CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is transitioning from service delivery to product creation and the goal is to see that world-class innovations get their start in the State, said Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, while speaking at a discussion on supply chain diversification along with renowned economist and former RBI Governor Dr. Raghuram Rajan during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos. Rajaa highlighted the state's agenda to start designing and developing products in Tamil Nadu inste

CHENNAI: The Enforcement Directorate on January 23 said that their investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has revealed that the Tamil Nadu Fisheries minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan and his family members have generated Rs 17.74 crore of proceeds of crime. The agencys Chennai zonal office said they have provisionally attached immovable properties belonging to him, valued at Rs 1.26 crore, in Thoothukudi, Madurai and Chennai under PMLA. The EDs investigation is based on

CHENNAI: A day after a group of farmers from Madurai district met Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday in the presence of BJP leaders from Tamil Nadu, the Union government on Thursday announced its decision to annul the auction of the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten mineral block in Melur, Madurai. In a release, the government stated that the decision was taken after detailed deliberations, considering the importance of the biodiversity heritage site in the area and the Government

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has expressed dismay and shock over the long delay in completing investigations into criminal cases registered against history-sheeters, stating that such unexplained delay would embolden them to continue perpetrating offences. Finding lapses on the part of the investigating officers, a division bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman emphasised the need for action on a war footing to take the cases to their logical conclusions. If the police authoriti

CHENNAI: Declaring that the Iron Age began in the Tamil lands, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that this conclusion was based on the results from the world-renowned institutions. The use of iron in Tamil Nadu dates back to the beginning of the 4th millennium BCE. The iron usage was prominent in South India over 5,300 years ago, the CM said in the presence of archaeologists, at a function held here. The history of the Indian subcontinent can no longer overlook Tamil Nadu. In fact, it mu

CHENNAI: Representatives of villages in Melur block in Madurai district led by BJP state president K Annamalai called on union minister for Coal and Mines G Kishen Reddy on Wednesday and demanded that the tungsten mining proposal should be given up. After the meeting, Annamalai told reporters the union minister had given his word to the representatives in person but an official announcement about the tungsten mining would be made on Thursday. He said the representatives from the villages thanked

THOOTHUKUDI: Even as the arguments into the 10-year-long suo motu PIL on illegal beach sand mining case have come to an end, an analysis of the affidavits and counters filed by the secretaries of various departments of both state and central governments reveals that the government authorities, who had urged the court to dismiss the case with exemplary cost, later admitted to the violations after the Satyabrata Sahoo committees and the amicus curiaes comprehensive reports established unlawful min

CHENNAI: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday condemned the DMK government for failing to disburse wages for the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the past two months. In a statement, Palaniswami said the DMK had promised to increase the working days under this scheme from 100 days to 150 days and hike the wages up to Rs 300. However, these promises have not been fulfilled, he said. In his response, Finance Minister Thangam Th

COIMBATORE: In a viral video of an elephant calf with an empty beer bottle discarded at Masinagudi in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) has sparked a debate regarding the effectiveness of Tasmacs bottle buy-back scheme, besides concerns about the harmful bottles discarded in forest areas will cause to the environment and wildlife. N Sadiq Ali, founder of Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust (WNCT), said We regularly see people consuming liquor sitting inside a vehicle and throwing the bottles on t

ERODE: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai on Wednesday said the party will demand more seats from the DMK during the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing media persons in Erode. Selvaperunthagai said Our national leadership decided to concede the Erode East seat to the DMK keeping in mind the interests and future of INDIA bloc. In lieu, we will ask the DMK for additional seats in 2026 Assembly election. He sounded confident that the DMK would secure a huge victory i

CHENNAI: In light of the ghost faculty scam that rocked the reputation of Anna University (AU) a few months ago, the premier institution has now issued strict guidelines to its affiliated colleges regarding the submission of faculty details. In a circular, the AU registrar has warned all 433 affiliated colleges that if correct details are not provided within the stipulated time, the colleges affiliation will be withdrawn. The colleges have been directed to submit all details regarding the facult

CHENNAI: Acquitting 11 caste Hindus and one Muslim man accused of killing a Dalit in 2013, the Kancheepuram sessions court criticised the investigating police officials for their lethargic and casual probe which led to the case crumbling. The judge recommended departmental action against the officers involved. In the January 9 judgment, the court questioned why the cops failed to use the services of the forensic department, given that there was no eyewitness for the crime. The prosecutions case

COIMBATORE: Parking on footpath along DB Road and TV Samy Road in RS Puram has forced pedestrians to the road exposing them to danger. The lack of action by police against parking on pedestrian pathways along DB Road and TV Samy Road in RS Puram has sparked outrage among people as these roads are developed to be pedestrian-friendly under the Coimbatore Smart City Projects . The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) developed and widened the pedestrian pathways to ensure safe and uninterru

