Chennai:

The Madras High Court has reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate for overstepping bounds while investigating illegal sand mining in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A bench of Justice MS Ramesh and Justice Sunder Mohan pointed out the federal agency could not claim jurisdiction since mining, illegal or otherwise, is not listed as a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The High Court therefore stayed proceedings against the accused sand mining contractors and directed the ED to release seized properties.

“We are of the opinion that unless information with regard to any case (as a scheduled offence) is registered, and such an offence has generated proceeds of crime, which is dealt with by petitioners, no action can be initiated,” the court said.

The order had been passed Tuesday. The court’s full judgement was released today.

This is not the first time the ED has been ticked off in connection with this case.

READ | “Completely Illegal”: ED Summons To 5 Tamil Nadu Officers Paused

In November last year the High Court stayed – for three weeks – the agency’s summons to five District Collectors. The court observed the ED had limited powers but did not pause the probe.

The agency had summoned the DCs of Ariyalur, Vellore, Thanjavur, Karur, and Tiruchirapalli.

Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had sought to invalidate the summons, arguing the ED did not have unbridled powers and that its summons went against the spirit of federalism.

Claiming it had already filed police cases, and that it was willing to provide details, the state argued the ED ought to seek details only through it and that any investigation ought to be with its consent.

The Supreme Court, though, has been less inclined to interfere.

In February the ED moved the top court to challenge the stay on summons to the five DC. During the hearing, Justice Bela M Trivedi asked, “Why is the state troubled… what is its stake in the matter?”

The Supreme Court subsequently directed the five officials to appear before the ED.

READ | Supreme Court Setback For Tamil Nadu In Illegal Sand Mining Probe

Justice Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal called the state’s plea “strange and misconceived”.

The alleged sand mining racket – which the ED claims is worth Rs 4,000 crore or more, according to data provided by an expert from the Indian Institute of Technology in Madras – has been controversial for several years now, including when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was in power.

The AIADMK is now the main opposition party in the state.

Tax officials had said the miners’ illegal profit was routed into investments in other businesses, such as spinning and sugar mills, and hotels. Certain overseas transactions were also being scrutinised.

It has become a major political flashpoint in the southern state, and was leveraged by the Bharatiya Janata Party in February as it sought to make an impact during the Lok Sabha election. The BJP’s state boss, K Annamalai, warned, “ED will not leave who are involved in illegal sand mining.”

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One of the accused involved in the murder of the Tamil Nadu BSP Chief was killed in an encounter with the police in Chennai late last evening, officials have said. 

Police sources said Thiruvengadam was taken to the spot to recover weapons used in the killing of K Armstrong when he fired at the police officials with the recovered gun.

He was injured in the retaliatory firing and rushed to the hospital. “He was declared brought dead by the doctors,” officials said.

K Armstrong was hacked to death by six bike-borne men near his house in Chennai earlier this month.

The six men attacked Armstrong when he was having a discussion with a few party functionaries near his house in the city’s Sembium area and then fled. The family rushed him to a hospital, but he was declared brought dead.

Thiruvengadam was one of the suspects arrested allegedly for K Armstrong’s murder.

A lawyer, Armstrong was elected to the Chennai Corporation Council in 2006. He shot to fame after he organised a mega rally in Chennai two years ago and invited BSP chief Mayawati.

BSP chief Mayawati has demanded a CBI investigation into the attack. “I urge the state government, especially the Chief Minister, to ensure law and order in the state. The weaker sections, in particular, should feel safe. Had the government been serious, the accused would have been arrested. Since that is not the case, we urge the state government to refer the case to the CBI,” she had said.

Chennai:

The industrial town of Hosur in Tamil Nadu is set to get an international airport, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced in the state assembly today.

“It will come up on a 2000 acre area with a capacity to handle 30 million passengers in a year” the Chief Minister said.

A master plan for Hosur is nearly ready said MK Stalin.  Hosur which has been a hub for electronic, automobile and automotive component manufacturing is now emerging to be a hotspot for electric vehicle and related component manufacturing as well.

 “This government believes it is essential to build an airport in Hosur, to develop the city into a key economic growth city. This will also develop Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts”, Mr Stalin said.

The ruling DMK has set a target of turning the state into a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2030 and this initiative is being seen as a significant move in that direction.

Industrialists and domestic passengers in this part of Tamil Nadu largely rely on Bengaluru airport for domestic and international travel; there is a growing demand to have an airport in Hosur, taking into account the long commute from Bengaluru and the growing business needs here.

An earlier attempt to bring in air services to Hosur did not take off.

The new airport, when it becomes a reality, would be a boon for business as well as local communities.

Presently Tamil Nadu has international connectivity airports in Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai;  domestic services in  Salem and Tuticorin.

Calling this a “monumental step”, Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said. “this project will greatly enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth benefiting not only Hosur but also neighbouring districts such as Dharmapuri and Salem, while also providing a significant boost to various parts of Bengaluru”.

