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VCK Chief Thirumavalavan Issues Apology To LGBTQ+ Community After Calling Homosexuality As ‘Perversion’

By
The Commune
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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan publicly apologized to the LGBTQ+ community on 6 July 2025, following widespread criticism of comments he made during a student interaction earlier this year. His remarks, perceived as describing homosexuality especially male same-sex relationships as “perversion,” sparked backlash after a video clip resurfaced online.

In a detailed apology shared on social media, Thirumavalavan expressed remorse, stating, “Deeply Regret! An Explanation to LGBTQ+ Comrades! On February 12th, during the “Students’ Parliament” event held at the Agricultural University in Coimbatore, I answered some questions raised by students. I am pained to learn that one of my answers to a student’s question inadvertently hurt the sentiments of gender minorities. It has come to my attention that my comment, made without any malicious intent, has wounded their hearts. For this, I deeply regret. It was based on the demand put forth by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi in the Legislative Assembly in 2006 the Welfare Board for Transgenders was established in Tamil Nadu. The VCK also holds the distinction of being the only political party to have formed a dedicated wing for transgenders. The VCK is a party that has always advocated for the rights of LGBTQ+ comrades and stood in solidarity with them whenever they faced difficulties. Therefore, considering that the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is a movement that fights for the welfare of all marginalized communities, including those of the LGBTQIA+ gender spectrum, I request our comrades to please bear with us in this matter.”

The apology came shortly after a two-minute video clip went viral amid Chennai’s Pride Month celebrations on 29 June 2025. The undated footage shows Thirumavalavan responding to a question from a law student coincidentally also named Thirumavalavan—during the Coimbatore event.

In the video, the student references a past speech by the MP, where he had spoken about ancient Tamil perspectives on love, symbolized through the merging of consonants and vowels to form “kaadhal” (love). The student then posed a challenging question, “You have mentioned in a speech that the ancient Tamil society defined love as ‘க் + அ’ becoming ‘க’. That’s how it became ‘kaadhal’ (love). ‘க்’ is a consonant (body), and ‘அ’ is a vowel (life). Just as a consonant and a vowel combine to form a ‘uyir-mei’ (a character with both body and life), a man and a woman unite, leading to reproduction, and that’s how a society forms. Now, in these days, men fall in love with men, and women fall in love with women. How do we view that? Does that also come under the same definition within Tamil society?”

Responding with what many interpreted as sarcasm, Thirumavalavan said, “In English, they call it perversion. If a man falls in love with another man, it’s perversion. It’s something contrary to nature.”

He then went on to describe love as an indescribable feeling, “Love, you see, cannot be defined. It’s a feeling beyond definitions. You can call it gentle; you can call it powerful. You can call it useful; you can call it terrifying. You can call it necessary; you can call it unnecessary. You can define it however you want, because it’s a feeling common to all living beings. This isn’t just common to humanity. If there’s one common characteristic among all living creatures, that characteristic is called ‘love’ in a single word.”

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Tiruchendur Kumbabhishekam Held Grandly; Temple Activist Warns Of Fresh Court Action If Mandalabishekam Traditions Curtailed Similar To Palani Temple

By
The Commune
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tiruchendur kumbhabishekam mangalabhishekam temple activist murugan temple palani

The grand Kumbabhishekam of the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy Temple, regarded as the second sacred abode (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, was conducted today after a 15-year interval, drawing nearly 10 lakh devotees. The ceremony was marked by elaborate Vedic rituals and traditional Tamil mantras.

The main Kumbabhishekam began at 6:15 AM with Vedic chants in Tamil and included the consecration of the Rajagopuram and various deities, including Moolavar, Shanmugar, Valli, Deivanai, Perumal, and Nataraja. LED screens were installed across the temple premises to manage crowding during the Kudamuzhukku, ensuring devotees could witness the ceremony without congestion.

Extensive security arrangements were made under the supervision of Additional Director General of Police Davidson Devasirvatham. The force included over 6,000 personnel, CCTV-equipped patrol vehicles, and bikes with GPS.

