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Artist RB Muraris canvases explore emotional currents beyond language
Beauty Isnt the Point, a collection of non-objective canvasses by Chennai-based RB Murari, is on display at Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru
Vigilance court rejects ex-TDB chief Padmakumars bail plea in Sabarimala gold case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kollam Vigilance court has turned down the bail plea of former Travancore Devaswom Board president and ex-MLA A Padmakumar , who has been arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case . A former MLA from Konni and CPM Pathanamthitta district committee member, Padmakumar was arrested on November 20 by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum. Padmakumars counsel argued that his custody was no longer required in the investigation and that the decision to allow moving the gold-plated sheets to outside for maintenance was a collective decision taken by the board. The prosecution vehemently objected to the bail plea following which the court turned it down. The police had earlier listed the board of 2019 as the eighth accused in the case pertaining to theft of gold from the door frame of the sreekovil. Padmakumar was the TDB president when the alleged offence took place. The co-accused in the case, who were arrested earlier, had reportedly testified that Padmakumar took a final call on moving the artefacts from the temple to Chennai. According to the SIT, Padmakumar had recorded the gold-plated copper sheets of the dwarapalaka idols and the door frames as copper in official records. The SIT had also claimed that the prime accused Unnikrishnan Potti shared close ties with Padmakumar. The SIT has so far arrested six people, including former TDB president N Vasu, former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu, former executive officer Sudheesh Kumar, middleman Potti and former Thiruvabharana Commissioner K S Biju. Sabarimala gold theft case: Fall from grace for ex-TDB chief Padmakumar from Pathanamthitta
22K & 24K gold price today, December 12, 2025 across Indian cities
Something is wrong: SC questions Madras High Court over Karur stampede case
The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the Madras High Court on the rules being followed in listing and hearing cases, observing that something wrong appears to be happening there, NDTV reported. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi made the observation while hearing the Karur stampede case, taking note of a report submitted by the Registrar General of the Madras High Court. The notice also made the Registrar of the Madras High Court a party to the case linked to Actor Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. Justice Maheshwari remarked, Something wrong is happening in the High Court. We need to see the report says that this remark came as the top court flagged impropriety in the Chennai benchs earlier order. The controversy arose while the Supreme Court was hearing TVKs petition challenging the Madras High Courts direction for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe. NDTV's report noted that the top court said the petition was only seeking guidelines for holding roadshows, and the SIT order conflicted with a prior Madurai bench order refusing a CBI probe. The Karur stampede, which occurred during a TVK rally on September 27, left 41 dead and over 60 injured. The Tamil Nadu government has filed an application seeking the removal of the Supreme Courts stay on a single-member commission led by retired Madras High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan, arguing that allowing the commission to function would prevent such tragedies in the future. NDTV reported that Senior Advocate NK Kaul, representing the state, said a counter affidavit has been filed and the matter needs to be heard. The Supreme Court, however, said it will first examine how cases are being handled in the Madras High Court before deciding on the commissions functioning.
How Chennai has embraced the vinyl revival
After all these decades, vinyl culture is making a comeback, and Chennai is no exception
'Something Wrong': Supreme Court Questions Madras HC's Handling Of Karur Stampede Case
The Supreme Court questioned how the Chennai Bench of the High Court directed the formation of an SIT comprising only State Police officers, despite Karur being in Madurai.
Chennai startup Tvasta partners with CEPT University to build platform for 3D construction tech
An MoU towards this collaboration was signed recently between Tvasta and CEPT
Digital mentorship program is aimed at early stage founders to handhold them in navigating product, compliance and market challenges The program will create an indexed library of recurring founder challenges and practical responses across payments, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, regtech and embedded finance. Program commences in Jan 2026 The IFTA platform also concluded its fintech awards initiative with Sahi winning Fintech Startup of the Year and Pine Labs winning Excellence in Payments award 3rd edition of Fintech Olympiad registered participation from 70,000 students from over 4000 colleges pan India The India FinTech Forum concluded the 10th edition of the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) on 10 December 2025 at Aurika, Mumbai. Supported by Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Clearing Corporation Limited (ICCL), this years event brought together policymakers, financial institutions, technology firms, and investors for discussions on regulatory priorities, digital infrastructure, and sector trends. Celebrating IFTA's 10th milestone as the longest running fintech event bringing top industry leaders together and honoring excellence, talent, and fintech innovation Sougata Basu, Founder, CashRich , said, As an Executive Committee Member of India FinTech Forum and the Founder of Fintech Olympiad, I am proud that the India FinTech Awards (IFTA) has become the only fintech event in India to achieve a continuous 10-year journey. This milestone reflects the trust of our fintech community and the growing strength of the ecosystem. With 70000+ participants, the Fintech Olympiad has become a uniquely impactful initiative that builds financial literacy and digital fluency for India. Together, these efforts show how India is shaping the future of finance . The multi-track event featured keynote addresses from Mr. Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Managing Director, State Bank of India; Mr. Vishal Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, Bandhan AMC Limited; Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange of India (NSE); and Ms. Vaisshali Babu, Managing Director and CEO, ICCL. Their remarks covered developments in banking, capital markets, asset management, and market infrastructure, with a shared focus on stability, governance, and the role of technology in strengthening financial systems. The India FinTech Forum announced the launch of Mentor Chronicles Fintech Edition at IFTA 2025, introducing a structured digital mentorship series aimed at early-stage founders navigating product, compliance, and market challenges. The initiative responds to a tougher operating environment marked by higher customer acquisition costs, longer compliance cycles and intensified investor scrutiny. The programme collects and curates real founder questions, which are then addressed in focused conversations with experienced operators, investors and sector specialists. Positioned as a long-term knowledge resource, Mentor Chronicles will create an indexed library of recurring founder challenges and practical responses across payments, lending, wealthtech, insurtech, regtech and embedded finance. Beginning January 2026, selected founders will participate, with organisers with an objective of not just funding access but sharper decision-making, better product prioritisation and improved regulatory preparedness. The Forum noted that as the fintech sector enters a phase of consolidation and compliance-driven growth, accessible and experience-led guidance has become a critical gap the programme aims to fill. The Forum received over 1,500 applications for IFTA 2025. Shortlisted firms showcased solutions in payments, lending, compliance, insurance, and wealth management, with a jury assessing them for relevance, impact, and scalability. The event also featured the Fintech Olympiad , aimed at strengthening financial and digital literacy among students. Organisers reported rising participation and noted that early exposure to payments, savings, risk, and digital finance is increasingly important as the sector grows. 70,000 students from across the country registered for the Fintech Olympiad from 4000+ colleges. Around 120 students were shortlisted over 10 online and 21 Regional Rounds for the National Finals held in Mumbai at IFTA. IFTA 2025 also announced winners of the year across categories. Winners at IFTA 2025: Fintech Startup of the Year: Sahi Fintech Rising Stars: Riskcovry, SaveIN, OnFinance AI, Navanc Data Sciences Fintech Scaleup of the Year: Timble Technologies Most Innovative Fintech Product: Fam Best Innovation in Digital Lending: GetVantage Best International Fintech in India: Valocity Best Fintech Initiative For Social Impact: Spice Money Excellence in Payments: Pine Labs Best Use of AI in Fintech: GreyLabs AI Best Innovation in RegTech: CAMS Best Innovation in WealthTech: Aspero Excellence in InsurTech: Perfios Best Technology Company for Fintech Solutions: Falcon Best Initiative for Financial Literacy: PayNearby The winners of the National Finals of the Fintech Olympiad 2025 were announced during IFTA. Students Category: Winner: Tejas Sayli, JBIMS Mumbai 1st Runner up: Dhruv Garg, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 2nd Runner up: Dhruv Patel, Tolani Motwane Institute of Management Studies Professionals Category: Winner: Rohan Khanna, Director, Barclays 1st Runner up: Madhur Tike, Data Analyst, Morningstar 2nd Runner up: Shashank Rakesh, Regional Manager, BriskPe About India FinTech Forum: The India FinTech Forum, a nonprofit platform fostering collaboration among over 4,500 companies and 37,000 individuals, remains dedicated to making India a global fintech leader. Since its founding in 2016, the Forums flagship event, IFTA, has spotlighted groundbreaking ideas, bringing together fintech startups, investors, and thought leaders. The Forum launched the Fintech Olympiad, a national initiative for digital and financial literacy in 2023. www.fintecholympiad.org .
