1. History-sheeter ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh shot dead by police
A 38-year-old history-sheeter ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh was shot dead by the Chennai police near Madhavaram this morning when he reportedly attempted to escape after attacking the police team that surrounded him.
An A+ category history-sheeter at the MKB Nagar police station, he is said to have been involved in at least 30 criminal cases, including five murders and a dacoity case reported in Puzhal recently. He also has murder, robbery, attempt to murder, NDPS, and Arms Act cases on him, according to the police.
2. T.N. Assembly election: ECI orders transfer of 4 SPs
The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Tamil Nadu government to post four officers as new Superintendents of Police (SPs) for Erode, Karur, Nagapattinam and Virudhunagar districts. “The officers transferred out [of the districts] shall not be in any election related posts till the completion of election,” stated a communication from ECI.
Over 4,200 teams including 2,106 flying squads have been deployed across the State to monitor suspicious movement of cash and goods, with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) having come into force, said Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik while addressing journalists at the Secretariat in Chennai.
3. Nainar Nagenthran condemns Aadhav Arjuna’s remarks against Rajinikanth
BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran has condemned remarks made by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna against actor Rajinikanth, calling them inappropriate and unwarranted.
Stating the remarks made by Mr. Arjuna [claiming Rajinikanth was pressured by the DMK not to enter politics] were “deeply inappropriate and condemnable”, the BJP leader accused him of attempting to gain publicity by targeting a widely respected personality.
4. Boney Kapoor, his two daughters move Madras High Court over Sridevi’s Chennai property
Film producer Boney Kapoor and his actor-daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor have approached the Madras High Court against the refusal of an additional district court in Chengalpattu in rejecting a civil suit filed by certain individuals against 4.7 acres of land purchased by the producer’s late wife and veteran actress A. Sridevi on East Coast Road (ECR) in Chennai in 1988.
Justice T.V. Thamilselvi decided to take up the Kapoor family’s joint civil revision petition for hearing on March 26 and stayed till then all further proceedings before the district court. A woman named Chandrabanu and her two children, M.C. Sivakami and M.C. Natarajan, had filed the suit claiming they were entitled to a share in the sprawling property.
5. ASI permits T.N. Archaeology Department to conduct excavations in 8 sites
After a delay of several months, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has finally granted permission to the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) to conduct excavations at eight historical sites in the State, including the 11th phase of excavations at Keeladi.
6. TVK to ally only with parties that accept Vijay as CM: Sengottaiyan
Senior Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader K.A. Sengottaiyan has said the party would forge an alliance for the April 23 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu only with those parties that accept TVK founder and actor Vijay as the chief ministerial face.