Curtailment Of Mandalabhishekam?

While the temple town witnessed a spiritual high, attention was also drawn to concerns about ritual curtailment raised by a prominent temple activist, TR Ramesh. Ramesh, who had earlier moved the Madras High Court to prevent the reduction of the 48-day Mandalabishekam at the Pazhani Murugan Temple to just 3 days, issued a stern warning against any similar attempt at Tiruchendur. He credited his earlier legal intervention, taken up on a Saturday, a court holiday for ensuring the full 48-day observance at Pazhani, as originally mandated by Agamic traditions.

Ramesh, who has long accused the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department of mismanagement and fraud in temple administration, asserted that any attempt to curtail traditional rituals at Tiruchendur would be met with legal action. He also threatened to file for the complete removal of the HR&CE Department from temple control if violations of Vedic and Agamic norms were identified.

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Rabid Troll Liver Doc Who Disses Ayurveda & Yoga Justifies Working At Christian-Missionary Hospital That Offers Pastoral Services & Has An Ayurveda Dept

By
The Commune
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liver doc ayurveda troll pastoral healing

Rabid troll and liver specialist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips famously known as Liver Doc on X, who was in the news for bullying two-time Chess Olympiad champion Vidit Gujrathi over his post wishing his parents and family members for Doctors Day, continues to get the limelight on himself.

Following the disclosure that the hospital he works at offers Ayurveda and chaplain services, Liver Doc has gone into a defensive mode.

While Dr. Philips has publicly called Ayurveda “pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo” and dismissed yoga’s therapeutic value in modern medicine, his affiliation with a hospital that hosts such services has raised eyebrows among critics. He has been seen replying to criticism about his association with Rajagiri Hospital, a Christian missionary-run multi-speciality hospital that offers both yoga and pastoral care services.

In a detailed clarification posted on social media, Dr. Philips stated that he is not a salaried employee of Rajagiri Hospital but is affiliated with a consultancy group that provides hepatology services under contract.

He emphasized that the advanced hepatology services offered at the hospital are under his supervision, but insisted he has no say in how the rest of the hospital is run, including its wellness or faith-based programs.

Rajagiri Hospital, run by the Christian missionary organization CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate), offers pastoral care services for terminal patients and includes Ayurvedic and yoga-based wellness programmes, particularly marketed toward foreign patients!! While Philips claimed that these services are not integrated into core clinical care, he also confessed that the Ayurveda department exists as a “profit-driven wellness initiative” typical of many private hospitals.

He wrote on his X handle, “Hello Mukesh, let me clear this up for you. I am not part of Rajagiri Hospital. They don’t pay my salary. I am part of a consultancy group that provides tertiary care services in Hepatology to Rajagiri under contract. The advanced hepatology services is under my supervision there, nothing else. Rajagiri is a corporate hospital run by the CMI group. They have all departments, Ayurvedic services included. But this Ayurvedic service is mostly for foreign patients, to provide them wellness therapies like oil massages. You will never see this department treat patients of other clinical departments. The Ayurveda practitioner there has not even looked me in the eye in the last 4 years I am at Rajagiri. They don’t meddle in clinical medicine and does not make any claims of treatment benefits unlike Patanjali quacks. Like every corporate hospital looking for profits through pseudoscientific wellness therapies, this hospital too has such a program. This is not under my control because it is not my hospital and I have not invested any money in this hospital. Rajagiri does not have a “faith healing” department. They have pastoral care services which means prayer services for the dying when families ask for it. This is irrespective of religion. My department also does not have “faith healing” practices. In fact I treat many patients with liver cancer worsened because of faith healing, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha and Naturopathy. If Rajagiri was my own hospital or if I was a senior board member of Rajagiri, this Ayurveda department would not even exist in the hospital. I hope this is clear. Now please don’t bring this stupid argument again. It does not make Ayurveda scientific. Ayurveda is still pseudoscientific mumbo jumbo. And their practitioners are not doctors. They call themselves doctors only because this scientifically illiterate government and governments before them, has allowed them.”