Margazhi music and dance season: What is on the cards fashion-wise, this year?
From precise design hacks to colour-coded costumes and signature stage flair, four artistes Rithvik Raja, Sriranjani Tapasya Santhanagopalan, Christopher Gurusamy and Harinie Jeevitha break down how they craft their Margazhi look for Chennais music and dance season.
Rajinikanths Padayappa re-release: The ultimate FDFS celebration on the Superstars 75th birthday
On Rajinikanths birthday (December 12), we watch the re-release of his 1999 blockbuster along with diehard fans at Chennais Rohini Silver Screens
SI shoots at murder suspect after sustaining injury in petrol bomb attack in Chennai
The SI was searching for one of the accused in the recent murder of a history-sheeter; police said he hurled a petrol bomb at the SI, who shot at him in self-defence
2026 T.N. elections: First-level verification of EVMs and VVPATs begins in Chennai
Superstar Rajinikanth is celebrating his 75th birthday, receiving warm wishes from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Modi lauded his five-decade cinematic legacy, while Stalin praised his charisma and contributions. Rajinikanth, affectionately known as 'Thalaiva', continues to be an influential figure in Indian cinema, recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Student dies as car rams parked lorry
CHENNAI: A late-night joyride turned tragic for a group of medical students when their luxury car rammed into a firewood-laden lorry, which the police said, was parked illegally on the Thiruporur bypass road on Thursday early morning. The collision left a female student dead and four other students critically injured. The deceased has been identified as Misbah Fathima (21), a third-year Allied Health Sciences student at Balaji Medical College, Chromepet, and a native of Vellore. The police said the deceased was among a group of 10 students who had driven to Mahabalipuram in two cars on Wednesday night. Abhinandan (22), a final-year MBBS student from Coimbatore, was driving the ill-fated car. He was accompanied by fellow medical student Vinayagam (23) from Tirunelveli, and Allied Health Sciences students Mohammed Ali (21) and Navya (21), both natives of Kerala. After dinner and spending time at the beach until 3 am, the group was returning to Chromepet. While traversing the Thiruporur bypass, police sources said, the first car had travelled a significant distance ahead, while the other car, driven by Abhinandan, was trailing behind. Soon after, the second car crashed violently into the rear of the lorry parked on the side of the road. Police sources said the lorry was parked in a way that posed a danger to the oncoming traffic. While some media reports suggested the drivers of the two cars were racing with each other, officials said it may not have been the case. However, they are probing whether the cars were overspeeding. The Thiruporur police pulled out the victims from the crushed vehicle. While Fathima died on the spot, the others were initially rushed to Chengalpattu Government Hospital and later to a private hospital in Kelambakkam. The police said the condition of the four injured students remains critical. Investigations revealed the lorry belonged to Prabhakaran from Cuddalore district, and was transporting firewood to Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh. The lorry driver, Subhash (40), was arrested for parking the heavy vehicle dangerously on the highway. Parking on the highway carriageway is prohibited under Section 122 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police said. Further investigations are under way.
Robust demand for homes and office space keeps city property market steady
CHENNAI: The citys housing supply touched 19,675 units in the first nine months of 2025, a 15% increase from last year, while sales rose to 15,720 units, underscoring a market driven by end-users rather than speculative buyers, a report released at the Real Estate and Infrastructure Summit here on Thursday said. The report Real estate and Infrastructure Driving Growth in Tamil Nadu by Anarock, one of Indias leading independent real estate consultancies, stated that South Chennai continues to dominate activity, accounting for almost three-quarters of all new launches this year as developers push projects along the OMR and GST corridors. Speaking during the inaugural session of the summit, Anuj Puri, chairman and founder of Anarock group said prices have risen 38% over five years to reach Rs 7,010 per sq ft, but absorption has kept pace - leaving Chennai with the second-lowest unsold stock among major metros. The citys commercial market is on a similar trajectory. Net absorption touched 4.6 million sq ft in the first nine months of 2025, already matching last years full-year levels and on track to set a seven-year high, Puri said. According to the report, over 250 global capability centres are now operational across the state. Chennai alone hosts 10% of Indias total GCC footprint, while Coimbatore has emerged as one of the top tier-II destinations for new GCC setups. In a separate session, Ranjeeth Rathod, managing director, DRA, highlighted the prices of raw materials going up which has been impacting the affordable homes as prices have gone up. P Kruthivas, founder and managing director, Pushkar Properties Pvt Ltd highlighted the need for reforms in the granting approvals for the projects. C Velan, CEO, CEEBROS Chennai, Sriram Iyer, director & CEO, TVS Emerald Limited and Bhupesh Nagarajan, co-chairman, FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council & CMD, Indira Group of Companies, also spoke on the occasion. Speaking at the valedictory function of the summit, Shiv Das Meena, chairman, Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA), noted that the GDP growth of Tamil Nadu stood at 11.19% when compared to the national average of 6.5%.
TANSACS employees yet to receive November salary
On December 12, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13,076 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,986 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 2,01,100 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
Chengalpattu government hospital plagued by poor infrastructure
Apart from the poor condition of interior roadswhich link various departments including critical care, the presence of dogs within the campus, poor drainage facility, and open dumping of plastic waste pose severe problems for the public
Public health violations net maximum fine this year across GCC zones
Paracetamol overdose after vax: 1 died, four took ill in 24
Brahma Gana Sabha and Rasika Ranjani Sabha Foundation honour artistes at December Art Festival
Radha Nagar subway remains shut due to delays from rly dept
ECI claims 100% digitalization of SIR, covering 6.41cr electors
T.N. set to complete first spring census this month to aid groundwater conservation strategies
Over 2.24 crore palmyrah seeds planted under Green Tamil Nadu Mission
Several districts including Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Ariyalur, Tirupathur and Sivagangai have each crossed the 10-lakh mark in seed plantations
Man climbs on top of express train stationed at yard, touches overhead line, gets electrocuted
Tangedco to pay injured worker 5L
Univ of Western Australia to set up campus in city
Woman medico dead, 4 friends injured as car rams parked truck
Why no adoption guidelines for transpeople, HC asks Union govt
Tasmac scam: ED withdraws permit for searches
Suspended banker returns in disguise with stolen gold
YouTuber acquitted in Apsara Reddys plaint
Central agency will decide Ramsar sites zone of influence: TN
Private hospital fined 1 lakh for causing obstruction on road
Metrowater to conduct open house tomorrow
HEAD: 11_Che_VS_Chennai roundtable calls for next leap in inclusive education
Migrant worker killed by speeding two-wheeler on ECR
State govt. renews lease period of spinal rehabilitation centre in Tiruvannamalai
After raids, I-T dept says over 1,000cr evasion by biz group
Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital opens new facility in Mauritius
Solar PLI fuels production surge, but key hurdles persist
HUL to sharpen focus on lifestyle nutrition biz, targets multiple formats
Tamil Nadu's local bodies are witnessing an unusual surge in no-confidence motions, primarily initiated by ruling DMK members against their own chiefs. This trend highlights local factionalism, interference from family members, and disputes over resource sharing, leading to the ousting of several civic leaders and disrupting governance.
