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Report flags crore-level bribe transfers via Sabarimala workers’ banks
Crime

Report flags crore-level bribe transfers via Sabarimala workers’ banks

A report submitted to the Kerala High Court has alleged that priests and daily-wage workers at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple transferred money worth crores—said to be earned through bribes and irregularities—through their bank accounts during the 2025–26 Mandala–Makaravilakku season. The report notes that Sabarimala, in Pathanamthitta district, has branches of Dhanalakshmi Bank and State Bank of India, where temple staff maintain accounts. Following a gold theft incident at the temple, multiple alleged irregularities at Sabarimala have been taken up for scrutiny.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on Digital Data Protection Act
Politics

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on Digital Data Protection Act

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Union government in a batch of petitions challenging the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, with petitioners alleging that the law could undermine citizens’ privacy. The petitions, filed by journalist Geeta Seshu and others including social activists and public interest groups, came up before a bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the law dilutes the fundamental right to privacy and also weakens the effectiveness of the Right to Information framework.

Iran allows Indian oil ships through Strait of Hormuz after talks
Politics

Iran allows Indian oil ships through Strait of Hormuz after talks

Iran has permitted Indian oil and LNG tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route for Gulf energy supplies, after diplomatic engagement by the Indian government. The development came after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held immediate talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi amid fears of fuel shortages triggered by disruptions in West Asia. According to the report, the region has been under heightened conflict for a second week, with the Strait of Hormuz previously closed, stalling oil tanker movement and reducing crude supplies to several countries. The resulting strain has led to shortages of petroleum products, including cooking gas, petrol and diesel, with signs of disruption also reported in India.

UN Security Council condemns Iran attacks on Gulf states, passes resolution
Politics

UN Security Council condemns Iran attacks on Gulf states, passes resolution

Resolution adopted at the UN The UN Security Council has passed a special resolution condemning Iran’s ongoing attacks on Gulf countries and calling for an immediate halt. The move was taken at the UN headquarters in New York. Attacks reported across Gulf region According to the report, Iran has been carrying out strikes in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, describing them as retaliation against the US and Israel. In Dubai, banks and economic zones were cited as key targets.

Vijay questions women’s safety in Tamil Nadu, targets Stalin govt
Politics

Vijay questions women’s safety in Tamil Nadu, targets Stalin govt

TVK leader and actor Vijay has questioned the state of safety for women and girl children in Tamil Nadu, accusing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of focusing on protecting his political alliance rather than public security. In a statement, Vijay referred to the reported rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district, saying the incident had shocked the public and triggered protests by the victim’s family and local residents.

Gold price drops Rs 1,200 per sovereign in Chennai
Business

Gold price drops Rs 1,200 per sovereign in Chennai

Chennai saw a sharp fall in gold rates on Wednesday (March 12), with 22-carat jewellery gold dropping by Rs 1,200 per sovereign to Rs 1,19,760. The per-gram price declined by Rs 150 to Rs 14,970. The price movement comes amid fluctuations linked to international trends. In Tamil Nadu, on March 9, gold was sold at Rs 14,950 per gram and Rs 1,19,600 per sovereign, while silver was priced at Rs 290 per gram.

Indian sailor killed as suicide boat hits US-owned tanker off Iraq
General

Indian sailor killed as suicide boat hits US-owned tanker off Iraq

A US-owned crude oil tanker was attacked near Iraq’s Khor Al Zubair port, resulting in the death of an Indian national serving as a crew member, according to reports. The tanker, identified as Sabasya Vishnu, was targeted by an Iranian suicide boat. Authorities said 27 other people were rescued safely after the incident. Following the attack, calls have been raised for firm steps to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers working in the region.

Iran allows Indian ships through Strait of Hormuz amid war tensions
Politics

Iran allows Indian ships through Strait of Hormuz amid war tensions

Iran has permitted Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even as tensions rise due to the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. Sources said the clearance followed sustained engagement by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with his Iranian counterpart. The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime route through which around 20% of global crude oil trade moves. Iran had earlier restricted movement through the strait as pressure mounted in the conflict, leaving several countries’ vessels, including Indian ships, held up in the Gulf region and triggering concerns over oil and gas availability.