Although he claims all this, it has come to be noticed that several of Dr. Philips’s research papers listed on PubMed and other academic platforms clearly mention his institutional affiliation as “Rajagiri Hospital.” This, they argue, undermines his claim that his connection is minimal or merely contractual. They also question why he would continue associating himself with an institution that promotes the very practices he so vehemently discredits, especially when he regularly derides other hospitals or practitioners who do the same.

Further scrutiny has also come from those highlighting Rajagiri’s “Pastoral Care” department, which provides prayer-based support for patients upon request, something Philips has never spoken about, leave alone the “miracle-healing” mumbo jumbo that his faith is seen professing.

The hospital’s website also lists a yoga department under its “wellness” initiatives, sparking additional questions about whether such offerings are fundamentally different from the Ayurvedic and yoga practices Philips labels as quackery when practiced elsewhere.

The doctors at the Rajagiri Hospital in the Ayurveda department are addressed as “Dr” which Philips detests!

If he was so righteous to keep calling out Ayurveda, homeopathy, naturopathy as “pseudo science”, why does he not wind up the practice here and move to his father’s “Philip Augustine Associates” – his family-run healthcare “consultancy” where he is the MD?

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Kerala Tourism Under Communist Govt Headed By CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s Son-in-Law, Funded Alleged Pakistani Spy Jyoti Malhotra’s Trip, RTI Confirms

By
The Commune
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pinarayi vijayan son-in-law mohammad riyas jyoti malhotra kerala tourism sponsor spy pakistan

A Right to Information (RTI) reply has revealed that the Kerala Tourism Department, headed by P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, fully sponsored the travel and accommodation of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber who is currently under arrest for alleged links with Pakistani intelligence. The revelation has triggered sharp criticism and raised serious concerns over security protocols and political accountability.

According to official records, Malhotra was among 41 social media influencers invited by the Kerala Tourism Department between January 2024 and May 2025 under its influencer outreach programme. Her trips to Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar were funded by the state government as part of efforts to promote Kerala as a digital travel destination.

Opposition leaders pointed out that when the issue was raised a month ago, it was ignored by both the Kerala government and most mainstream media outlets. They alleged that the new RTI response had validated earlier claims, showing that a person now under investigation for espionage was officially hosted by a department overseen by the Chief Minister’s close family member – his own son-in-law.

Critics of the government claimed that the administration had treated the state’s security apparatus like a family-run enterprise. They raised questions about how an individual with documented ties to Pakistan-based operatives could be selected for a government-sponsored initiative, and why no background verification had been carried out.

The BJP claimed that Malhotra’s participation in the tourism campaign had gone beyond casual oversight and represented a deeper governance failure. They argued that her presence in Kerala under official invitation, particularly her visit to Kannur, needed to be scrutinized in detail, including whom she met and whether any sensitive material was collected.

The Kerala Tourism Minister, who manages the influencer programme, dismissed the accusations, attributing them to political propaganda. However, opposition parties and civil society groups insisted that the controversy could not be dismissed lightly given the national security angle involved.

Investigative agencies reported that Malhotra had made multiple trips to Pakistan, where she established contact with individuals connected to the Pakistani intelligence network. Among her contacts was a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission who was expelled from India in May 2025 for espionage.

Malhotra is one of 12 individuals arrested across several states in connection with a suspected intelligence-gathering network targeting Indian content creators. While authorities have not yet confirmed whether she had access to any classified information, officials maintained that she was knowingly in touch with foreign intelligence handlers.

The controversy has deepened the political fallout surrounding the Kerala government’s influencer collaborations, especially given the familial connection between the Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister. Critics alleged that the tourism department, under such control, had failed in its basic duty to safeguard the state’s interests while engaging with external influencers.