University of Western Australia to open Chennai campus at DLF Cybercity by August 2026
CHENNAI: The University of Western Australia (UWA) will establish a 50,000 sq ft campus at DLF Cybercity in Chennai as part of a Rs 500-crore investment by the Western Australian government to set up two campuses in India. The Chennai campus, slated to open in August 2026, will serve as the centrepiece of UWAs expansion and aims to anchor a long-term IndoAustralian talent corridor. UWA vice-chancellor Professor Amit Chakma said Chennais strong technology and research ecosystem made it the preferred location. We chose Chennai not because it was the next city, but because it represents the future, he told reporters on Thursday. By connecting Tamil Nadus strengths with Western Australias leadership in oceans, critical technologies and innovation, we are creating a platform for capability-building that will shape the regions next decade. The new campus will focus on areas where regional priorities align, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, maritime sciences, MedTech, sustainability and defence-linked ocean technologies. UWA aims to offer globally portable pathways into these industries, leveraging Chennais position as a top education hub anchored by IIT Madras and several leading private institutions. The facility will open with an intake of 300 students, with annual fees expected to be around AUD 25,000. The university plans to host international students on the Chennai campus and begin operations with about 100 local staff. Prof Chakma said international faculty may be brought in over time, adding, maybe around 25%. The university is targeting a 30% share of international students once the campus stabilises. UWAs move builds on its existing collaborations in Chennai, including work with SRIHER under the SPARC programme that uses AI and eye-tracking to reimagine dental radiograph education. It is also partnering on underwater domain awareness research through a 24-month DFATCSDR programme focused on anti-submarine warfare, uncrewed undersea systems and deep-sea sensing, strengthening Chennais profile as a coastal research hub. Technology partnerships will play a major role in the new campus. A tie-up with HCLTech will offer global micro-credentials jointly developed in AI, cybersecurity, digital engineering and technology leadership, aimed at creating employability pipelines across India and Australia. The collaboration will culminate in the 2026 Indo-Pacific Innovation Hackathon with the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Indias IT ministry. The investment comes as Australian universities recalibrate their global strategies amid stricter immigration rules at home and increased competition for international students. India, backed by favourable demographics and the National Education Policys push to attract foreign universities, has emerged as the most sought-after destination for expansion.
Differently abled people to perform dance dramas, skits in Chennai
Vijay is TVKs CM candidate for upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls
Chennai: The TVK on Thursday authorised its founder Vijay to decide on the alliance and also announced him as the chief ministerial candidate for the Assembly election next year. The party said a special committee will be formed for negotiating the electoral pact, but said the final decision on alliances will be made by Vijay. 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 .
US AEI forays in to India with passenger-to-freighter; DGCA approves the conversion
Chennai-based Afcom Holdings is AEIs first customer to procure the converted freighter
Durai Vaiko urges Railway Minister to make Tiruchi-Tambaram special train a permanent service
The MP reiterates his request for introducing a day intercity express between Tiruchi and Tirupati and make the Chennai Egmore-Sengottai Silambu Superfast Express a daily service
This is the second time that the forest department is capturing a tiger in the Nilgiris without sedating it
2026 Mens T20 WC Group Stage And Super Eight Tickets To Be On Sale From Wednesday Evening
The International Cricket Council: Tickets for the Group Stage and Super Eight of the 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will be put on sale at 6:45 pm from Thursday evening. The tenth edition of the mega event will be held from February 7 to March 8, with matches spread across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said prices for the tickets in phase one will start at Rs 100 at some venues in India and 1000 LKR in Sri Lanka. The Rs 100 strategy was first put into use during the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup, also hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Phase I of ticket sales is an important milestone in our journey towards delivering the most accessible and global ICC event ever staged. Our vision for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 is clear: every fan, regardless of background, geography, or financial means, should have the chance to access an in-stadia experience of world-class marquee cricket. With tickets starting from just 100 and LKR1000, we are putting affordability at the centre of our strategy. This is about opening the gates wide and inviting millions to be part of a global celebration of cricket, not as spectators from afar, but as active participants in the energy, emotion, and magic that only a stadium can offer. The 2026 edition, featuring 20 teams and 55 matches, will be the most ambitious and inclusive T20 World Cup in history. We firmly believe it will set a new benchmark not only for competitive excellence but for fan experience and access. Our commitment is to bring the world closer to the game and to ensure this becomes a tournament remembered for both its cricketing brilliance and its connection with the fans we serve, said ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta. The tournament will open in Colombo with Pakistan facing the Netherlands, followed by West Indies taking on Bangladesh in Kolkata, before India take on the USA in a high-profile clash in Mumbai. India enters the competition as the defending champions and will be aiming to retain the silverware won in 2024. With tickets starting as low as 100, the excitement around the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 is multiplied manifold. We are committed to creating a world-class match-day experience that reflects Indias passion for the sport, modern facilities, smooth logistics, and stadiums buzzing with energy. This tournament is an opportunity for fans to come together and celebrate cricket in its most electrifying format. We have worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure accessibility, comfort, and an atmosphere worthy of a global event. We warmly welcome fans from across India and around the globe to witness thrilling action and create lifelong memories, said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. While the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Eden Gardens in Kolkata are the venues in India, R. Premadasa Stadium and Singhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, and the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy are the tournament venues in Sri Lanka. This tournament is an opportunity for fans to come together and celebrate cricket in its most electrifying format. We have worked closely with all stakeholders to ensure accessibility, comfort, and an atmosphere worthy of a global event. We warmly welcome fans from across India and around the globe to witness thrilling action and create lifelong memories, said BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We look forward to seeing our venues come alive with passion and energy as fans celebrate cricket in its most electrifying format. This World Cup will not only showcase top-tier competition but will also reaffirm Sri Lankas reputation as a warm, vibrant, and unforgettable cricketing destination, said Ashley de Silva, SLC CEO. Article Source: IANS
Private hospital opens centre for paediatric gut and liver care in Chennai
The centre is equipped to manage a wide spectrum of conditions, from chronic abdominal pain and functional GI disorders to acute emergencies, such as foreign body ingestion and paediatric GI bleeding
BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA
MUMBAI, Dec 11: BLS International Services on Thursday said it has secured the renewal of its contract for attestation and apostille services with the External Affairs Ministry. The renewed contract covers its existing service operations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panaji, Kochi, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Patna and Puducherry, BLS International said in a statement. Under this agreement, BLS International will provide MEA attestation and apostille services for educational, non-educational, and commercial documents across [] The post BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