DINDIGUL: The Kodaikanal municipality removed over six tonnes of liquor bottles from Kodaikanal lake over the past two months. A top official said the removal is being carried out by a team of 50 persons, and they will continue to remove bottles manually over the next three months. The artificial lake, with a depth of three metres, was created in 1863 and is a prime tourist attraction. Speaking to TNIE , Meenakshi Sundaram, a farmer, said, The lake is spread across 76 acres and is surrounded by

CHENNAI: In the midst of an alarmingly high number of Olive Ridley turtles beaching in and around Chennai this nesting season, four trawl boats were spotted 2-3km off the shore at Thiruvanmiyur beach at 3.30 pm on Wednesday. Trawlers were also spotted off the shores of Neelankarai and Kalpakkam. The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has taken suo motu cognisance of the issue based on a TNIE report, warned that it will order a complete ban on trawling during nesting seaso

THANJAVUR/TIRUCHY: A four-member team of officials deputed by the union governments food and public distribution department to assess the moisture content of paddy affected by the unseasonal rainfall in delta districts began its four-day tour by visiting the farmlands in Thanjavur on Wednesday. The team also collected samples of paddy brought by farmers to Direct Procurement Centres (DPC) for testing their moisture content in a laboratory. According to sources, over 3.40 lakh hectares of paddy c

CHENNAI: At 3.30 pm on Wednesday, four trawl boats were spotted fishing parallel to Thiruvanmiyur beach. The vessels were clearly visible to the naked eye, indicating that they were operating within 2-3 km from the shore. Around noon, trawlers were spotted off Neelankarai beach within a similar distance. This comes at a time when Olive Ridley turtles are dying en masse along the Chennai coast. The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has taken suo motu cognizance of the iss

SIVAGANGA: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday hit out at Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami for his criticism of the state's fiscal situation, and said it was the latter's AIADMK that made Tamil Nadu a revenue-deficit state a decade ago. Despite various difficulties, the ruling DMK was taking the state on the path of development, while implementing various welfare initiatives, the CM said at an official event here. Stalin's sharp response to Palaniswami came a day after t

MADURAI: Officials from the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) inspected the MKU College campus in Tallakulam on Tuesday as per directions of E Sundaravalli, Commissioner of Collegiate Education and Chairperson of MKU Convener Committee. The inspection was necessitated following a slew of complaints from the institute's students. MKU College was established in 1994. It is neither considered a constituent college nor a government-aided college. The financial requirements of the college are fully me

PUDUCHERRY: Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan inaugurated the five-day Southern India Science Fair (SISF) 2025 at the Old Port Grounds in Puducherry on Tuesday. Addressing the participants, Education Minister A Namassivayam said the Puducherry government is prepared to fund outstanding projects under the startup scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event features 210 models and inventions, including 15 individual projects, 10 group projects, and 10 teacher entries each from Pud

TENKASI: The Shengottai police secured a Kerala-based truck driver in Aryankavu of Kollam district, who allegedly hit a two-wheeler, leading to the death of a Tenkasi man near Shengottai, on Monday. The accident occurred on January 18 on the Thirumangalam-Kollam national highway. The victim, Ramar, was riding his two-wheeler when he was hit by the Kerala-based truck, killing him on the spot. Based on instructions from Superintendent of Police S Aravind and his deputy Tamil Iniyan, Shengottai Pol

MADURAI: Seeking the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the allegations of sexual assault against minors at Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, advocate S Vanchinathan moved the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. He referred to a news report published on October 18, 2024 in an English daily in this regard. According to the news report, a woman, while addressing media persons in a press conference in Hyderabad, had alleged that her minor son was sexually assaulted in th

TENKASI: A Sub-Inspector (SI) attached to VK Pudur police station has been placed under suspension here on Tuesday, for allegedly trespassing into a woman's house in Veeranam village, sparking outrage among the residents. The official, identified as Sathishkumar, allegedly entered the woman's house on Saturday. Villagers who noticed this gathered around the house to catch him. In a bid to escape, Sathishkumar called constable Karthik for help. Karthik arrived on a two-wheeler and waited behind t

VELLORE: Two women -- a doctor and a graduate -- from Vellore were defrauded of a total of `16.59 lakh over a fake part-time job offer that promised high commission for completing online tasks. Vellore Cyber Crime Police, who registered a case in this regard, advised people to be wary of advertisements on instant messenger platforms and social media that promise high returns. According to official sources, the women received messages on Telegram application last week. Believing the claims, the d

VELLORE: Demanding higher monthly allowance for beneficiaries, 75 persons with disabilities (PwDs) and their caregivers of Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently-Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC) staged a fill the jail protest outside Vellore head post office around 10 am on Tuesday. The PwDs said the revenue department provides Rs 1,500 monthly for persons with 40%-75% disability and the differently abled welfare department provides Rs 2,000 monthly for persons with mor