(With inputs from Times Of India)

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IIT-B Student Darshan Solanki Suicide Case: How The Left’s Caste Narrative Fell Apart As Accused Turned Out To Be Armaan Iqbal

By
The Commune
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The tragic suicide case of IIT Bombay freshman Darshan Solanki is finally moving to trial after two years. The sole accused, Armaan Iqbal Khatri, initially charged with abetment of suicide, had sought relief from the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR filed against him. However, on 4 July 2025, the court allowed the withdrawal of his petition following strong opposition from both the Maharashtra government and the legal team representing Darshan’s family.

A division bench comprising Justices Ajay Gadkari and Rajesh Patil permitted the withdrawal, clearing the way for the trial to commence in the Sessions Court. The case had faced repeated delays primarily due to Khatri’s legal attempts to halt proceedings. Represented by Advocate Vijay Hiremath, Khatri argued that the charges were baseless, but this was countered firmly by Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Salsingikar and lawyers Sandesh More and Hitendra Gandhi, who represented Darshan’s relatives.

What Happened?

Darshan Solanki, a first-year chemical engineering student and a member of the Scheduled Caste community, jumped to his death from the seventh floor of his hostel building on February 12, 2023. His death sparked a firestorm of national outrage, particularly among caste-centric activist groups and sections of the international media, which quickly attributed the suicide to caste-based discrimination.

Organizations like the Ambedkar-Periyar-Phule Study Circle (APPSC), backed by prominent figures such as Bhalachandra Mungekar, led campus protests and alleged that Darshan was ostracized and mentally harassed after his caste identity became known. Groups accused the IIT Bombay administration and Mumbai Police of ignoring caste-based harassment and demanded action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

These protests garnered global attention and rapidly turned the incident into a high-profile symbol of institutional caste discrimination. Darshan’s parents were reportedly encouraged by activist groups to pursue the caste angle in public forums.

The Turning Point

However, the narrative underwent a dramatic shift after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to probe Darshan’s death, recovered a suicide note from his belongings. In it, Darshan named his classmate, Armaan Iqbal Khatri, a Muslim student, accusing him of harassment. Further investigation revealed that the tensions reportedly began after Darshan, in a private conversation, made a remark perceived as communal, prompting Armaan to allegedly threaten him with a cutter blade. Darshan had apologized to Armaan afterward.

The emergence of Khatri’s identity led to a conspicuous and abrupt silence from the very activist groups that had initially mobilized in full force. APPSC and others who once condemned IIT Bombay as a site of “institutional murder” virtually disappeared from the conversation. Bhalachandra Mungekar reportedly stopped responding to calls from Darshan’s family. The momentum of protests dissipated, and demands for justice fell silent.

Critics argue that the silence was not accidental. They claim that for many caste-based and Leftist groups, once it was revealed that the accused was a Muslim and not an “upper-caste Hindu,” the case no longer served their ideological or political objectives. Some have gone as far as to allege that these organizations prioritize communal identity politics over justice for marginalized Hindus.

The SIT echoed this conclusion, stating that while peer pressure and bullying might have been present, no caste-related abuse was confirmed in the official investigation. Darshan’s father, Ramesh Solanki, expressed dissatisfaction with these findings, asserting that his son’s emotional distress and caste-related trauma had been downplayed.

As Armaan Iqbal Khatri’s involvement came into focus, many of the earlier campaigners who had been vocal about caste injustice began distancing themselves from the case. Notably, groups like APPSC gradually stopped discussing the issue, leading critics to question their motivations.

Delay in Justice

Despite being arrested, Khatri was soon granted bail and resumed classes at IIT Bombay. While the case languished in procedural delays, his legal team even filed to have the FIR quashed—effectively halting any progress toward trial. Meanwhile, families and supporters of Darshan Solanki were left waiting.

Activists who had earlier demanded institutional overhaul and accountability now avoided discussing the case altogether. Critics say the hypocrisy is evident: a movement that once threatened to “burn down IIT” in the name of caste justice showed no appetite to confront the accused once his identity complicated their narrative.

Trial to Begin

With the High Court now rejecting Armaan Khatri’s effort to have the case dismissed, the matter is finally moving toward a trial. Darshan’s family has expressed hope that justice will be served, even as they continue to criticize the institutional and social failure that allowed the case to be buried for so long.