He added “With Hosur’s excellent weather, the new airport will foster a twin-city ecosystem with Bengaluru, propelling growth in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka”.

Bengaluru:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Wednesday said it has asked the Tamil Nadu government to submit a “detailed report” after a Reuters story revealed that Apple supplier Foxconn rejected married women from iPhone assembly jobs in the country.

In a statement calling for the probe, the Ministry of Labour and Employment cited the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, saying the law “clearly stipulates that no discrimination (is) to be made while recruiting men and women workers.”

The ministry said it has requested a detailed report from the Labour Department of Tamil Nadu, site of a major iPhone factory where Reuters uncovered Foxconn’s practice of shunning married women from jobs.

The Labour Ministry said it also directed the office of the Regional Chief Labour Commissioner to provide a “factual report.”

Apple and Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the government statement. The Tamil Nadu state government did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment outside office hours.

A Reuters investigation published on Tuesday found that Foxconn has systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone plant near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts.

Foxconn hiring agents and HR sources interviewed by Reuters cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons why Foxconn did not hire married women at the plant.

The Ministry of Labour “takes note of media reports on married women not being allowed to work at Foxconn India Apple iPhone plant,” the statement said.

Earlier, in response to questions from Reuters for its Tuesday report, Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said they had worked to address the issues. All the discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Sriperumbudur plant, however, took place in 2023 and 2024. The two companies didn’t address the 2023 and 2024 incidents.

Apple said that “when concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld,” adding that all its suppliers, including Foxconn, hire married women.

Foxconn said it “vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form.”

Lawyers told Reuters Indian law doesn’t bar companies from discriminating in hiring based on marital status. Apple’s and Foxconn’s policies, however, prohibit such hiring practices in their supply chains.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

A pall of gloom has descended over Karunapuram village in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district. As many as 24 of the 39 who have died after consuming illicit liquor are from here. A mass cremation is taking place, and many bodies are still lined up.

A mother who lost her son is inconsolable. “He complained of severe stomach ache and could not open his eyes. Initially, they didn’t even admit him saying he is drunk. The government should shut down liquor shops,” she wailed. 

At least one hundred people are being treated in various hospitals. At the Kallakurichi Government Medical College Hospital, many are battling breathlessness and loss of vision, and experiencing excruciating pain.

This is the second such tragedy in two years. Last year, 22 were killed after consuming methanol, but critics say the state government seems to have learnt no lessons. 

After the latest incident, the district superintendent of police and several police officers have been suspended and the Collector has been transferred. Chief Minister MK Stalin has said he will clampdown on the illicit liquor trade with an iron hand. 

Three suspected bootleggers have been arrested and they have a criminal history. The police are on the lookout for the alleged kingpin, Chinnadurai, who allegedly supplied the distilled arrack that caused the deaths. 

The opposition has demanded the resignation of Mr Stalin, alleging collusion by cadre of the ruling DMK. They have also blamed the police and asked if there was an intelligence failure. 

AIADMK Chief Edappadi K Palaniswamy said, “Chief Minister Stalin should resign. This is incompetence. He gives an excuse every time”.

Taking a different tack, K Annamalai, president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, added, “The state government should close at least a thousand liquor shops.”

Mr Stalin did not visit the affected areas but sent ministers, including his son Udhayanidhi. Calling the incident painful and sad, he assured a crackdown and announced a one-man commission to conduct an inquiry into the accident. The home secretary and the DGP are expected to submit a report in two days.

The sale of liquor by Tamil Nadu government fetches a whopping Rs 40,000 crore in revenue. That indicates the level of alcohol addiction in the state. In the past, the DMK had argued that total prohibition would only open the floodgates of illicit liquor. Now, many are asking if it is time for a relook at the alcohol policy.

Chennai:

Over 20 people from Kallakurichi district in the northern part of Tamil Nadu were hospitalised and at least five persons died after suspected consumption of illicit ‘packet arrack’, officials said on Wednesday.

K Kannukutti (49) has been arrested and an analysis of about 200 litres of illicit arrack seized from him has disclosed the presence of deadly methanol, the government said.

Chief Minister M K Stalin has ordered a CB-CID probe to ensure comprehensive investigation and the government transferred Kallakurichi District Collector Sravan Kumar Jatavath and Superintendent of Police Samay Singh Meena was suspended, a statement said.

Nine other police personnel including those from the prohibition wing of Kallakurichi district have been placed under suspension.

Leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, quoting local news reports, told reporters that approximately 40 people have been hospitalised after drinking illicit arrack.

“Deaths due to illicit arrack consumption is continuing ever since the DMK regime took over and I have been raising the issue and seeking action in state Assembly as well,” Palaniswami said and demanded that the state government take tough action on the issue.

“Precious lives of poor people have been lost in Kallakurichi,” the former Chief Minister said.