Stalin vows to spread development across all Tamil Nadu districts
Politics

Stalin vows to spread development across all Tamil Nadu districts

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday said his government is committed to spreading development across the state and ensuring progress for people from all sections. In a statement, he said the state has created two TIDEL Parks and 16 Neo TIDEL Parks under the “Dravidian model”. He credited former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s vision for establishing TIDEL Parks to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position in the IT sector. Stalin also drew a contrast with the previous AIADMK government, stating that during its final phase in 2016–2021, only one TIDEL Park was laid with a foundation stone.

Rajendra Arlekar sworn in as Tamil Nadu acting Governor; CM Stalin attends
Politics

Rajendra Arlekar sworn in as Tamil Nadu acting Governor; CM Stalin attends

Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was sworn in on Wednesday as the acting Governor of Tamil Nadu at Raj Bhavan in Chennai. The oath of office was administered by Madras High Court Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari. Arlekar, who is serving as the Governor of Kerala, was given additional charge of Tamil Nadu following the transfer of former Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi to West Bengal. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Chief Secretary Muruganandam and other officials were present at the ceremony. Stalin welcomed Arlekar with a bouquet.

Petrol bunk association says TN, Puducherry have 21-day fuel stock
Business

Petrol bunk association says TN, Puducherry have 21-day fuel stock

The Petrol Bunk Owners’ Association has said there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and that stocks are sufficient for about 21 days. State president Murali appealed to the public not to panic. He said diesel should be bought in cans only for essential needs such as generators and emergencies. Hoarding fuel out of fear, he warned, could create an artificial shortage and unnecessary queues.

No need to fear fuel shortage, says CM Stalin
Politics

No need to fear fuel shortage, says CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday said the public need not fear a fuel shortage, as the Union government has indicated that sufficient fuel stocks are available. In a statement, Stalin said the ongoing war-like situation in West Asia has created pressures that require close monitoring. He noted that he held a high-level review meeting two days ago to assess preparedness. Stalin said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concerned Union ministers regarding the supply of LPG cylinders and the distribution of petrol and diesel. He also said a meeting to discuss steps to handle any LPG shortage was held on Tuesday under Food and Civil Supplies Minister R. Sakkarapani.

India-bound crude tanker reaches Mumbai via Strait of Hormuz
Business

India-bound crude tanker reaches Mumbai via Strait of Hormuz

A Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker carrying 135,335 metric tonnes of oil reached Mumbai via the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. It is described as the first India-bound vessel to take the route after attacks on Iran began. The report said Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by Israeli and US forces, triggering a rise in global crude prices and raising concerns of fuel shortages in several countries.

Jaishankar held three talks with Iran, says External Affairs Ministry
Politics

Jaishankar held three talks with Iran, says External Affairs Ministry

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has held three telephone conversations with Iran’s foreign minister in recent days. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in Delhi that the latest discussion focused on the security of ships and issues linked to India’s energy requirements. He added that he could not share further details. The spokesperson said Indian authorities are assisting students seeking to return to India via Armenia and Azerbaijan. Indian missions in Gulf countries are also in touch with Indian nationals living there.

Madras High Court stays Ramadoss suit against Anbumani
Politics

Madras High Court stays Ramadoss suit against Anbumani

The Madras High Court has granted an interim stay on the proceedings of a civil suit filed by PMK founder S. Ramadoss against PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss. Ramadoss had moved the Chennai civil court seeking to restrain Anbumani from using the PMK party symbol and flag. In response, Anbumani’s side filed a petition requesting the court to dismiss Ramadoss’ plea. When the matter came up earlier, Ramadoss argued that the party’s recognition was cancelled due to Anbumani’s poor functioning and claimed that Anbumani was not even a party member now. The civil court had directed both sides to present their arguments and adjourned the hearing to March 13.