For many, Darshan Solanki’s name has faded from headlines. But this moment marks a chance to restore the conversation—not through selective outrage, but through an honest reckoning with the social and psychological pressures students face, regardless of who the accused may be.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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When TNM’s Dhanya Rajendran Cracked “Half A Joke” On Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Only To Apologise For It Immediately

By
The Commune
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dhanya rajendran tnm the news minute mallikarjun kharge joke apologise congress

In a rare candid moment on The News Minute’s podcast South Central, editor-in-chief Dhanya Rajendran pointed out the irony in Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent comment, but then quickly pulled back, indicating just how cautious liberal commentators still are when it comes to critiquing their own side.

The conversation centred around the ongoing leadership debate in Karnataka between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. As speculation grows over whether Siddaramaiah will make way for Shivakumar mid-term, as per the power-sharing agreement, Kharge recently weighed in, stating that “the high command will decide” the matter.

She said, “Ever since he was sworn in as a chief minister of Karnataka on the 20th of May 2023, it’s like the clock is ticking on Siddaramaiah’s head as to when he has to step down. Initially everybody knew that it was a 2.5-year time period
which he would be given as a chief minister, and the next 2.5 years would be DK Shivakumar most probably or that’s a theory which was widely accepted. Now that the 2.5-year time period is coming to an end, the discussion has gathered steam yet again, as to whether Siddaramaiah will step down and DK Shivakumar will come in. Now the political dialogues aside, yesterday we saw Siddaramaiah saying that he will continue to be the chief minister for all five terms. It’s not like he can come and say no no I will quit after two and a half or three years. So, he’s maintaining that. DK Shivakumar, on the other side, is saying that, oh I will listen to the high command, I have no other option but if Siddaramaiah is a chief minister. I will be his deputy.” Then she was reminded of the Kharge comment.

It was this comment that Dhanya took head-on. “I think the funniest comment was from Mallikarjun Kharge who said that the high command will decide,” she said on the podcast. “I think Mallikarjun Kharge for a minute forgot that he is the high command, right?” Even fellow host Pooja Prasanna quipped, “Old habits die hard.”

It was a pointed observation, an honest and bold swipe at the Congress party’s opaque power structure, which often defers decisions to an abstract, unnamed authority even when the formal power lies with the party president.

But almost as soon as the words left her mouth, the moment was neutralized.

Professor Chandan Gowda, a fellow panelist and known liberal commentator, interrupted to soften the blow. He suggested that Kharge may have meant the decision would be made in consultation with MLAs, turning it into an internal democratic process, rather than a display of top-down control. He said, “Dhanya, what Kharge might have meant, might have meant, is the high command will decide in consultation with the MLAs, which then would make it an in-house situation, not that an external agent is deciding, but it’s an inside decision. But you are right to point out, in his eyes, the high command does not mean the AICC president. I mean it means there’s some other power center that is, yeah, you’re absolutely right, I mean there is that reading. But I was trying to wonder if he may have meant, we’ll all decide.”

Sensing the pushback, Dhanya immediately clarified, “Okay anyway, it was just a half joke. So, if Mallikarjun Kharge is listening, he can forgive us.”

What could have been a moment of serious reflection on Congress’s internal contradictions turned instead into a carefully navigated exchange, illustrating just how narrow the space is for criticism of top Congress leadership within liberal media circles. The instinct to self-correct, even when making a light-hearted point, reflects an underlying deference toward figures like Kharge and the broader Congress establishment.

Dhanya’s remark may have started as an honest critique, but the apology that followed said just as much. Even among those who regularly challenge political power, calling out the “high command” remains a step too far, unless it’s followed by a smile and a quick disclaimer.

So much for “honest”, “neutral”, “independent” journalism.

