that the students in these institutions do not face any issues in the future, but also for the institutions to receive grants from the UGC. The Act notified by the state clarified that these institutions will be considered existing since they were recognised through separate notifications.

Provide equal pay, service benefits to MRB recruited nurses, HC tells Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to give equal pay with service benefits to the nurses recruited through the Medical Recruitment Board (MRB), as per a 2018 court order. A division bench of justices R Subramanian and PT Asha passed the orders on Tuesday while closing a contempt of court plea filed by the TN MRB Nurses Empowerment Association, seeking to punish the authority concerned for not complying with the 2018 order. In light of the detailed report of the scrutiny committee, this court directs the respondent/contemnor to comply with the order dated June 6, 2018 of the court by granting equal pay with service benefits to the MRB Nurses in the state within a period of three months, the bench said in the order. As per the case of the petitioner-association, about 7, 243 nurses were recruited through the MRB, following a 2015 notification, on consolidated pay but work was extracted as that of regular nurses. They urged the government for pay parity, but was denied. The matter reached the high court which constituted a two-member scrutiny committee consisting of retired high court judges V Bharathidasan and V Parthiban to go through the claims of the MRB recruited nurses and file a report. In 2018, the court issued the orders to provide pay parity, as per the findings of the committee. In the meantime, the government provided equal pay to about 4,000 nurses. The association filed the contempt plea in 2019, when the Health and Family Welfare department did not take action as per the court order. The division bench, though closed the contempt plea, stated that it can be reopened if the order is not complied within the stipulated three-month time. Kallakurichi hooch tragedy: 2 main accused get bail Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday granted conditional bail to two of the main accused in the Kallakurichi hooch death case. Justice Sunder Mohan issued the orders for conditional bail to Kannukutty and Thamotharan, who have been incarcerated for about 10 months. The judge also imposed conditions, including appearing before the investigation officer every day, until further orders. Following the death of 67 people in the hooch tragedy, the state government had handed over the probe to the CB-CID. However, based on certain PIL petitions, the high court ordered probe transfer to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Two Tamil medium candidates crack civil services, credit TN governments support

CHENNAI: In a remarkable feat, two candidates from Tamil Nadu, P Kamaraj (29) and S Sankar Pandiyaraj (30), have cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2024, by writing it in Tamil, securing 614th and 807th ranks, respectively. Of the six candidates who attempted mains in Tamil, only these two aspirants, who studied in Tamil medium schools, cleared the exam. Notably, the number of candidates writing the exam in Tamil is fairly low, and no one had cleared it in Tamil last year. Sankar Pandiyaraj, who hails from Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar, is the son of tailors currently settled in Madurai. I was inspired to become an IAS officer after meeting Sagayam IAS in Madurai. Studying in Tamil medium, I wanted to write the exam in the language I was most comfortable with. However, clearing the exam without knowing English is nearly impossible, he said, recalling his initial struggles. Unable to afford regular college, Sankar completed BBA through distance education while doing part-time jobs. During his stay in Chennai, he often ate at Amma Unavagams, and also benefited from the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, receiving Rs 7,500/month. The amount was hiked to Rs 25,000 after clearing prelims. Without this support, I wouldnt have been able to clear the exam. I also received help from an NGO for which I was volunteering with in Cheyyar, he added. S Sankar Pandiyaraj Highlighting the growing accessibility of resources for Tamil medium aspirants, P Kamaraj from Rajapalayam said, There are now AI tools that can translate study materials. The TN government is also helping by translating vital articles from English newspapers into Tamil, he said. T Sankara Saravanan, joint director at TN Textbook and Educational Services Corporation, who mentors UPSC aspirants, noted that candidates opting for Tamil must be proficient in both Tamil and English. The question papers are still available only in English and Hindi for prelims and mains. While study materials for subjects like history is available in Tamil, its difficult to find it for current affairs. The Kalaignar Centenary Library helps to bridge this gap by translating important English news articles, said Saravanan, who also mentored Kamaraj. Retired IAS officer R Balakrishnan, who was among the first batch to clear the exam in Tamil, said it was heartening to see more students clearing UPSC in Tamil. Tangedco MDs son secures 80th rank In his second attempt, Arvind Radhakrishnan, son of senior IAS officer and chairman/MD of Tangedco J Radhakrishnan, secured an AIR 80 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2024. Arvind, who is currently pursuing final year post graduation in general medicine, had secured AIR 361 in his first attempt