TPL 7: Former World No. 23 Damir Dzumhur Lauds Tournaments Global Prominence
Former World No: Two days into Season 7 of the Tennis Premier League (TPL), the leagues expanding international reputation has been strongly validated by players across generations, as former World No. 23 Damir Dzumhur, representing Yash Mumbai Eagles, and young Czech player Dalibor Svrcina of Chennai Smashers shared their initial thoughts on the tournament and offered insights into TPLs growing global reach. Damir Dzumhur, a 33-year-old veteran of the league with experience facing top players like Carlos Alcaraz, stated that he was aware of TPL long before arriving in India. He said, I had spoken to a couple of international players that played TPL in the past and a lot of them told me the management is very good and its very fun being inside the team. I myself have played Davis Cup for my country (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for 15 years so I really enjoy working together as a team. He also praised TPLs unique format while saying, I like how it works with only 25 points a match. This is incredible for someone who wants to start watching Tennis because Grand Slam matches can go for about 4-5 hours and not everyone enjoys that. Its shorter, there is always movement, there is always something happening. Its a lot of fun for people watching, he said. The surface is very nice, the weather is great. Everything we have here to practice and play is really good. Im definitely up to do it again in future years, he concluded. Representing the younger generation of international players experiencing TPL for the first time, Dalibor Svrcina shared similar praise. The 23-year-old Czech player, who recently entered the top 100 rankings said, Its been really good so far. The facilities, hotel and the organisers are good. We feel very welcomed here. As a team we are in the positive numbers. My goal now is to help my team reach the semi-finals. Describing the leagues structure as a welcome change, he stated, Its a very different format, very fast, very fun and entertaining. You see different good players back-to-back so it keeps everything fresh. Its nice even for the fans. Representing the younger generation of international players experiencing TPL for the first time, Dalibor Svrcina shared similar praise. The 23-year-old Czech player, who recently entered the top 100 rankings said, Its been really good so far. The facilities, hotel and the organisers are good. We feel very welcomed here. As a team we are in the positive numbers. My goal now is to help my team reach the semi-finals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With endorsements from experienced player Damir Dzumhur and rising star Dalibor Svrcina, TPLs broad appeal across different age groups becomes evident. Their experiences show that the league is highly regarded internationally and fulfils its promises once players reach India. As Season 7 advances, TPL solidifies its status as a globally significant, player-orientated, and highly engaging tennis event. Article Source: IANS
Madras Jazz Festival returns to Chennai with an IndiaGermany musical showcase at the Goethe-Institut
Harlem and ZOOM come together for a night of jazz and global collaborations
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Congress of harboring womanisers and sexual perverts, referencing allegations against an expelled MLA. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala retorted, urging Vijayan to address similar issues within the ruling LDF and criticizing the government's developmental record and alleged protection of offenders.
Tamil Nadu a new GCC magnet with 250+ centres
Chennai alone has 10% of Indias stock, says FICCI-Anarock Report
History-sheeter from Ennore murdered by gang in Tiruvottiyur
MSME sector plays a vital role in providing employment, says MP Tiruchi Siva
Tamil Nadu BMW crash: MBBS student dies, 4 injured as speeding car rams into truck near Thiruporur
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed confidence that the Thiruparankundram temple issue in Tamil Nadu can be resolved locally through the strength of Hindus. He stated that while the matter is sub-judice, the awakening of Hindus in the state is sufficient for a favorable outcome. Bhagwat assured that escalation would not be necessary, but Hindu organizations are prepared if needed.
Biomining: 100 acres reclaimed at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has cleared 48.41 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste from Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dump yards through biomining, reclaiming 100.29 acres of land so far, according to an official release. At Perungudi dump yard, spread across 250 acres, nearly 27.50 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of legacy waste had been identified across 225 acres. Biomining works, taken up in 2022 at a cost of Rs 350.65 crore through six packages, have so far cleared 26.35 lakh MT, reclaiming 94.29 acres. Work to remove the remaining waste is under way. In Kodungaiyur dump yard, biomining commenced in 2024 at Rs 641 crore to clear 66.52 lakh MT of waste dumped across 252 acres. Of this, 22.06 lakh MT of waste have been processed. Packages 1, 2, 4, and 6 have reclaimed around six acres together. Of this, on about three acres, GCC is developing a green zone with fencing, drip irrigation, and 1,500 saplings, all being done at Rs 57 lakh. Every day, the city generates around 6,300 MT of waste from its 426 sq km jurisdiction, home to nearly one crore residents and commuters. For several decades, waste from zones 1-8 was dumped at Kodungaiyur, while zones 9-15 relied on the Perungudi dump yard. With rapid urban expansion, both yards witnessed massive waste accumulation, prompting the civic body to initiate biomining.
Chetpet police deny assault after man dies following encounter outside inspectors house
CHENNAI: The Chetpet police have refuted allegations of assault after the relatives of a 54-year-old man, who died shortly after being sent home by a police inspector on Tuesday night, claimed they were responsible for the death. The police have released CCTV footage to substantiate their claim that they did not attack him. The deceased was identified as Munivel, a resident of Mangalapuram and an employee at a private clinic. Police said Munivel was found sleeping in an inebriated state at the doorstep of Mylapore Law and Order Inspector Ambedkars residence in Chetpet. The inspector and a constable reportedly woke him up and sent him away. However, shortly after reaching home, Munivel collapsed and was declared dead at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. His brother-in-law Thillai Chezhiyan, an AIADMK functionary, lodged a complaint alleging that police had chased and assaulted Munivel, causing a fatal head injury, based on claims made by a friend of the deceased. Dismissing the charges, police officials stated that CCTV footage showed the officers merely waking Munivel and sending him off, with no assault recorded. A case has been registered and the body was sent for postmortem.
IndiGo flight status today: Check IndiGo cancelled flights at major Indian airports on December 11
IndiGo flights cancelled status: On Thursday, IndiGo flights were cancelled at the Goa and Chennai Airports as the crisis continued for the tenth consecutive day. IndiGo has claimed that their operations are returning back to normal but cancellations were reported at major airports on Wednesday too. Seven flights were cancelled at the Goa airport today and 36 at the Chennai airport.
CHENNAI: The Cyber Crime Wing of the Avadi Police Commissionerate on Tuesday arrested three individuals, including a private bank employee and a senior citizen, for allegedly facilitating an online trading scam in which a man lost Rs 28 lakh. The police identified the victim as Jagir Hussain (42), a resident of Paruthipattu in Avadi. According to the complaint, Hussain received an advertisement on WhatsApp regarding an online trading platform that promised double returns on investments. Believing this to be true, he transferred a total of Rs 28,70,500 to various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters over a period of several months. When he failed to receive the promised profits or his principal amount, Hussain lodged a complaint with the Avadi Police Commissioner. A case was registered under the BNS and the IT Act. Investigation revealed that the three accused had opened bank accounts and provided them to the main fraudsters to route the money in exchange for a commission. The arrested were identified as Babu Balakrishnan (46), a businessman; Vijaya (62), a homemaker; and Prasad Kumar (33), an MBA graduate and employee of a private bank. The trio was produced before a Judicial Magistrate in Poonamallee and remanded to Puzhal Central Prison.