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VCK Member Allegedly Encroaches 3,140 Sqft Plot Meant For Old Age Home In Chennai, Converts It Into Party Office

By
The Commune
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vck old age home encroachment

In a shocking turn of events, members allegedly affiliated with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) have not only encroached upon private land in Nandambakkam but have also reportedly converted a small food stall on the property into a VCK office overnight. This act of alleged land grabbing has sparked public outrage, especially as it followed a lawful attempt by the rightful owner to survey the land with police assistance.

Kunjammal Thomas, a 65-year-old resident of St. Thomas Mount in Chennai, has been operating an old age home in a rented building in the area for the past two decades. In 2014, she purchased a 3,140 sq. ft. plot near Thulasinga Puram Main Road using a bank loan, intending to build a permanent facility for the elderly. After clearing the loan, she secured a second loan to begin construction.

However, during a recent effort to measure the land in preparation for building, accompanied by a government surveyor and local police, she encountered resistance from individuals linked to a political party. Despite presenting all legal documents including the title deed, patta, and tax receipts Kunjammal was blocked from proceeding.

Shockingly, within a single night, a local VCK member, who had no legal connection to the land, reportedly occupied the small structure on the site and turned it into a VCK office, claiming it had been rented from someone named Beulah. When Kunjammal alerted the authorities, no immediate action was taken.

Distressed, she staged a protest in front of the newly established party office, joined by her disabled son, demanding the return of her land, which she claims is now worth ₹1.5 crore. Upon arriving at the scene, police reviewed her original documents but found that the VCK group could not produce any ownership records. As a result, the police took those involved to the station for further inquiry.

Despite the clear evidence in her favor, Kunjammal expressed frustration over the police’s reluctance to act decisively. She has since called on VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan to intervene and ensure justice is served. While Kunjammal and her supporters waited at the station, the VCK representative who had claimed to be gathering documentation failed to appear, adding to her growing concern over the lack of enforcement.

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DMK Stooge Actor Karthi Says “TN Govt Schools Are Excellent”, 21 Girls Sexually Assaulted By Govt Teacher In Dravidian Model School Near Ooty

By
The Commune
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actor karthi dravidian model sexual assault government govt schools dmk harassment pocso

Dravidianist supporter and Kollywood actor Karthi, whose children are reportedly enrolled in elite international schools, recently praised Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, portraying government schools as flourishing under his leadership. However, his remarks seem more like an act of political appeasement toward the DMK’s first family than an honest assessment. On the ground, the reality in government schools across Tamil Nadu paints a starkly different picture.

Following disturbing reports of teenage drug addiction and pregnancies in government schools, along with incidents of lizards found in meals prepared in toilets-turned-kitchens, yet another case has emerged that further undermines the praise lavished on School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

TN Govt Teacher Allegedly Sexually Assaults 21 Girl Students, Arrested

In a shocking incident that rings warning bells on the state of safety in Tamil Nadu’s government schools, a 51-year-old male teacher at a government higher secondary school near Ooty was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting at least 21 girl students. The arrest comes just months after Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi promised stern action in a similar case, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the measures announced and the real condition of schools run under the so-called ‘Dravidian Model’.

The accused, a science teacher with 23 years of experience, had joined the school only a few months ago. The incident came to light during a police-conducted student awareness programme on personal safety, when several students from Classes 7, 8, and 10 reportedly came forward alleging repeated inappropriate behavior by the teacher during lessons on ‘good touch and bad touch’. The girls later submitted written complaints through the school’s complaint box.

Following a preliminary probe by Childline, the All-Women Police Station in Ooty Rural arrested the teacher under relevant sections of the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has since been remanded in Ooty sub-jail. Police said the teacher resides in Hope Park near Kotagiri.

The case has also exposed serious administrative lapses. Reports suggest that some students had informed the headmistress about the misconduct as early as June 25, but she allegedly failed to alert the authorities and instead chose to warn the teacher privately. The accused went on leave for three days following the warning, before returning to work.

This incident is the second major case this year involving sexual assault by teachers in Tamil Nadu’s government schools. In February, three teachers at a middle school in Krishnagiri were arrested for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl. At the time, Minister Anbil Mahesh had warned that the government would go beyond legal action and cancel the degree certificates of teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct.