According to the government, more than 20 people, who complained of vomitting and stomach pain were admitted on June 19 in Kallakurichi Medical College Hospital and following a probe by police and revenue officials, it is suspected that they could have consumed ‘packet arrack.’ Of them, G Praveen Kumar (26), D Suresh (40), K Sekar (59), and two others died. Bodies have been sent for autopsy and the cause of death will be known following completion of postmortem.

Requisite medicine and special teams of government doctors from Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Salem have been rushed to Kallakurichi hospital to assist, and supervise treatment. A senior official from Health department has also been deputed.

Also, as many as 18 people have been referred to Puducherry JIPMER Hospital for specialty treatment, and six others to Salem government hospital. As many as 12 ambulances have been stationed at the Kallakurichi government hospital.

CM Stalin rushed senior Ministers EV Velu and Ma Subramanian to Kallakurichi to render all assistance to the affected families.

MS Prasanth and Rajath Chaturvedi have been appointed as the new collector and police superintendent for Kallakurichi district.

PMK founder leader S Ramadoss demanded that Stalin own up responsibility for the deaths. He alleged that the police department and the government is unable to rein in sale of illict arrack.

He urged the government to provide Rs 10 lakh as solatium to the family of the victims.

BJP state president K Annamalai said on X, “It is heart-wrenching to see the parents cry out of the pain of losing their child & wife losing her husband due to the consumption of illicit liquor. DMK has not learnt their lesson after the 22 hooch deaths last year & their misgovernance has led to 5 more deaths today. There is zero accountability in the DMK Govt & Ministers do not fear consequences for posing with illicit liquor sellers.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Thiruvallur:

 Three people died in a fire that broke out at a paint factory in Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvallur, the Superintendent of Police said.

Visuals from the spot showed fire tenders present at the spot as dousing operations were underway.

Further information is awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday requested the Centre to secure through diplomatic channels the release of four fishermen from the state detained by the Kuwait Coastal Police.

The men belonging to Ramanthapuram district have been incarcerated in the prison there since their arrest on December 5, last year and Chief Minister M K Stalin had already flagged their arrest and demanded their immediate release, state Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said.

In a release, he reminded that the chief minister had in a letter dated February 9, sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in ensuring the release of the fishermen by initiating diplomatic efforts.

“Since the men have not been released despite the state government’s repeated insistence, the Chief Secretary wrote a reminder letter to the External Affairs Secretary in this regard,” the release said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

The 72-year-old MLA and speaker of the Tamil Nadu assembly, M Appavu, is inspecting the final phase of his pet project – the interlinking of three rivers in his Radhapuram assembly constituency in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Started in 2009, the 73-kilometre-long Rs 800 crore canal project aims to tap the surplus waters flowing into the sea during floods from the River Thamarabarani, to irrigate 50,000 acres in the drought-prone pockets of Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts in southern Tamil Nadu.

The mega scheme did not see the light of the day for a decade. However, the teacher-turned four-time MLA got it expedited over the last three years. He told NDTV, “I am so happy that nearly after thirty to forty years all parts of Radhapuram constituency, particularly the drought-prone Thisayanvilai, Sathankulam, Udangudi, and Thiruchendur have turned fertile in a big way.”

During the 2023 floods, the canal was put to the test, letting the surplus from River Thamarabarani into the canal. Local people are happy about its impact, recharging groundwater table and supplying water for irrigation. Farmers like Kumar at Tamilakuruchi village are happy about new farming possibilities. He says, “If waters come like this, I can earn another five thousand rupees.”

Mr Appavu has also brought two other significant projects that aim to provide piped drinking water for all and housing for the poor.

Blessed with the perennial River Thamarabarani, the Speaker has got sanctioned a Rs 1,000 crore scheme to provide piped drinking water to all 96,000 households in 360 villages and 80,000 families in seven town panchayats by next year. Mr Appavu added, “The work is progressing fast. In one year, all villages in Radhapuram assembly constituency will get a drinking water connection. Not a single mother in the villages needs to step out carrying a pot for water. The Chief Minister has helped us.”

That is not all. Around 1,000 concrete homes are being built in his constituency to provide housing for the poor. Valli Thai, a resident, hopes to get a house. She says, “We are without a house. They are building 1,000 houses. Ask them to allot one for us.”

Mr Appavu’s next big dream is to bring about industrial development, particularly MSMEs, to nurture entrepreneurship and employment in his constituency. Other lawmakers say he quietly garners every government scheme for his constituency, taking advantage of his position as Speaker. While delivering water connections and homes would be a challenge, Mr Appavu says his secret is working closely with the people.
 

New Delhi:

Eight people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu.

Twelve others suffered burns, the police said, adding the factory was a licenced unit.

The police said they are investigating what led to the explosion.

More details are awaited.

Sivakasi is known as the fireworks manufacturing hub of India. The place also occupies a huge share in the country’s total production of firecrackers, safety matches, and stationery items.