Velachery police search for woman who abandoned 1.25 kg gold worth Rs 1.5 crore in private bank
CHENNAI: The Velachery police are on the lookout for a woman who allegedly left behind over 1.25 kg of gold jewellery worth around Rs 1.5 crore inside a private bank in Velachery five days ago. According to bank officials, on December 5, a woman identifying herself as Sharmila Banu and wearing a burqa entered the branch and said she wanted to open a new account and inquired about the banks locker facility. She said that her husband had an account with the bank. As the officers concerned were unavailable, she was asked to wait. The woman then left the bank saying she would return with documents, but did not. Some time later, the bank staff discovered gold bars and bracelets in an unattended bag that is suspected to have been left behind by the woman. The items were secured, verified by the banks audit team as genuine, and later handed over to the Velachery police. Police have registered a case and started a probe. CCTV footage from inside and outside the bank is being analysed. Officers are examining multiple angles to identify the woman and ascertain the source of the abandoned gold.
Sanitary workers union submits plea to MAWS secy
CHENNAI: After months of protests by sanitary workers from Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones, against the privatisation of solid waste management operations and demanding reinstatement of their jobs, representatives of the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), which is spearheading the agitation, met municipal administration and water supply secretary D Karthikeyan on Wednesday and submitted a petition in support of their demands. The officials have purportedly assured them that the issue will be looked into and taken up further. Earlier in the day, around 350 sanitary workers, along with representatives from 16 labour unions staged a protest near the Chennai collectorate against the alleged illegal termination of sanitary workers in the two zones since August 1, despite their 15-20 years of service. The unions reiterated their demand that the workers be reinstated directly under the Greater Chennai Corporation instead of being employed through Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited (Ramky Group).
NIA arrests fifth suspect in 2019 murder of PMK functionary Ramalingam in Chennai
CHENNAI: The NIA on Wednesday arrested another suspect in the 2019 murder of PMK functionary Ramalingam, in Chennai. Sources said the arrested person, Tameem Ansari (41), had given refuge to the prime accused. While four suspects were intercepted at the Pallikonda toll plaza in Vellore on Tuesday, the fifth accused, Ansari, was arrested from Mogappair East. The four arrested on Tuesday were identified as Mohammad Nabil Hasan (34) and Mohammed Burhanuddin (33) of Thanjavur, Mohammad Imran (33) of Ranipet, and Mohideen of Ayyapakkam. Burhanuddin and Hassan are the main accused involved in murder. Ramalingam was hacked to death in Thanjavur on February 5, 2019, allegedly by members of the banned Popular Front of India. The NIA, which took over the probe in March 2019, had previously charge-sheeted 18 accused in the case.
On December 11, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,965 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,884 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.
India beat Argentina 4-2 to win bronze
FIH Mens Junior World Cup CHENNAI, Dec 10: India produced a brave-heart performance, nullifying a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and clinch the bronze medal in the FIH Mens Junior World Cup here on Wednesday. India, who won the title in 2016 in Lucknow, failed to finish on the podium on the last two []
Sights of inclusive opportunities at TCS Siruseri
Chennais caf culture has always had a heart. In a city where international brews, artisanal bakeries and neighbourhood cafs keep multiplying, spaces that centre purpose, building their own customer community. Eateries like the Museum Caf in Mylapore and Writers Caf in Taramani double as grounds for employment for differently abled individuals, paving paths to independent living. And now, tucked inside TCS Siruseri, Blind Bake Caf employs visually impaired chefs, who whisk, chop, and plate with an ease that challenges everything we assume about disability. As we walked in on Tuesday for the cafes launch, the kitchen had already set its rhythm. Muffins puffing in an oven that has braille symbols, French fries softening into mild crispiness, cold coffees lining up in rows and the air carrying the hum of a team settling into their inclusive kitchen. The chefs, trained by National Association for the Blind (NAB) India, move with an intuitive certainty, guided by tactile flooring, adapted techniques and months of preparation. Much of this learning traces back to the NAB India Centre for Blind Women in Delhi, where director Shalini Khanna Sodhi has spent over two decades building blind-friendly culinary training. When we started teaching them cooking, we could see that everybody learns, maybe a little slowly. Putting the lighter to the burner and handling the knife are the two main things which actually take a long time, she says. As the centre scaled, the team split the programme into two parallel streams. Not everybody is ready for baking, and not every baker is good at cooking, she says. Cooking basics take about three months; baking and beverages require another three. This training model powered their first large corporate caf in TCS Olympus campus, Mumbai. Speed was our main concern but slowly they learnt the rhythm, she recalls. Chennai, however, demanded a wider talent pool. Applicants came in from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, some with basic cooking skills but many without prior exposure to large kitchens, but with determination. The team here includes six visually impaired chefs, four sighted supervisors, and one manager. For Vennila, working here marks her first experience outside her home state, Andhra Pradesh. I am feeling very happy, she says. At first it seemed difficult, but gradually it became easy. She hopes her parents will feel proud seeing her being independent. Today she handles the kitchen as one of the main chefs, mainly preparing rice, noodles, French fries and manchurian gravy with confidence and ease. Initially started just for women, the training, on request, extended for men as well. Naveen Kumar from Sivagangai arrived with almost no formal cooking experience. But he says that the three-month training helped him understand both preparation and pace. The hardest part initially, he says, was locating ingredients and equipment. He now handles with ease one of the scariest parts for everyone who steps into kitchens the knife. I think this is a matter of awareness and people should understand the importance of visual impairment, he says. Tactile tiles, bus service for daily commute and even sensitisation programmes were conducted by TCS for its employees to create a relaxed and inclusive workspace for the cafs team. Inside the campus, the team underwent a 10-12 day orientation mapping out the large kitchen, memorising storage, and visiting other cafs on campus to observe service speed. As blind people dont see faces, the smiles, the whole range of experiences, it takes them time, Shalini explains. By their soft launch on October 29, the chefs were ready. The caf now serves an 83-item vegetarian menu, including breakfast, lunch, beverages and desserts. Yet, the team wants to make more. Nithya, a sighted person and helper, who learns alongside the chefs, says, When I heard about it, I was surprised at how experienced the blind can be. They are very confident. When I see them, I feel confident and excited. Her role includes taking measurements and assisting only when required. For TCS, the caf is a reflection of its broader inclusion framework. Sudeep Kunnumal, chief human resources officer, says, Sensitisation cannot remain limited to training modules. They must be experienced in everyday ways that enable us to understand and appreciate diverse abilities. The Blind Bake Caf embodies this belief, offering our associates a space where inclusion and accessibility is lived and felt. Inside the caf, that foundation is already visible. As Shalini puts it, The whole table has been turned; where the visually impaired are providing the service and others are receiving it.
