1. Anna University Harassment Case Widens: Four More Students Come Forward
What began as one student’s complaint has now grown into something far more unsettling. A day after Anna University professor Gnanavel Basu was arrested for allegedly harassing a final-year undergraduate student over three years, four more students came forward and shared their experiences with the police investigation team on Saturday, though none have yet filed separate complaints.
Gnanavel, who was tracked down to a relative’s house in Valliyoor near Tirunelveli, was brought to Chennai and sent to judicial custody on Saturday. The case was registered at the Abiramapuram All-Women Police Station following a complaint to the police commissioner’s office.
Cybercrime personnel are now examining the professor’s mobile phone to recover deleted videos, audio files, and photographs. The original complainant had alleged that the harassment had spanned more than three years and that several other women on campus were afraid to come forward. That fear appears to be giving way, one disclosure at a time.
2. Highway Costs Spiral: Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway and ECR Projects Bleed Crores
The roads connecting Chennai to the rest of Tamil Nadu are costing far more than planned — and taking far longer than promised. Parliamentary data shows the total cost of key road projects has jumped from Rs 7,811 crore to Rs 10,507 crore, a rise of around 34.5%, driven by land acquisition delays, contractor difficulties, and material shortages.
The Arakkonam-Kancheepuram stretch of the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway has been at a standstill since May 2025 due to financial stress on the concessionaire, with physical progress at roughly half the target. Along the East Coast Road, the Sattanathapuram-Nagapattinam stretch has recorded the steepest increase — from Rs 1,872 crore to Rs 2,899 crore, nearly 55% higher than the original estimate. Ground stabilisation near backwaters, borrow earth shortages, and demands for expanded features have added to the spiral. For commuters on these corridors, and for Tamil Nadu taxpayers, the numbers are hard to ignore.
3. Grandparents Die in Car-MTC Bus Crash Near Tiruvallur; Two Girls Survive
A couple heading to a temple on Friday morning did not make it back. Ravichandran, 65, and his wife Geetha, 56, residents of Balaji Nagar in Veppampattu, died after their car collided with an MTC bus near Sevvapet in Tiruvallur district. Their two granddaughters, seated in the rear, survived with minor injuries.
Police suspect Ravichandran may have suffered a cardiac arrest at the wheel, causing him to lose control. The car struck the front of a bus travelling from Avadi to Tiruvallur. Ravichandran died at the scene; Geetha succumbed to her injuries at hospital. MTC officials stated the bus driver was not at fault. A case has been registered and investigations are continuing. The tragedy is yet another reminder of the risks on arterial roads feeding into Chennai’s expanding suburbs.
4. Madras HC Rules Against Geetham in Trademark Row with Sangeetha Restaurants
Two of Chennai’s most familiar dining brands went head to head in court — and Sangeetha came out on top. The Madras High Court has directed the Geetham chain to stop using a trademark similar to Sangeetha’s and to hand over profits earned between June 2022 and November 2023 to the rival chain.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy also slapped a cost of Rs 10 lakh on Geetham, payable to Sangeetha towards legal fees and expenses. The dispute traces back to a franchise arrangement gone sour. Rasnam Foods had operated as a Sangeetha franchisee but, after the agreement was terminated in April 2022, continued running restaurants under the Geetham brand at the same locations, with a similar colour scheme. The court noted that Geetham’s modified branding was unlikely to confuse a reasonably attentive consumer, but held it liable for profits made before that modification.
5. Southern Railway Announces Summer Special Trains from Chennai
With summer travel demand rising, Southern Railway has announced summer special trains ahead of the peak season. The announcement comes as families begin planning travel during school holidays, and seats on regular express services have been filling up quickly. Passengers are advised to check the Southern Railway website for route details, schedules, and booking windows. Given past seasons, early reservation is strongly recommended.