CHENNAI: The Special Task Branch (STB) of the CBI, Chennai, on January 21, registered three FIRs to investigate the hooch tragedy in Kallakurichi district, Tamil Nadu, in June last year, where at least 68 people died after consuming illicit liquor. The CBI re-registered the FIRs of Tamil Nadus CB-CID based on the Supreme Court's directions on December 17, 2024, which upheld the orders of the Madras High Court on November 20, transferring the investigation to the CBI. The key accused were identif

CHENNAI: A 42-year-old man who immolated himself outside the RK Nagar police station on Monday succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Tuesday evening. The man had tried to lodge a complaint allegedly in an inebriated state, but the police reportedly asked him to come back with a written complaint when he is sober. He was admitted to the Government Kilpauk College Hospital for treatment with 90% burns, the police said. According to the police, G Rajan of Pulianthope was working in a steel w

CHENNAI: With Olive Ridley deaths hitting record numbers this year, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday with top officials of various departments, including forest, fisheries, Indian Coast Guard, marine enforcement police and the coastal security group, to discuss steps to be taken to protect the critically-endangered species. According to sources, a decision was taken to prepare an action plan jointly by the departments of fisheries and environment, climate ch

CHENNAI/COIMBATORE: Joining issue with Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu over the fiscal position and debt burden of the state government, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said the DMK which came to power with the promise of improving the fiscal management has failed in all economic indicators besides increasing the debt burden as well as revenue deficit. Referring to the statement of Thennarasu that he (Palaniswami) lacked proper understanding about fiscal management

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government through the Tirunelveli district collector has ordered beach sand mining firm VV Minerals to pay Rs 2,195 crore towards royalties and cost of minerals for the natural resources allegedly unlawfully mined and transported between 2002-03 and 2013-14 in the district. Demand orders have been sent to six firms in Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari district for a total value of Rs 3,528.36 crore, sources said. The 45-page demand order dated December 16, 2024, sent to VV M

VILLUPURAM: NTK chief coordinator Seeman attended a conference organised by the Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement on Tuesday to demand that the state government decriminalise the tapping of toddy, withdraw criminal cases registered against such tappers and announce it as a medicinal and healthy drink. Over a thousand people from across the state took part in the event titled Toddy Freedom Conference at Purikudisai village near Villupuram, led by the movements president Periyasamy, and coordinator S Nall

SIVAGANGA: The complete administration of a university, including the appointment of chancellor, should be in the hands of the state government which provides the necessary infrastructure and pays salary to all university employees, Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Tuesday. The Tamil Nadu government provides the necessary infrastructure for state universities. Should the chancellors post be reserved to someone appointed by the union government? That is our question, Stalin said, after inaugurati

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court was informed that 15 personnel of the prisons department were sacked over the past four years on charges of aiding prisoners and visitors in smuggling contraband such as ganja, tobacco, and mobile phones into prisons. The submission was made in a status report filed by the Director General of Prisons before a division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and M Jothiraman on Tuesday. The bench was hearing petitions filed by the relatives of three prisoners, inc

CHENNAI: Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday said that parents from other states particularly from the northeastern states feel Tamil Nadu is a safe place for their children especially their daughters to pursue higher studies. The governor said this while addressing representatives from various states at a function at the Raj Bhavan. People have come from other states to Tamil Nadu and have made this state their home because people are hospitable and nice. The language and culture are rich. Especially,

CHENNAI: Even after eight years since the Tatkal ticket booking scandal using illegal software on the IRCTC portal came to light in New Delhi, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and other parts of the country, the railways is unable to fully address the portals vulnerabilities, allowing touts and agents to continue using illegal software to book tickets, particularly on high-demand routes. The regular arrest of touts and seizure of tickets by the RPF have failed to deter the malpractice. On November 11 last yea

CHENNAI: BJP state president K Annamalai said the people of Arittapatti and its surrounding villages will hear good news about tungsten mining by Wednesday afternoon. Talking to reporters at the Chennai airport on Tuesday, Annamalai said the leaders of Arittapatti and surrounding places are set to meet union minister for coal and mines, G Kishan Reddy, on Wednesday in New Delhi. The central government, after learning that there are problems in implementing tungsten mining in that area, made effo

CHENNAI: It is no small feat for a government school to stand the test of time, providing education to the community for over 100 years. To honour such schools that have served generations, their alumni, with support of the school education department, will hold celebrations in 2,211 government schools from January 22 to February 2. School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi will inaugurate the first event at Panchayat Middle School in Thirukkuvalai, alma mater of former Chief Minister an

CHENNAI: School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi launched the City of Hope: Gandhi, King, and the 1968 Poor Peoples Campaign at the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai on Monday. The third Monday of January is annually observed as Martin Luther King Jr Day worldwide. The exhibition showcases Mahatma Gandhis influence on the civil rights movement in the United States and Indias influence on Martin Luther King Jrs vision for economic justice and human rights worldwide. The U.S. Consulate G

THANJAVUR: The Pattukkottai all-women police on Monday arrested two youths for allegedly gang-raping a 16-year-old girl. According to sources, the girl from a village coming under Adirampattinam police limits and pursuing Class 11 used to visit her classmate in another village. During her visits, K Aravind (20) of that village befriended her. On Sunday Aravind asked her to meet him at a casuarina grove near Adirampattinam. When the girl went there, she found Aravind with his friend S Saran (20).