A movement to break the misogyny hidden in words
In November, psychologist and social media influencer Divija Bhasin started the Proud Randi Movement online, encouraging women and girls in India to take back the meaning of a misogynistic Hindi slur by adding it to a hashtag to their bios. Bhasin said in a reel: If we stop finding this word insulting, men will lose the power to use it as an insult. The Proud R movement has had interesting offline predecessors when it comes to the reclamation of certain words. The Slutwalks of the early 2010s come to mind, of course. The first Slutwalk was in Toronto, in response to a police officer shaming women for their clothing. More were organised internationally; in India they were held in Bhopal, Delhi and Kolkata. The United States saw a pussyhat movement during which protestors wore pink hats to the 2017 Womens March, with the accessory serving as a rejoinder to President Donald Trumps widely-reported statement on women: grab them by the p***y. Bhasins current project is a virtual manifestation on the same lines, highlighting words that are used in sexually violent ways and repossessing them as the basis of activism. But online presence itself carries risks, and this campaign increases risks for some participants. Multiple FIRs have been lodged against her on charges of inciting minors to adapt abusive language and potentially influencing them towards sex work. Interestingly, both conservative and liberal factions have taken issue with the Proud R movement. Bhasin has been critiqued regarding how the slur originated in specific caste and class locations, raising questions about its weightage to people of privileged positionalities. The slur may be widely used against all women but it more precisely denigrates sex workers, who are likely for various systemic reasons to be of marginalised backgrounds. Bhasin acknowledges the words history in her original reel, and indicates rightly that the clients should be stigmatised, not the service providers. As to whether defanging the R-word creates intersectional solidarities depends on broader individual choices. Chances are that a person who is more deeply invested in feminist living will find the R-word deleterious because she is ideologically allied with sex workers issues, and not because she finds it offensive to be called one. That the word is in Hindi, and isnt weaponised pan-India, has also been a point of contention. But perhaps a more productive take would be to see that the fact there is no one terrible insult that cuts across all languages and cultures is not a bad thing. The misogyny is long-steeped, but not monolithic. The reclamation of sexually violent and highly gendered words is a part of known feminist practice. Shock is deployed purposefully, and sometimes effectively. The discourse that arises from the shock may be the most valuable part of such methods, which isnt to say that this kind of provocation isnt also problematic. What such provocation forces is (re)acknowledgment of misogyny, and its pervasive and assorted layers. It exists not only in ghastly crimes. Its in the everyday on the Internet and in the home, on public transport and in schools and offices. Its certainly in small words that have the power to detonate.
Mental health narratives from the margins
While discussing mental health narratives, it is of paramount importance not to bury the factors from which they stem. There is a need for these stories tethered to margins to be told, preserved, retold, and brought to the forefront. Systemic oppression, caste- and class-based injustices, childhood trauma, poverty, unemployment, inaccessibility to mental health care these socio-economic factors can shroud ones life. But we dont hear such stories often, despite a rise in mental health discussions. On Saturday, at Savera Hotel, one such initiative, dedicated to centring and preserving stories of the psyche from marginal socio-economic locations, called The Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository, was launched. This project is created in memory of Keshav Desiraju, former Union Health Secretary, architect of Indias Mental Health Policy. Vandana Gopikumar, co-founder of The Banyan, explained the importance of the initiative. It aims to centre diverse experiences drawn from a broad landscape from a person who left home in search of her sister, who suffered a psychotic break, to a child carer, who saved her depressed mothers life because she plainly expressed fear and the desire to live. There is no one way of understanding and learning from lived experience wisdom. At the event, a discussion, In Conversation: Stories Art, and Care, with filmmaker Mani Ratnam; production designer and artist Aradhana Seth; business head, Westland Books, Gautam Padmanabhan; lived-experienced experts, Srividya, and Kavipriya, centred on how to tell stories most truly and why these stories matter. Mani Ratnam stressed that the emotional authenticity has to be kept intact. Aradhana, on retaining the complexity of mental health experiences through art, said that the spaces, characters, the everyday lives and the slightest details like ageing materials in a room all these have to be done in subtle ways, but we can also dramatise emotions like frenzy. The conversation moved to discussing the shift we have been seeing in the narratives, as the panelists with lived experiences shared glimpses of their own mental illnesses the gloom, the acceptance, and the resilience. Undoubtedly, there are many first-person accounts in the form of memoirs, shared experiences today, but there is a wide cleft when it comes to inclusion and representation. Vandana said, The first-person accounts are typically global north-centred; or if situated in the global south, they follow a particular aesthetic that represents the reality of a few, typically privileged. Consequently, overarching narratives that do not take into account systemic injustices or intersectionality are clumped together to represent a microcosm of emotions and social contexts, which, while important are limiting. Recording stories Introduction to such real-life experiences was also the crux of the event. Jothi , a story of a woman named Jothi, was a way to keep her memories alive, almost tangible through words. Vandana shared a very close and personal bond with Jothi, who was one of the original members of the founding team, who grew on everyone she met. She didnt age at all in spirit...despite the many hardships that she had to face, she carried both her suffering and resilience with a sense of nonchalance and lightness and continued to remain spunky, loyal and determined. Finding a vocabulary to describe the dark demon, to draw the entangled web of despair, to explain the baggage of the past, for someone who does not belong to the entitled strata, isnt quite easy. The team said, In the early days of the organisation, when the vocabulary of lived experience expert did not exist, Jothi was already contributing in that capacity. Amali, one of the main characters of Jacklin and Amali by Regha Jha, which was re-released at the event, said that she felt a sense of pride when she saw her story narrated. As Amali said, her story will be passed on to the young children. Its also a way to understand mental health from a different lens. While such stories are told, many dimensions of who they were, are also explored. Waggy Tales , another book, was also launched. It is a constant reminder that pets have always been a comfort to our pain, a companion for their lifetime. Arundhati Lakshmi Satish, the author, said, The bond that dogs and humans share should not be overlooked as something ordinary; in fact, it is everything but ordinary. The book with personal undertones is a collection of these wondrous connections between the people at The Banyan and dogs. Arundhati noted the words of a person whom she interviewed for the book, The only reason I get out of bed every day is that I need to feed my dog. It gives me a purpose. Anushka Madhavan, illustrator of Waggy Tales and Jacklin and Amali , believes that grim and real subjects like grief, poverty and homelessness in the book had to be articulated in the most authentic ways. This creative process was also a space to ask herself how she could give a visual form to these subjects. She added, The Banyan believes in an authentic display of emotions and allowing the viewer to see the light and the dark for what it is. While Deepti George, illustrator of Jothi , who is fascinated by Japanese Manga and Chibi characters, says that she is inclined towards using bold colours, especially while showing exaggerated features and expressions. With such a collection, Vandana hopes to bring new perspectives through books, art, comics, graphic novels, theatre, podcasts, fellowships, etc., that will widen the social imagination around mental illness/ madness. Remembering the cherished friend of The Banyan, she said, Mr Keshav Desiarju, incidentally, always drew from real-world messy experiences that he integrated into the first Mental Health policy.