However, with another high-profile case surfacing just months later, the effectiveness of such deterrents remains in question.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)

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“Next, Next”, Says Kollywood Actor Arya When Asked To Comment On Ajithkumar Custodial Death Case

By
The Commune
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actor arya kollywood ajithkumar custodial death case sivaganga

Kollywood actors turn activists when the DMK is not in power but become angels of silence when the DMK is in power. For all the noise they made in 2020 during custodial death case of father and son Jayaraj and Bennix, there has not been even a whimper in the recent custodial death of temple guard Ajithkumar in Sivaganga.

What Happened?

Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old youth from Thirubhuvanam in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district, died after allegedly being subjected to custodial violence by a special police team. The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the state, drawing comparisons to the 2020 custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennix in Sathankulam.

According to reports, Ajith Kumar worked as a security guard at the Bhadrakalyamman temple in Madapuram. On 27 June 2025, a woman named Sivagami, accompanied by her daughter Nikitha, visited the temple. Sivagami, who has mobility issues, arrived in a car and handed over the vehicle keys to Ajith Kumar. As he did not know how to drive, he arranged for someone else to park the car and later returned the keys.

Subsequently, Nikitha alleged that 9.5 sovereigns of gold jewelry and ₹2,500 in cash had gone missing from the vehicle. A complaint was filed with the Thirubhuvanam police. Without registering a formal FIR, police officers reportedly detained Ajith Kumar and held him in the temple’s cowshed, where he was subjected to a violent assault by a special police unit. He died as a result of the injuries sustained during the interrogation.

Following public outcry, five police personnel involved in the incident have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The Tamil Nadu government has announced that the investigation will be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and a judicial inquiry is also underway.

Actor Arya’s Evasion Of Questions On Custodial Death Case

In this context, actor Arya (Jamshad Cethirakath) was questioned by journalists in Chennai for his views on the incident. When asked why the film industry had remained silent this time, Arya declined to respond, saying only, “Next Anna.. Next..” before moving on. The video of the exchange has since gone viral on social media, drawing both criticism and support.

While some users accused the actor of ignoring police brutality under the current DMK government, others questioned whether film personalities should be expected to comment on every issue.

(With inputs from One India Tamil)

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Status Quo Ordered In Madras Race Club Land Dispute: High Court Restrains Tamil Nadu Govt From Proceeding With Horticulture Tender

By
The Commune
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In a significant development in the ongoing land dispute between the Madras Race Club (MRC) and the Tamil Nadu government, the Madras High Court has directed both parties to maintain the status quo as of July 4, 2025, over the contentious Guindy property. The court also restrained the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency from proceeding further with any third-party involvement, even though it allowed the agency to receive tender documents related to the land.

Justice K. Kumaresh Babu issued the interim order while hearing Original Applications (OA Nos. 401 & 402 of 2025) and related ancillary petitions in Civil Suit No. 81 of 2025. The matter was taken up urgently due to an impending tender scheduled for July 7, 2025.

The MRC, represented by its Secretary S. Nirmal Prasad, argued that it was still in possession of the land in Guindy. However, the state government — represented by its Principal Secretary (Revenue & Disaster Management Department) — contested this claim, stating that possession had been taken over as early as September 9, 2024. The government further asserted that the land had already been developed, including the digging of ponds to prevent waterlogging during the 2024 North East Monsoon.

Given the conflicting claims, the court observed that it would determine the issue of possession during the subsequent hearing but, in the interim, directed that both sides maintain status quo. It also directed the Horticulture Department not to create any third-party interests until the matter is resolved.

Senior counsel and DMK MP P. Wilson represented the state while Mr. Guru Krishnakumar senior counsel for advocates Vaibhav Venkatesh and Nithyaesh Natraj appeared for the respondents. The court scheduled the next hearing for July 16, 2025, and directed the plaintiff to file a counter in the meantime.

The dispute is being closely watched due to the prime location and public interest surrounding the usage of the land, historically associated with the Madras Race Club for over a century.

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