Anbil Mahesh Arrested, Theni Jailbreak, Cyclone Omar Threatens Andhra
Former Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police and sent to Puzhal Prison following the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea by the Madras High Court. The Central Crime Branch has alleged a major bribery scam involving nearly 400 crore rupees per year collected from private schools for renewals and approvals. While the ruling administration termed the action an investigation into institutional corruption, the DMK condemned the arrest as political vendetta. Meanwhile, 17 remand prisoners escaped from a sub-jail in Thekkampatti, Theni, after faking a medical seizure and assaulting prison staff, prompting a multi-district search operation that has recaptured four fugitives. In another key decision, the state government announced the phased introduction of digital payments across 4,082 state-run TASMAC liquor outlets to curb overcharging and cash handling discrepancies. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh is on high alert as Cyclone Omar approaches landfall near Yanam and Visakhapatnam.