Margazhi music season: How Chennais Carnatic stars are preparing
As Margazhi arrives, Chennais leading musicians reveal how they ready themselves - from meditation to reviving timeless kritis
Rasoham reimagines Margazhis artistic map
In Chennai, Margazhi arrives like a quiet swell. A gentle rise of tanpura, palms tapping on thighs, vocals rising and falling, and the audience left in a trance; it is the season when the city breathes art as naturally as air. However, over the past three years, a new addition to the regular cultural events taking place across the city has emerged. An event which is softer than the sabha buzz, smaller in scale, yet somehow more meaningful and impactful. Kutty Kutchery, a 10-day festival of intimate, alternative-space performances curated by dancer and co-founder of Rasoham, Laasya Narasimhachari, returns this year in its third edition. Over the years, the festival has grown wider, deeper and surer of its direction. Its (the festival) not a breakdown. Its a breakthrough. The curation is fresh and different. People are going to perceive and receive art in a very different way each time, she says. Putting together a festival of this scale artistes from the city and outside, held at unconventional spaces such as terraces, temples, dance and yoga studios, art galleries, cafs, educational institutions, and nature-centric spaces Kutty Kutchery was never meant to be an easy exercise; its very philosophy opposes most of the old expectation and set traditions in terms of artistes invited, performances presented, the venues and for the audiences it is performed. This year, she brings in two artistes from beyond Chennai Kuchipudi exponent Vaijayanti Kashi from Bengaluru and Goan classical Portuguese vocalist Sonia Shirsat. The reason, Laasya says, [We] want a different perspective from a performer from a different city, from its art environment. For Laasya, every artiste, every form, every voice becomes a reflection of self. It (the art form) is prayer, purpose, identity. It defines us, she says. Laasya Narasimhachari Kutty Kutchery is structured to eliminate hierarchy: no dominant stage, no overpowering format, no curated distance between performer and viewer. When set up without any distance and difference, Laasya says, There is no power shift. The only thing that holds power in this entire curation is art. Everyone here puts art ahead of themselves. The festival is not about an individual flourishing its about an art economy flourishing. She explains that this economy isnt built on performance alone. Each of the curated performances is followed by a guided interaction with the attendees. For the artistes, its a moment of spontaneous, unpredictable, and grounding truth. Laasya says, For an artiste, doing something on the spot is the most satisfying. More than rehearsals or choreography. That spontaneity is a gift. Audiences have changed, too. Where once viewers quietly consumed performances, they now enter the space with vulnerability, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility. The audience has evolved into a level of awareness I felt was missing earlier. Now they are a part of the performance. Their authenticity mirrors the artistes authenticity, she notes. According to Laasya, The question and the answer are equally important. Different people think differently, and when they ask questions after receiving the art performances, thats the learning I dont want to miss. Laasya speaks of a collective turning on the lineup this year, which includes dancing, singing, storytelling, puppetry, tribal music, contemporary work. Watching different art forms at the festival taught me that the right way forward is doing it together. This is how we change the face of an economy when people start voting for something more, something meaningful. That becomes the new normal. A quiet revolution rooted in intimacy, carried by conversation, and sustained by the unwavering belief that art deserves better. I always look forward to coming out of this as a better person and artiste. The dream is much bigger than the 10 days, concludes Laasya. Kutty Kutcheri Festival 2025 will be held from December 13 to 22. Entry is free. Registration is mandatory. To register, visit rasoham.org
Caught in the cyber cobweb: How TN women are fighting the deepfake battle
August 21, 2025, started like any other day for Rajathi Kamalakannan until a familiar face popped up on her phone while scrolling. An AI-generated morphed picture of hers with her contact details was circulated on Facebook. I was shocked, says Rajathi, who operates a food business, Rajis Kitchen in Dindigul, and runs a popular YouTube channel, RK Family Vlogs. When she checked this profile, it had 16K followers. Photos of several other women were misused similarly, says the 35-year-old. What followed was a nightmare that consumed three months of Rajathis life. I received more than a hundred calls from old friends, distant relatives, all enquiring about it. Many blamed me for having an indecent photo on Facebook. Having to respond to each one of them was really painful, she says. Rajathi was determined to fight the case. She filed a complaint against Facebook, seeking the removal of the AI-generated image. In an email, Facebook refused to take action. The response read, Well remove photos and videos reported through this channel if it infringes or violates your privacy. Unfortunately, based on the information you provided, we were unable to determine how the reported content infringes or violates your privacy. We recommend reaching out to the owner of this content to resolve this issue (sic). The email infuriated Rajathi. Along with her husband, she went to the Dindigul cybercrime office and filed a complaint on August 25. She recounts at least 10 visits to the police station, even on her husbands birthday, giving statements and signing documents. The accused was eventually arrested on November 14, but Rajathi is yet to get full closure. I couldnt work for a week due to the fear of being shamed, she says. But the larger question that she pondered was why was she targeted. On the other hand, her business continued, and the popularity of the YouTube channel rose. Her online presence remained essential to her livelihood, even as it made her prone to abuse. Such people get involved in crime since they think no one will complain, she says, asserting, You [perpetrator] hid your face while doing this. I will not hide mine while seeking justice. There is growing awareness around such crimes against women across Tamil Nadu, who realise that their faces from cooking videos, travel photos, business profiles, and even passport-size images are being weaponised by strangers. While some of them find the courage to speak out, many remain silent due to a wide range of social factors. Systemic issue Tamil Nadu recorded 1.75 lakh reported cybercrimes last year alone, with financial scams exceeding `1,600 crore, according to retired director general of police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu. The sheer scale of the loss reveals how the tentacles of crime have found new ways to evade police action despite the presence of cybercrime police stations in each of the 38 districts. If you put together crimes like chain snatching, motorcycle theft, robbery, murder for gain, these cannot cross `100 crore. But in cybercrime, money is lost just like that. A small percentage of these are women paying money due to harassment. With an overwhelming number of complaints, we cant cope, he states. He also observes that a vast majority of women never come forward. They change their number or block the caller, but the damage is already done. They live in perpetual fear of who will receive the photo or video next? The methods have evolved beyond photo-morphing. The retired DGP describes a new pattern where criminals target women with fake romantic or professional contacts, then use AI to create explicit content when the women refuse to engage. They access the victims contact lists and send sample images to relatives, demanding anywhere from `10 lakh-`20 lakh from women earning `30,000-`40,000 monthly. Women silently pay, but how long can they keep paying? he asks. Such crimes have links across the world, and it makes the job difficult for the police. Gangs operating from Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand lure women through apps disguised as dating platforms. Indian scam hubs operate from Jamtara in Jharkhand, Mathura in UP, and Neem at the Rajasthan-UP-MP border, Sylendra Babu notes. Its a new generation of organised crime with no borders. Easy access Priyanshu Raikar, a security researcher who has been tracking AI-generated abuse, believes that the tools for carrying out such crimes have become more accessible. Some widely available open-source image models that come with safeguards can be easily bypassed, he says. Girithar Ram Ravindran, a cybersecurity specialist, seconds the opinion. Most of these suspects do not have a strong technical background. If access becomes difficult, they will give up, he says. Comparing the models available, Priyanshu is shocked by the manner in which Chinese models manipulate images. The shadows, skin texture, background details, everything is convincing. The people in the images dont even exist in real life, he states. While the technology is getting better, the