Police have unearthed a drug-pedalling racket in Chennai, where marijuana-coated sweets and chocolates were being sold outside many schools.
The matter came to light when a teenage boy from a government school in Tondiarpet fainted after eating such a sweet. His three classmates also showed similar symptoms and were admitted to the Institute of Child Health in Egmore. Forensic reports confirmed the presence of refined tobacco or cannabis in the sweet.
Shopkeeper Suresh Mohite was arrested along with many others, as police raided several roadside shops, canteens and eateries in Korukkupet, Washermanpet, Broadway, Sowcarpet, Perambur, Ashok Nagar and Purasawalkam high road. The police confiscated 187kg of sweets from 81 shops and issued a state-wide alert.
Child rights activists and politicians demanded strict action against the offenders. Investigations are underway. 

ED summons
Chidambaram’s 
son over scam

Former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over an alleged multi-million rupee illegal transaction under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The case dates to 2011, when two consultancy firms - Advantage and Chess Global - where Karti was a director, bought 150,000 shares at throwaway prices from Congress leader G K Vasan’s firm. 
Karti reportedly gained Rs2.6mn that he later used in the Aircel-Maxis deal that is part of the 2G telecom spectrum allocation scam.
However Karti insisted on his innocence, while Chidambaram alleged ‘malicious onslaught’ against his family. He rubbished media reports of approving the deal during his government’s tenure in 2006.

3D printers help
patients with 
damaged organs

In a medical development, three-dimensional (3D) printing service providers are making replicas of diseased organs to be used by patients as a camouflage in Chennai and other cities.
A Times of India report said earlier 3D printers manufactured organ models of fractured human parts that were used by surgeons to guide them during the actual operations. The same concept is now being used to model damaged eyes, ears, nose and other external organs. 
The printers use bio ink, a mixture of cells and hydrogel that is printed onto tissue-like architectures that are then grown in bio-reactors. Efforts are taken to match the exact skin colour and shape of the damaged part before final fitting or grafting.
Scientists feel that these 3D organs will help alleviate the shortage of custom-made organs.

Two die trying
to escape
from robber

A woman and a man died while trying to escape from thieves at Neelankarai in Chennai last week.
Nadhini, a 24-year-old school teacher, and Gayathri, a college student, were returning on their scooter after withdrawing cash from an ATM counter when a biker snatched Gayathri’s bag. Nadhini chased him, but the biker who was riding parallel gave her a hard push. Nadhini lost balance, hit a pavement and knocked down Shekar, a pedestrian, returning from his night walk.
Both Nadhini and Shekar died on the spot, while Gayathri sustained hip fractures. 
The incident sparked outrage until police intervened. They vowed to track the biker who was wearing a helmet.