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin has promised to name a street in Mylapore after actor S Ve Shekhers father SV Venkataraman. Speaking at an event organised to celebrate the 7,000th staging of plays by Shekhers theatre group Natakapriya on Monday, Stalin made the announcement in response to a request made by the actor during the same event. The Chief Minister said a proposal in this regard would be adopted as a resolution during the Greater Chennai Corporations council meeting soon. He praised S

CHENNAI: Solar power developers in Tamil Nadu have urged the union government to allow import of cost-effective solar panels from China and other countries, at least until such time when there is a competitive domestic market for them. The Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) now mandates procuring panels from Indian manufacturers from an Approved List of Modules and Manufacturers (ALMM) to be used for all projects including rooftop and grid-connected solar projects. The mandate

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is planning to launch the Fintech Tower project set to come up on a 2.29-acre plot in Fintech City at a cost of Rs 234 crore in the next few months, according to Industry Minister Dr T R B Rajaa. Dr Rajaa, who inspected the project works, posted on X that it is on schedule. With 60% of the work complete, this landmark project is on track to become a key driver in positioning Tamil Nadu as the FinTech Capital of India, the minister said. The Fintech Tower is e

CHENNAI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has admitted five athletes with national accomplishments under its Sports Excellence Admission (SEA) category for the academic year 2024-25, according to an official statement. In February 2024, IIT Madras became the first IIT in the country to introduce admissions for athletes under the SEA category in its undergraduate programmes. This initiative is offered through two supernumerary seats in each of its undergraduate programmes for India

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has stressed the need for framing appropriate rules for handling foreigners lodged in the prisons of the state in order to protect their rights and suo motu impleaded the secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a case filed by a Nigerian national imprisoned at the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai. A division bench of justices S M Subramaniam and M Jothiraman on Monday said rules have already been framed and implemented for governing Indian nationals in p

DHARMAPURI: Two men were arrested and remanded on Monday for allegedly making explosives (naattu vedi) to hunt wild animals that have been destroying their crops near Poomandahalli which led to the death of a six-year-old girl on Sunday. The accused were identified as Dharman (52) and his son-in-law Krishnan (38). On Sunday a six-year-old girl A Kavinila who had come to her maternal grandmothers home in Poomadahalli village to celebrate Pongal stumbled upon illegal explosives stored on the terra

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Speaker M Appavu on Monday walked out of a meeting at the two-day 85th All India Presiding Officers Conference in Patna after Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh objected to certain remarks Appavu was making about the Tamil Nadu governor in his speech. Singh said Appavus remarks would not be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. A release from Tamil Nadu government said the speaker was delivering a speech on the topic 75th anniversary of Constitution:

THOOTHUKUDI: Three workers of a private thermal power plant sustained burns during a fire accident at a coal crushing unit on Monday. Police sources said the injured were identified as S Arumugakani (32) of Eppodumvendran, S Sankarasubbu (41) of Karungulam, and S Anburaj (36) of Vallinayagapuram. They have been admitted to a private hospital for treatment and are in stable condition. Sources said the fire broke out in the unit of a private thermal power plant at Mel Maruthur near Tharuvaikulam o

CHENNAI: Amid criticism from several quarters on the alleged lack of scientific backing for the statements made by IIT Madras director V Kamakoti at a recent event regarding gomutras (cow urine) medicinal values, Kamakoti told reporters on Monday that there was scientific evidence to support his claims. The controversy is whether there is scientific backing to what I said. I have with me five research papers, including those published in top US journals, one published in Nature, and a patent (by

CHENNAI: In the wake of unseasonal rains that caused damage to paddy crops in delta districts, the state has appealed to the centre to relax the permissible moisture content for paddy procurement from 17% to 22%, based on requests from farmers. Food Minister R Sakkarapani said a formal request has been sent to the centre. According to a statement, paddy procurement for 2022-23 kharif marketing season has been going on since September 1, 2024. From September to January 17, 2025, a total of 1,349

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday quashed a portion of the Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission report, which recommended a probe against former health minister C Vijayabaskar in connection with the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The court also quashed the consequent G.O. passed by the state to act against Vijayabaskar and a few others based on the report. Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on a petition filed by Vijayabaskar in 2023, seeking to q