Tamil rapper Arivu detained during bid to protest against NEET near Secretariat in Chennai
Tamil rapper Arivu was briefly detained by Chennai police while protesting against the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) near the Secretariat. Following his release, he met with a state minister to discuss his concerns regarding the exam and recent police actions.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing political tension in Tamil Nadu regarding the NEET exam and the intersection of celebrity activism with state policy.
Popular Tamil rapper Arivu (Arivarasu Kalainesan) was detained by Greater Chennai City police after he and three others attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).
Arivu and the three protesters gathered at the entrance of the Secretariat and raised slogans demanding that NEET be scrapped. They also sought action against the police over the crackdown on protesters during the march to Parliament in Delhi .
Arivu interview | On the release of album ‘Valliamma Peraandi’, and life after ‘Enjoy Enjaami’
Arivu, Dhee, and the ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ controversy explained
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in