At Rs 48K crore, Tasmac revenue via excise & VAT up Rs 2.5K crore

CHENNAI: The revenue earned by Tasmac through excise duty and Value Added Tax increased by Rs 2,483.30 crore to touch Rs 48,344 crore in 2024-25, compared to Rs 45,855.70 crore in 2023-24, according to the policy note tabled in the Assembly by Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji on Tuesday. Officials said the increase in revenue is contributed by the upward revision liquor prices last year, including an increase in excise duty. In the revenue Rs 37,323 crore came from VAT and Rs 11,020 crore from excise. The policy note said the figures for 2024-25 is subject to reconciliation. The increase in revenue between 2022-23 (Rs 44,121 cr) and 2023-24 was by around 4%. In 2021-22, the revenue was Rs 36,050.65 crore. In his reply to the discussion on the budgetary demand for his departments, the minister said full end-to-end computerisation of all Tasmac operations has already been rolled out in 28 districts. This end-to-end system helps monitor every stage of the operations, from production points to final distribution. It is now being fully implemented in 28 districts and can be monitored directly from the departments office, he said. He added a number of measures have been implemented to fulfil Chief Minister M K Stalins vision to make Tamil Nadu completely free from drug trafficking of all kinds. Senthil Balaji informed that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) aims to generate 50% of its electricity from its own sources and renewable energy by the year 2030. He said several thermal and pumped storage projects are being fast-tracked as per the instructions of the CM to meet this goal. Around 91% of the works at Udangudi Thermal Power Station Stage-I (2x660 MW) have been completed. The first unit with 660 MW capacity will begin operations in July, and the second unit will be ready by October this year he said. The minister also informed the Assembly that the Ennore SEZ Supercritical Thermal Power Project (2x660 MW) is expected to be commissioned by March 2026, as 62% of the work has already been completed. Explaining the state governments target, he noted, We planned to set up new thermal power stations with a combined capacity of 5,700 MW. So far, 800 MW has already started generating electricity.

Gale destroys acres of banana plantations in Srivaikuntam, uproots electricity poles

THOOTHUKUDI: Strong winds that swept through Srivaikuntam for over an hour around 4 pm on Monday damaged several acres of banana plantations and uprooted a number of trees and electricity poles in certain areas of Srivaikuntam town panchayat, Adichanallur and Vellur panchayats. Several farmers claimed that many banana plants, bearing fruits and ripe for harvest by June, have been damaged and demanded that the government provide compensation. Numerous banana plantations in Vellur, Navaladiyoor Ponangkurichi, Puthukudi, Marthandanagar, Muthal Karai, Athinathapuram, Karaiyadiyur and Malavarayanatham have been flattened due to the strong winds. A few farmers have cultivated paddy in the region as well. According to sources, the gale uprooted many trees and damaged electricity poles, because of which, there was a day-long blackout in the region. Ilayaraja, a farmer, claimed that government officials have not yet visited the affected areas, besides a VAO assessing the damage at a few places. The farmers have suffered a huge financial loss, which the government has to compensate for, he added. Several farmers complained that officials from the district administration, including the Srivaikuntam tahsildar, have not yet visited the affected areas. An official from the district administration said the total area of crop damage can be identified only after a complete assessment. VAOs have initiated a survey, he added. Banana is the major crop cultivated in the Srivaikuntam region and the produce is exported to Chennai and several places in Kerala.

Footfall rises, TvMCH in need of second MRI unit

TIRUNELVELI: Doctors and patients at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH) have urged the state government to provide an additional MRI scanner to meet the growing diagnostic demands of patients from the southern districts. Speaking to TNIE on condition of anonymity, a doctor at the hospital said the lone, outdated MRI scanner currently in use is inadequate. In 2024-25 alone, TvMCH treated 6,53,874 inpatients and 12,43,674 outpatients. We receive patients not just from Tirunelveli but also from Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, and Virudhunagar. The waiting period for an MRI ranges from three to 10 days. In critical cases, patients are forced to seek private facilities, the doctor said. According to hospital records, 10,597 MRI scans were performed at TvMCH during 2024-25. Another doctor pointed out that several districts have been equipped with more than one MRI scanner in the government hospitals. Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital in Madurai has two MRI scanners one at the main campus and another at the PMSSY Building. Chennais government hospitals have nine scanners in total. Several districts have two each. Given the patient load at TvMCH, the government must consider providing an additional scanner to TvMCH, the doctor added. A Mariammal, an attendant of an orthopaedic patient, said to TNIE that her relative had to wait 12 days for an MRI scan. The longer the delay, the more the patients condition deteriorates. We heard that patients in the intensive care unit get scanned within one to three days, she added. A cardiology patient recently discharged from TvMCH said he had no choice but to approach a private scan centre. My condition did not permit me to wait for a week. The long-pending demand for an additional MRI scanner continues to be ignored, he said. A senior administrator of TvMCH said the government was actively considering the proposal for an additional MRI scanner. We have forwarded the request to the Health Minister and Health Secretary, the official said.