Tamil Nadu: List of sexual assault incidents reported over the last 5 years
Crime

Tamil Nadu: List of sexual assault incidents reported over the last 5 years

Reports indicate that sexual assault incidents are being reported with worrying regularity across Tamil Nadu, with cases emerging from multiple districts. The source article says such incidents have become a recurring concern and compiles a list of cases from the last five years. Among the incidents mentioned is a case involving a minor from Madurai who was allegedly abducted to Hosur and sexually assaulted. The article presents the list as a snapshot of the scale of the problem over the period, noting that cases have been reported across districts.

When Karunanidhi Spoke to Media, an Aide Got Cornered
Politics

When Karunanidhi Spoke to Media, an Aide Got Cornered

Media and politicians depend on each other, especially in the era of round-the-clock news. The writer notes that many North Indian leaders are generally accessible to journalists, unlike several in Tamil Nadu who are harder to reach. As an example, the late Congress veteran and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Arjun Singh is described as unusually open with reporters. He would switch on his tape recorder before meetings, leaving little room for “off the record” conversations, and reportedly archived recordings by date at his home.

HC seeks reply in 2 weeks on road-digging rules for stormwater works
General

HC seeks reply in 2 weeks on road-digging rules for stormwater works

The Madras High Court has directed the Greater Chennai Corporation and other agencies to file their responses within two weeks on a petition seeking clear guidelines for digging roads for stormwater drain and related works. The public interest litigation was filed by Muralidharan, a resident of Kottur in Chennai, stating that stormwater drain construction has been underway in the area for about one-and-a-half months and has caused significant hardship to the public.

Om Birla says Lok Sabha actions are impartial after no-confidence vote
Politics

Om Birla says Lok Sabha actions are impartial after no-confidence vote

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday resumed his duties and said his actions in the House are impartial, a day after the opposition’s no-confidence motion was defeated. Birla said some members believe they are above the Lok Sabha and can speak on any matter, but stressed that no MP has any special privilege of that kind. He underlined that the House functions strictly under its rules and procedures.

Rahul Gandhi questions need for foreign nod to buy Russian crude
Politics

Rahul Gandhi questions need for foreign nod to buy Russian crude

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday questioned why India should allow another country’s leadership to influence its decisions on buying crude oil from Russia and managing ties with oil-supplying nations. Speaking during a discussion on the attack on Iran, Rahul said a war-like situation has emerged in West Asia, with the US, Israel and Iran in confrontation. He cautioned that the conflict could have serious consequences. He pointed to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global crude oil movement takes place. Rahul said India receives significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas through this route and would be heavily affected.

Tamil Nadu tells Supreme Court it can’t allow Navodaya schools
Education

Tamil Nadu tells Supreme Court it can’t allow Navodaya schools

Tamil Nadu has opposed the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in the state, telling the Supreme Court that the schools’ language framework conflicts with the state’s two-language policy. The submission came during the hearing of a petition seeking directions to the state government to set up a JNV in every district. The matter was heard by a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan. In its affidavit, the state said JNVs are governed by a three-language policy that includes Hindi, English and the state language. Since this is contrary to Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy, the state said it cannot permit such schools.

Centre says cooking gas supply stable; no shortage despite West Asia war
Business

Centre says cooking gas supply stable; no shortage despite West Asia war

A special inter-ministerial group set up by the Union government to monitor the West Asia conflict has urged citizens not to panic over cooking gas cylinder supply. Officials said LPG and petroleum products are continuing to reach India without disruption. The panel said supplies are coming through multiple shipping routes and not solely via the Strait of Hormuz. It added that crude oil inflows are currently higher than usual, with a larger share being routed through alternative corridors after the escalation in the region.

SC bars authors of CBSE Class 8 ‘Judicial Corruption’ lesson from future work
Education

SC bars authors of CBSE Class 8 ‘Judicial Corruption’ lesson from future work

The Supreme Court has directed that three professors who prepared a controversial lesson titled “Judicial Corruption” for the CBSE Class 8 social science textbook should not be engaged in future syllabus or textbook preparation. The disputed chapter was introduced by NCERT in the CBSE Class 8 social science book and triggered widespread controversy. A bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant, along with Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and Vipul Bansoli, has taken up the matter on its own and is hearing it.

