DMK MLA Arrested for Remarks Against CM; Ammonia Leak Toll 18; Political Turmoil
DMK MLA Anitha Radhakrishnan was arrested at Authoor in Thoothukudi district on July 3, 2026, for allegedly making remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay during a public meeting on June 20. The arrest followed the Madras High Court's dismissal of her anticipatory bail plea in a case registered by Authoor police. She was taken to the Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police office for investigation.
The death toll from an ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing facility in Tiruvallur district last month has risen to 18, with the death of a migrant woman worker. Tiruvallur district authorities have declared a 500-metre radius around the plant as a restricted zone ahead of a planned ammonia removal operation on July 4 and 5.
The DMK has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to bar ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Minister Adhav Arjuna, from making allegedly threatening public statements or levelling false accusations regarding the Karur stampede, which is under CBI investigation.
Former Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education S.S. Vaigaichelvan announced his resignation from the AIADMK, citing that the party had lost its individuality by seeking compromise with the DMK and deviated from the path to victory, in a letter to party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
In a separate case, DMK MLA V. Senthilbalaji's brother R.V. Ashok Kumar approached the Madras High Court for anticipatory bail. He is accused of offering a ₹35 crore bribe to TVK MLA N. Elaiyaraja of Uthangarai constituency. The court is yet to hear the plea.