infrastructure for abuse online is already laid out. You have click farms, fake followers and bots run from China. With one click, they can send you 1,000 likes; with one phone, they can manage 10,000 profiles. Now imagine this infrastructure combined with powerful AI models, he explains. On Reddit, Priyanshu even found numerous forums dedicated to AI-generated explicit content, including deepfakes of celebrities being sold commercially. Some people in India are already producing non-consensual content and selling it, he says. The crisis has gone to an extent where high-profile celebrities like actor Rashmika Mandanna and dancer Anita Ratnam had to move court to protect their digital identity. Battles beyond deepfakes AI-generated images represent only one facet of a broader crisis of image-based abuse. Swetha Shankar, executive director of programmes at the International Foundation for Crime Prevention & Victim Care (PCVC), works with survivors of various forms of digital violence and sees patterns that extend far beyond deepfakes. A lot of abuse happens when intimate pictures shared during a relationship are used against the person after a breakup, Swetha says. PCVC works with the cyber cell and uses a resource called Stop NCII (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image sharing), a website that partners with large platforms like Meta and even Pornhub. When someone uploads an image there, the site creates a digital ID for it. If anyone tries to upload the same image anywhere else, it automatically gets flagged. We help survivors create this digital ID so they can track and prevent their images from being re-uploaded. The fear extends beyond the immediate violation. A lot of survivors are terrified that their parents or husbands will come to know. For married women whose ex-boyfriends are threatening them, there is fear that their marriages will end. Younger women who have moved away for work, are petrified that the police will involve their parents. They worry that if families find out, their mobility and freedom will be cut off, they may be taken back home, forced to marry, and even have their phones taken away, she says, adding They constantly check messages because theyre scared something might be leaked. It affects them very deeply. Police responses can compound the problem. Even when a woman is above 18, the police say things like, Call your parents, Are you married? This makes women even more worried that approaching the police will lead to further control, she adds. For minors, the situation is even more complex. Its hard for them to say theyre in an abusive relationship when being in a relationship itself is a taboo, Swetha says. The pattern of abuse is also consistent. In many of the cases we work with, intimate images are used to blackmail individuals. There is a lot of assault, and the person feels helpless because they are scared the images will be leaked. It gets held over them repeatedly, Swetha adds. Never-ending trauma Priyanshu shares the story of a minor girl whose Instagram account was hijacked by a gang. They demanded `50,000, and when she couldnt pay, the man forced her to send a nude video. Once she sent it, he leaked it anyway, then asked for more money, he says, adding that the case exposes the relationship between financial blackmail and sexual exploitation. For content creators and entrepreneurs, the threat creates a chilling effect. Many are afraid to maintain the online presence their livelihoods require. Once the content spreads, tracking it becomes nearly impossible. Girithar describes how metadata, the digital fingerprints attached to photos, gets erased when images are shared. When sent through WhatsApp or shared multiple times, metadata gets stripped away. Once it spreads through thousands of groups, connecting the dots becomes very hard, he says. Priyanshu adds that investigators rely on open-source intelligence tools to track where the content first appeared, but many platforms lack robust traceability. People download leaked or generated videos from one platform, then re-upload them across many others. For each view and engagement, they get paid. Thats their business model. For women like Rajathi, the intensity of the crisis has a huge impact. Girithar warns, Keep accounts private unless necessary. But even from a private account, photos give enough data for criminals to create fake images or videos. Priyanshu is more practical about the reality: Once you post anything online, you lose control over it. Its your image, but if someone downloads and shares it, you cant really do much. The courage to fight The Facebook profile that violated Rajathi's privacy remains active, with its last post dated November, and is still accessible despite her repeated complaints and the accused's arrest. Meta's own Oversight Board has noted that the platform often fails to remove AI-generated explicit images unless cases receive significant media attention, leaving ordinary victims to hunt down and report every instance themselves. Having gone through the ordeal, Rajathi says women should not suffer in silence, and points out how screenshots, URLs, and other evidence of such abuse could help their case. She also sought faster police action. Response time shouldnt be too late. Women need supportive and swift systems so that they dont lose courage halfway, she says. Priyanshu suggests large-scale awareness campaigns. Every household seems to have at least one creator or influencer now. We need the media, lawmakers and police to join together for nationwide education, in schools, colleges, and communities. While Sylendra Babu believes social media poses a threat to privacy, and that laws alone cannot help prevent these crimes, Swetha notes that gender-based violence has always adapted to whatever tools are available. Long before AI, controlling devices was already a part of domestic violence, monitoring phones, knowing passwords, controlling mobility, and isolating women. Technology is just another tool. The deeper issue is how we view women and how we normalise abuse. We often elevate the idea of family over the safety and well-being of women. The legal labyrinth Current laws provide some recourse but lack teeth, specifically for AI-generated abuse. Sylendra Babu suggested that a separate clause for AI-enabled offences can be added to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita due to the gaps in the existing laws. Priyanshu demands that authorities constitute a specific, standalone offence. From here, it will only get worse if we dont, he says. The IT Act 2000 contains relevant sections, particularly Section 67 with subsections for sexually explicit content and child protection, with potential punishments of 5-7 years. But Girithar notes these provisions were written before AI: These open-source models must have stricter guardrails or should be banned. Updated IT rules from 2021-22 require large platforms to appoint officers responsible for handling takedown requests under the Indian law. Priyanshu says success stories remain exceptions, as most survivors have a difficult and uncertain path to justice. If you or someone you know is affected by deepfake abuse, file a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930. Tamil Nadu has cybercrime police stations in all 38 districts. (The author is a Laadli Media Fellow. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author. Laadli and UNFPA do not necessarily endorse the views.)
During her time as secretary for the past four years, Ms. Sahu has positioned Tamil Nadu as a global leader in climate mitigation, adaptation and heat resilience
Study looks at migrant-linked leprosy transmission in Chennai
The authors conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary programme data from 15 administrative zones of Chennai district
Chennai airport faces minor dip in revenue after IndiGo fiasco
A total of 629 flights of IndiGo were cancelled between December 1 and 9 at the Chennai airport and a total of 1,317 flights were delayed, according to the data released by AAI
Traffic diversions at Madhya Kailash junction from Friday
Work to install lamp posts and to lay power lines has already begun near the VHS hospital, said a source in the Highways Department
Childrens home shut after director is arrested for sexual abuse on girl child
Citys reservoirs near full as inflow continues; WRD maintains marginal release
Reservoirs in Poondi and Red Hills reached capacitywhile the one in Chembarambakkam may reach capacity by Thursday; it would ensure normal drinking water supply to city for another year
TN Govt Reorganises Panchayat Unions in 7 Districts
India beat Argentina by 4-2 to win bronze in FIH Mens Junior WC
CHENNAI, Dec 10: India produced a brave-heart performance, nullifying a two-goal deficit to beat Argentina 4-2 and clinch the bronze medal in the FIH Mens Junior World Cup here on Wednesday. India, who won the title in 2016 in Lucknow, failed to finish on the podium on the last two occasions, ending fourth in 2021 in Bhubaneswar, and two years later in Kuala Lumpur. India produced a valiant fightback with Ankit Pal (49th minute), Manmeet Singh (52nd) and Anmol Ekka [] The post India beat Argentina by 4-2 to win bronze in FIH Mens Junior WC appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
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