Amit Shah targets Rahul Gandhi over low attendance, foreign trips in Lok Sabha
Politics

Amit Shah targets Rahul Gandhi over low attendance, foreign trips in Lok Sabha

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, citing what he said was low attendance and frequent foreign travel during parliamentary sessions. Speaking at the conclusion of the debate on a no-confidence motion moved against Speaker Om Birla, Shah said the Speaker’s primary duty is to uphold rules and that his decisions in the House are final. He described the Speaker’s integrity as beyond doubt and said questioning it was inappropriate.

RSS functionary arrested in Thanjavur over video of stopping evangelists
Crime

RSS functionary arrested in Thanjavur over video of stopping evangelists

Thanjavur police have arrested Adithyan (30), an RSS functionary said to be the organisation’s public relations representative from Thirunaraiyur, after an incident near Thiruvidaimarudur. According to police, on March 10 a nine-member group went door-to-door in Valluar Street, Thirunaraiyur, distributing books and preaching Christianity, and inviting residents to attend church. Some locals objected to the activity. Police said Adithyan intervened, stopped the group, questioned them repeatedly and recorded the interaction on video. The clip later spread on social media.

Puducherry Raj Bhavan breach: Guard says he mistook intruder for kin
Crime

Puducherry Raj Bhavan breach: Guard says he mistook intruder for kin

A major security lapse has been reported at the Puducherry Raj Bhavan after a student allegedly climbed in through a gate and ended up sleeping inside the Governor’s son’s room. According to police, the incident occurred on March 9 around 10.45 pm, when Jharkhand student Hardik Shah entered the premises by climbing over the second grill gate on Kurusukuppam Road. The ease with which he accessed a high-security zone has triggered shock and concern.

Commercial LPG shortage pushes hotels in Madurai back to wood stoves
Business

Commercial LPG shortage pushes hotels in Madurai back to wood stoves

Madurai and other parts of Tamil Nadu are seeing disruptions in hotel operations due to a shortage in commercial LPG cylinder supply. To keep kitchens running, establishments ranging from small hotels to star-category properties are moving back to wood-fired stoves. The supply stress is linked to wider disruption in petroleum product distribution amid ongoing conflict conditions in West Asia involving the US and the Israel-Iran situation, according to the report. Alongside a rise in domestic cylinder prices, major cities have also reported scarcity of commercial cylinders.

TN people won’t accept Udhayanidhi as CM, says Piyush Goyal
Politics

TN people won’t accept Udhayanidhi as CM, says Piyush Goyal

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI: BJP’s Tamil Nadu in-charge Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said the upcoming Assembly election would be about protecting Tamil pride and culture, and “saving people” from what he described as Chief Minister M K Stalin’s corrupt practices. Speaking to reporters in Tiruchirappalli, Goyal claimed the DMK government would be voted out and asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu would “never accept” Udhayanidhi Stalin as Chief Minister. He alleged that money from TASMAC-related corruption had been diverted from the state exchequer to the Chief Minister’s family and DMK functionaries, putting the figure at Rs 50,000 crore. He also alleged corruption across various government contracts.

Opposition spreading panic over war tensions, PM Modi alleges in Kerala
Politics

Opposition spreading panic over war tensions, PM Modi alleges in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that Congress and its allied parties were trying to create panic among people by exploiting the war-like tensions in the West Asia region. Speaking at a BJP public meeting in Ernakulam district, he urged citizens to remain cautious of such politics. Modi said that at a time when the situation is sensitive, the country should stand united. He claimed that the opposition was indulging in politics even during the crisis.

Centre rolls out plan to ease energy crunch; coal stock hits record 210 MT
Business

Centre rolls out plan to ease energy crunch; coal stock hits record 210 MT

New Delhi: The Union government has drawn up a comprehensive strategy to address energy shortages being felt in some sectors across the country. Officials said coal availability is currently at an unprecedented level, and key directions have been issued to the Ministry of Coal to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for essential requirements. The move comes as war tensions in West Asia have escalated following joint attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and retaliatory action by Iran. With Iran reportedly closing the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 20% of the world’s crude oil is transported—shortages of cooking gas cylinders and crude oil have been reported globally, including in India.

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